How long should I stop smoking before tummy tuck and breast lift?

Smoking may affect your #healing and the end result of your surgery. It's best to call your plastic #surgeon to better clarify. It is encouraged to refrain from cigarettes prior surgery and post op in order decrease the chance of complications and promote better healing. Therefore, the farther in advance prior surgery and the more time after the procedure, you can avoid #smoking, the better it may be for your surgical #outcomes and your overall #health. It's also very important to implement healthy lifestyle choices to not only prolong your surgical results, but most importantly, to reduce your risk of illness and disease which will impact your health. If you find it difficult to quit smoking, speak to your physician who can provide information and programs that are properly designed to help you quit. 

Sorry to hear you started smoking just 3 months ago.  Maybe you can quickly break the habit.  I would recommend that you stop now.  You should be OK to keep your surgery date on September 10.  Also, don't smoke for at least 2 weeks after surgery.  Some surgeons recommend 4 weeks and obviously the more time not smoking the better but it is better if you successfully stop for 2 weeks rather than unsuccessfully try to stop for 4 weeks.  It's a tough habit to break, obviously.  I've had patients who have not quit and most do not have complications, but some do.  Fortunately, areas of delayed healing do heal in over time and patients are still satisfied.  Perhaps you can use your surgery as an opportunity to quit.  The type of surgery and how it is done matter as well.  A vertical breast lift is less risky than the anchor scar method in terms of blood supply to the skin and nipples.  If you wish to read more you can visit my website.  I'm attaching a link below.

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.

Thank you for your question. The risks of complciations from smoking is very serious.  I would highly recommend discontinuing all nicotine products 4-8 weeks before surgery.  Best wishes.

Hello,Ideally? give yourself as much time as possible. A minimum of one month before and after is ideal,  preferably longer. I will allow a 2 week minimum, both before and after, provided the patient's whole health picture is good.You run the risk of healing badly/slowly and as a result of incisions slow to close and poor perfusion, infection risk is higher, risk of scarring is worse...Talk to your Doctor about ways to help you quit. It will be worth it.

It
is imperative that you do not smoke for this operation. Science has shown us
how dangerous cigarette smoking is to your circulation and healing. The sooner
you go off cigarettes before surgery the better. Two weeks is better than
nothing. Many doctors will not operate on you unless you stop smoking for at
least 6 months. This is all for your own protection. Particularly in operations
like tummy tuck and breast lift, where we cut the blood supply to tissue, lift
it up, and then close it with tension, smoking is a particular danger.

The main issue is nicotine from any source, because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning that it constricts the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the tissues. With breast lifts, tummy tucks and similar procedures such as facelifts, the skin is put on tension in a way that stresses the blood flow. If you add the effect of nicotine, circulation can be cut off completely to some of the skin and it would then result in very serious complications. If you are not using any substitute nicotine such as patches or gum, the 2-week interval before surgery should be OK.

Most plastic surgeons would ask that you refrain from smoking for two weeks prior to elective cosmetic surgery. Some may insist on a longer interval. Smoking itself is not a contraindication to surgery but it does increase risks.

In general, the longer the time following cessation of smoking prior to surgery lowers one's risk of healing problems following certain surgeries such as tummy tuck and breast lift. It takes roughly 6 months to get down to the same risk level as a non-smoker although in many cases quitting three weeks prior to your surgery is safe. This can depend on the techniques used. Be honest with your surgeon to assess your risk with regards to this.

Thank you for your question.  Ideally, you should stop smoking one month prior to your procedure.  Blood flow to your abdominal wall is compromised following a tummy tuck.  Smoking can further compromise the blood flow to the wall following surgery.  Let your surgeon and anesthesia provider know and get their opinion.  It is important to be honest with your care team.Best of luck,