Is quitting smoking three weeks prior to Liposuction / fat transfer to breasts long enough?

Question

I am having surgery in three weeks, I am having fat transfer to my breasts.... I have quit smoking... Will three weeks be enough time so the most of the fat cell don't die?

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Smoking before or after your surgery can increase your risk of developing complications including infection and wound healing problems.  I tell my patients that it is ideal to stop a couple months ahead of surgery and then for a couple months after surgery. Please discuss with your surgeon what their guidelines are for your particular surgery.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Most experts unanimously agree that smoking increases the rate of  breast augmentation surgical complications significantly. Just about all plastic surgeons strongly recommend  women  to stop smoking and all nicotine products well in advance of breast augmentation with breast implants.  Many plastic surgeons recommend stopping all tobacco products several months prior to surgery.Here is the reason why: the nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products (including Nicorette gum, patches, etc) is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it makes the Smoking is a significant multiplier of many potential complications following surgery and breast augmentation with implants are no exception. Nicotine from smoking causes blood vessels to vasoconstrict ( tighten up). Over time, these constricted arteries and capillaries deliver less blood to the breast tissue which is needed for normal healing. Smokers therefore have an increased incidence of higher likelihood of complications such as infection, and in particular capsular contracture (hardening and distortion of the implants). General complications of surgery such as blood clots, anesthetic problems such as pneumonia are also increased. A scientific article in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicated that, among all forms of surgery, quitting smoking eight weeks prior was never associated with an increased risk of complications.In young patients you will probably statistically avoid these complications, why tempt fate by increasing your odds that something bad will happen.On a long term basis, smoking also causes accelerated aging of the skin and loss of elasticity. Hopefully these reasons will help give you the will power and courage to stop smoking.

Jose Perez-Gurri, MD, FACS · Answer

THis is dependent on your surgeon. We all have rules of thumb and formulas that have worked for years. Three week cesation should be sufficient. All smokers will have an increased risk of poor healing. Stopping smoking three or ten weeks before will not affect the possible problems in healing. Understand that after decades of smoking the microvasculature that feeds blood supply and oxygen to the tissues has been greatly affected. However, by stopping smoking prior to your surgery, you will decrease the cahnces of having pulmonary comoplications in the post-op period. Good luck

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Every surgeon has his/her on recommendations concerning when to stop smoking.  I recommend 2 months because lung function begins to improve at that point which is important for anesthesia.  Healing capacity would certainly be improved in that same time frame.

Thomas Trevisani, MD · Answer

Yes, should be sufficient. In our practice- we also order Chest X-ray before surgery. Good luck with your surgery!

Luis A. Cenedese, MD, FACS · Answer

Avoidance of cigarette, second hand smoke from others in the room or car and nicotene for at least three weeks and longer after surgery will make the chance of complications less likely. Breast augmentation with fat is best suited for those patlients who desire shaping and more fullness obtained with their own tissues. It is a procedure that has been performed safely since the early 1990's. Mammographic micro-calcifications are distinguishable from malignant ones with modern mammogram technology. More than one procedure is required to obtain the results that most augmentation patients seek. Liposuction with fat transfer may be accomplished without general anesthesia with associated mild post-operative pain. Recovery is only a matter of days. In the long run it should not cost more than breast implant augmentation when we take into account that the fat lasts and does not have to be replaced in the future as implants do.Please consult in person with an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon prior to making treatment decisions.

David Bogue, MD · Answer

Smoking cessation for 3 weeks prior to surgery AND after is a reasonable amount of time. The longer the better, but it is also important to avoid nicotine replacement as well. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor which means that is can reduce blood flow to surgical areas when used as a gum or patch. Discuss this in detail with your surgeon.

Todd C. Case, MD · Answer

No question you should stop smoking for at least three weeks before AND after fat transfer to not compromise the blood supply to the fat grafting anymore than the microcirculation has already been compromised from your smoking.

George John Alexander, MD, FACS · Answer

As a general recommendation, all
patients will do better if they are smoke free prior to surgery.  Your surgeon will be the best doctor to ask
for specific timeframes to stop smoking before and after your proposed
surgery.  I do recommend at least two
weeks (the longer, the better) of non-smoking prior to liposuction and ideally
four weeks after surgery.  I even
recommend that patients avoid second hand smoke while they are healing.  It’s great that you are asking this question before
surgery.  Smoking cessation is important
for your immediate and long term healing. 
Best of luck with your upcoming surgery!

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

As one of the few surgeons doing Fat Grafting to the breasts, I must tell you this is a very difficult operation to achieve good results because of 2 reasons. First, the surgeons have not done enough of these operations to gain the experience and it is a must to do or follow Dr Coleman's techniques for Fat Grafting. Second is the effect on healing even if a smoker stops before surgery, there could still be a decrease survival of the fat grafts. What is the best time to decrease the smoking effect is really not known. But you need to be informed that the fat could dissolve in higher %s than in a non smoker (informed consent). Good Luck.

Is quitting smoking three weeks prior to Liposuction / fat transfer to breasts long enough?

Answers (10)

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