How long must I wait after quitting smoking for a BL/BA?

For a combined breast lift with implants (mastopexy/augmentation), I tell my own patients that they need to be nicotine-free for at least six weeks - so no cigarettes, no gum, no patches, no vaping, and avoid secondhand smoke as well.  Because this surgery essentially rearranges your breast tissue and creates a lot of incisions, nicotine in any form is a concern because it can affect your body's ability to heal and achieve the great result that you and your surgeon have planned.  It's great that you're thinking ahead and carefully about your surgery and healing.  Make sure to have a frank discussion about this with your own surgeon - again, no one is making any judgement here about smoking, just that no one wants to face a dead nipple or a giant wound if it can be avoided.Hope this is helpful, and best of luck.  You can do it.Dr. Lim

Thank you for your question. I insist that my patients stop all forms of nicotine for at least 6 weeks prior to a breast lift and stay off for at least 4 weeks afterwards. The risk of wound healing complications with any form of nicotine in your system goes up dramatically with a breast lift and you have a higher risk of nipple numbness or skin loss. Good luck!