I’m worried that my fat transfer to my buttocks will not survive. I’ve been smoking after my BBL, is this bad?

I am not sure that there is a tremendous amount of data in literature to render a judgment on this.  I would say that at 6 weeks the fat that is there should be permanent, but smoking may compromise some portion.  This would be purely speculative, and I am not sure that anyone knows the answer. Smoking 4 days after surgery is probably not wise as we know that smoking reduces circulation to the skin and impedes healing.Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeryLos Angeles, CA

Hello dear!Thanks for the question and provided information as well.Smoking before or after your surgery can increase your risk of developing complications, including infection and wound healing problems. I recommend my patients that it is ideal to stop at least 6 weeks before surgery and then 6 weeks more after surgery.If you have any concerns, please follow up close with your plastic surgeon.Good luck :)

most likely you're smoking did not have a dramatic impact on the survival of your fat graft. There's no question that smoking is very bad in regards to healing. There are a handful of procedures done in  plastic surgery where smoking is disastrous.  These are procedures when tissues are partially separated causing a compromise in their blood supply.  In particular these include facelifts, tummy tucks, breast reductions and breast lifts.  There are others but those are the most common. Heavy tobacco use after these procedures can lead to devastating complications including complication rates close to 50%. Other procedures such as breast augmentation or blepharoplasty smoking has virtually no impact.  Fat transfer is something where blood supply is very important but the blood supply is not changed like in the above stated procedures.  No one can tell you for sure exactly how much fat would have survived if you didn't smoke. There are too many variables including how much you were smoking etc.  My best guess is high-volume fat transfer procedure in someone smoking two packs a day would probably cause at least a 50% decrease in fat survival.  I would be much more concerned about your possible future lung cancer, emphysema, premature facial aging, cardiovascular disease including heart attacks, strokes and amputations then losing some of the grafted fat in your butt.Just my opinion.  Smoking is a habit worth going to great links to give up.  Millions of others have quit and so can you.  Believe in yourself. Don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work the first time around. Just keep on walking down the path of a smoke-free world. Best, Mats Hagstrom MD