How Long Should One Stop Smoking Before a Brow Lift?

The textbook answer is 2-3 weeks before and 2-3 weeks after.  In reality the brow/forehead has a much better blood supply than the face and the risk of complications in smokers is much higher with a face/neck lift than with a brow/forehead lift.

The quick answer is at least 2 weeks.   The longer the wait time, the quicker the healing can be.  The same is true for smoking after surgery.  There are different types of brow lifting technique, with somewhat differnt healing periods.

It is best to stop 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery. Smoking constricts blood supply which we don't want.

It is best to not be smoking 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after a brow lift operation.  Smoking causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels from the nicotine and smokers have a higher carbon monoxide component in their blood stream.  Both of these lead to significant healing issues after elective cosmetic surgery.  

Thank you for the question. You will find that every surgeon may have a different protocol.

I ask patients to stop use of all nicotine products for one month prior to surgery.

I hope this helps.

At least 2 to 3 weeks before surgery and continue 2 to 3 weeks after surgery is about the standard guidline to stop smoking before most surgical procedures. This will ensure a much easier and better post op healing.

For one's overall health it pays to stop smoking completely.  However, with regard to browlift surgery, or any other major surgery, one should cease smoking for two weeks before and at least two weeks after the procedure.  This will maximize the blood's ability to carry oxygen to the healing tissues and decrease the risk of wound healing problems.

With more invasive procedures like a brow lift or a facelift we always recommend that a patient not smoke for two weeks before and after surgery. Perhaps this is wishful thinking, but we ecourage patients to use this time as an opportunity to stop smoking permanently.

If possible discontinue smoking for as long as possible prior to surgery.  At least 50% of smokers have complications with wound healing.  Additionally, the patient has made a large commintment to have surgery, enduring the cost, time off work, and possible complications.  Why not do all you can to enhancce the results?