I recently had an abdominal mesh wall put in me. Can I smoke a cigarette?

Thanks for the question. You should wait a couple of months because your operation area trying to get healed. Then after yes you can do smoke and drink. I wish you all the best.

Bad idea. I would urge you not to smoke following surgery. It definitely leads to tissue death for many reasons. The biggest is the effect of nicotine. So I would strongly suggest you avoid nicotine gum or patches or vaping with nicotine containing liquid. The greater the undermining of tissue, the greater the chance of fat or skin loss. So, if it was with an abdominoplasty, you're a set up for a large tissue loss. If it was a hernia repair alone, the chances of tissue loss are less, but the chance of a really bad outcome is real. So sorry. Smoking is a bad addiction, but tissue breakdown with the need for additional surgery is worse. Try your best not to smoke.

Sorry to be a grammar hound, but of course you CAN, and NO, you shouldn't. You didn't say how far after surgery you are, but I suspect you are not completely healed, and we know definitively that nicotine causes vasoconstriction that can lead to ischemia, reduced healing, and sometimes necrosis and dead skin/tissue.Do you really "need" a cigarette so much that you would risk infected/exposed mesh and loss of your repair?Ask your doctor for Chantix or Zyban, but understand that nicotine patch, gum. or spray can still have the same negative effects, so these (nicotine-containing) choices are out. But stop and stay stopped. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

No. Smoking is bad for your health, period, but it will definitely adversely affect your healing process. It can lead to infection and even necrosis. Kindly,Kouros Azar

In general, smoking is not a good idea period.  If you are going to have surgery and are a smoker, it is best to stop at least 2-4 weeks prior and to remain off for 2-4 weeks after or until you are fully healed. Best to review with your surgeon.