Is smoking after a breast augmentation detrimental to recovery?

Thank you for your question. It is very well documented from published research that smoking cigarettes before and after surgery does adversely affect outcomes. The detrimental effect is primarily the result of nicotine causing powerful constriction of small blood vessels, thereby reducing blood flow at surgical wound margins. This interferes with healing which may be manifested as poor scarring, wounds opening and or wounds becoming infected. Data supports that these complications may best be avoided by completely avoiding smoking for 3-4 weeks before and 3-4 weeks after surgery. Hopefully your incisions were adequately healed 2 weeks after surgery, however you should not have any more cigarettes until at least 4 weeks after surgery and continue to follow up with your surgeon. Best of luck. Dr. Max Polo

It is extremely important that you avoid all nicotine use for 6 weeks after your breast augmentation to prevent a wound healing complication.  Please make sure to follow up closely with your surgeon so they can monitor for any signs of wound healing issues give. Your nicotine use.  Good luck!

Yes, even just one cigarette can cause wound healing complications so best to stop ASAP. Also, keep a close eye on your incisions and continue following up with your operating surgeon so he or she can monitor your progress. Good luck!

Congratulations on your recent surgery! 
Smoking is a big danger in pretty much every plastic surgery procedure. There are numerous studies showing smoking significantly increases the risks of complications. The main concern in breast augmentation patients would likely be problems with wound healing. 
Smoking leads to a constriction, or clamping down, of blood vessels which then impairs blood flow needed to get to the wound. Therefore, the wound can't get the necessary factors to heal properly. If the breast augmentation incision has problems healing, this could lead to problems such as an exposure of the implant and infection. Both of these could then require breast implant removal. 
It is advisable for all patients to stop smoking for at least 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery (preferably permanently). Speak with your plastic surgeon to let him or her know you have resumed smoking, so assistance with quitting can be given if necessary. 
Best, 
Rohit Jaiswal, MD
Plastic Surgery 
Las Vegas, NV and Lake Havasu City, AZ 

Any amount of tobacco use can lead to complications during your breast augmentation recovery, including an impaired wound healing process, increased risk of infection and more pronounced scaring. For the best possible results, you really want to try to make it to the four-week mark without smoking. If you have concerns about the way your incisions are healing, don’t hesitate to give your plastic surgeon’s office a call. Wishing you the best of luck!

Smoking only 4 cigarettes since surgery should not significantly affect your outcome. Smoking can reduce healing, compromise blood supply and increase the risk of infection. It is recommended not to smoke until at least 6 weeks postoperatively or better yet, to quit entirely. Best wishes!
Dr. Phillip Dahan

Cigarette smoking is detrimental to wound healing.  There are numerous scientific studies proving smoking reduces the blood supply to healing tissue which in turn may lead to longer healing times, wound breakdown, and infections.  Wound breakdown and infection may in turn jeopardize the implant after breast augmentation.  
In our practice, clients must agree to smoking cessation 4-weeks prior to surgery and continue to avoid cigarette smoke, including second-hand smoke, until complete healing has been achieved. 
 Interestingly nicotine gums and patches do not seem to affect wound healing.  I encourage you to discontinue smoking until you have healed completely as well as to seek frequent follow-ups with your surgeon in order to monitor the progress of the incisions.
I hope this answer is helpful.

Smoking causes shrinkage of blood vessels and decreased blood flow. At this point your healing tissue needs more blood flow, not less. The blood brings oxygen, nutrients, and white blood cells to your tissues. By smoking you increase the chance of scarring, infection, capsular contracture, tissue death, and implant loss. Please stop smoking.

This is a great question.  In general, smoking can be harmful to your tissues especially after surgery because it decreases blood flow.  Adequate blood flow is necessary to heal the breast around the implant and at the incision.  I recommend that you follow up with your plastic surgeon to make sure you are healing appropriately.  

Congratulations on your breast augmentation.  The problem with smoking after breast augmentation surgery is that the risk of capsular contracture is increased by smoking.  That is a very bad complication which requires surgery and you do not want that to happen to you.