Smoking before Rhinoplasty - Is quitting 3 week before enough time?

When complications occur after plastic surgery, sometimes they are preventable, sometimes they are not. Smoking and/or nicotine use prior to ANY surgery, particularly rhinoplasty can lead to devastating consequencis.  Most of the time this is preventable. I would be honest with your surgeon...you can always delay the surgery if its not enough time off of cigarettes.  I would quit as soon as possible.  In my practice, a month off of nicotine at the least, preferable 3 months if possible.

I understand that
quitting is often easier said than done. It is for this reason that I further
advise that patients opt for the two month interval, so they have extra buffer
time to slowly stop the habit and ensure that the nasal tissues are entirely
ridded of nicotine. The nicotine in cigarettes can greatly impair the results
of your procedure and can restrain the blood vessels that line the nose, giving
you unwanted results and potentially altering the perfect nose structure we
have constructed together. It is essential that all my patients heed to this
advise, as it is one of the most important factors in guaranteeing a successful
rhinoplasty.

Its always best not to smoke prior to any surgery. You will heal more quickly and recover faster.  It sound like you don't smoke that much so hopefully it wont be too dificultgood luck!

The surgeon you choose will tell you how long you should refrain from smoking before surgery. In my own practice I asked patients to stop two weeks beforehand for elective cosmetic procedures.

The blood supply to the nose is not as robust as other areas of the face, and is very sensitive to nicotine.  Abstaining from smoking and nicotine containing products before and after surgery is imperative to achieving the optimal results.  Most surgeons will recommend smoking cessation 4-6 weeks before and after surgery.  

Hello,Thank you for your question.The profound effect smoking has on healing and surgical outcomes has been very well established for decades.  This is not an opinion or feeling issue, but a fact.In our practice we will not perform elective surgery on smokers unless they commit to stop all form of nicotine intake for no less than three weeks before surgery, and three weeks afterwards.Surgery has already built-in risks, I feel that to add to that with the potential of poor healing, possibility of additional procedures, and an eventual less than ideal outcome is not in the patients best interest.I hope this helps.Thank you,

Always ask your surgeon about these concerns, because each surgeon will have a different opinion.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

You should check with your particular surgeon to see if 3 weeks is enough time to quit smoking before your rhinoplasty.  I prefer to have patients stop smoking one month before surgery.  

Thank you for the question. You should absolutely consult with your physician about your smoking habits in order to obtain the most reliable and individualized medical advice. Most specialists recommend abstaining from smoking for 2-3 weeks before a rhinoplasty, while others may insist on a full month or two. Smoking will cause irritation and restrict the blood flow to your healing areas, possibly causing complications during the recovery period.  It is always best to visit a board-certified plastic surgeon and have a full evaluation for your concern. Best of luck!

With that smoking history, if you can truly quit three weeks before your rhinoplasty then you should be fine.