What are the consequences of smoking after a BBL?

Question

I wanted to know how much smoking cigarettes six weeks after my BBL will affect my results. I quit about a month before surgery and started to gradually smoke six weeks after. will this still cause a depletion of oxygen to the fat grafted areas and affect my results?

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

I am not sure that there is a tremendous amount of data in literature to render a judgment on this.  I would say that at 6 weeks the fat that is there should be permanent, but smoking may compromise some portion.  This would be purely speculative, and I am not sure that anyone knows the answer.

	Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

You may be okay to start smoking again if you've had a smooth recovery so far, but I wouldn't recommend it. Ask your surgeon.

Salvador Pantoja, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question, We regularly advise our patients to avoid smoking until two months after the surgery, this will avoid complications in their healing process.

Tania Medina de Garcia, MD · Answer

Hello dear!
Thanks for the question and provided information as well.
Smoking before or after your surgery can increase your risk of developing complications, including infection and wound healing problems. I recommend my patients that it is ideal to stop at least 6 weeks before surgery and then 6 weeks more after surgery.
If you have any concerns, please follow up close with your plastic surgeon.
Good luck :)

What are the consequences of smoking after a BBL?

Answers (4)