Very healthy, age 56, 5’6, 165lbs, do I need to cancel my surgery because of smoking?

Smoking prior to surgery increases the risk of wound healing complications. The current standard is 4 weeks prior and 4 weeks after to abstain from any nicotine products. You will have a foreign body placed. You will be paying cash for an elective surgery. No one can predict the future for you, however you have to ask yourself if this is something you can put off for only a few weeks! If you were my patient I would want you to have the best possible outcome.

You should absolutely discuss this with your surgeon. Typically it is recommended you delay your surgery until you have been nicotine free for several weeks. Nicotine in any form can cause problems with wound healing and increase the chance of infection. Your surgeon will advise you what is recommended for you based on her/his protocol.