Is three weeks long enough to be nicotine free before a breast reduction?

I require my patients to be nicotine free for 4 weeks before and 6 weeks after surgery.  Nicotine causes the blood vessels to narrow and the breasts do not get the blood flow required for the healing process.  This can cause complications during the healing process such as incisions that do not close or tissue death.  Each surgeon has their own guidelines regarding nicotine use so I recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon and following his or her guidelines.  Most importantly be honest with your surgeon about your nicotine use so he or she can work with you to ensure the best outcome.  Best of luck!      

Hello and thank you for your question.
It is best to quit at least 3 weeks prior to surgery and for 3 weeks after. Contact your surgeon for his/her guidelines on smoking. Best wishes!

Every surgeon has his or her own set up rules.   I recommend an in-office examination as well as a detailed discussion with a surgeon who you are comfortable with.   Finally, make sure your surgeon is a Double-Board Certified Plastic Surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).Best,Dr. DesaiBeverly Hills Institute for Aesthetic Plastic SurgeryHarvard Educated, Beverly Hills & Miami Beach TrainedDouble Board-Certified, Double Fellowship-Trained Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

There is no absolute consensus as to the length of time a person should abstain from nicotine prior to a breast reduction. In general, the longer, the better and my personal feeling is that 3 weeks is inadequate. Many factors come into play that would affect timing. These include how much a person smokes in a day, how long they have been smoking, the size of the breasts before surgery, and general medical health. These factors would all be considered by your surgeon who therefore is the best person to make the recommendation regarding timing. 

Dear gilspears,every plastic surgeon has his own preoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

The longer you are nicotine free, the better. Most surgeons use anywhere between 2 and 4 weeks as a threshold but I think 2 weeks is too short. I'd suggest trying to be closer to 6 weeks or more without nicotine, but obviously your surgeon will have his/her own protocol and recommendations.

should be cleared with your surgeon.  I personally have never seen a late complication if smoking was resumed 3 weeks post-op.  If you had any compromise or delay of your healing,  this must be resolved before the resumption of smoking.  I personally would not have a concern if you were healing well and there were no concerns on my part from what was done at your procedure.  But this differs from the majority of responders as you will see.

Recommendations will vary from one practice to another;  therefore your plastic surgeon will have the most relevant recommendations for you. In my practice, I ask patients to avoid  nicotine in all its "modalities' of delivery 6 weeks prior to surgery. It is a powerful constrictor of blood vessels, decreasing blood flow to the “flaps” used during these procedures. This decreased blood flow could potentially lead to wound healing problems and/or tissue necrosis. 
Best advice: avoid nicotine completely as long as possible prior to surgery and then do not restart.
Best wishes.