Smoker being put under Gereral Anesthesia

Smoking affects the lungs and can affect your reaction to anesthesia.  In particular, smokers tend to have more secretions.  However, let the anesthesiologist know you are a smoker and they will be able to deal with it safely.

Cigarette smoke contains 4000 toxic substances. The
effects of each of these substances on the outcome of a breast augmentation has
not been studied individually. The most important issues with cigarette
smoke is the carbon monoxide, which compromises the oxygen delivery to the
healing tissues, and the nicotine, which causes spasm of the blood vessels
delivering blood to the healing wound. Anything that compromises healing
can lead to an increase risk of infection, wound separation, or capsular
contracture. Just because there is no scientific paper which links
nicotine or carbon monoxide specifically to the development of capsular contracture,
does not mean that an association exists but has not been adequately
identified. Clearly eliminating the smoke is important because of the
carbon monoxide poisoning of the blood. Eliminating nicotine is important
as well. It would be wise to stay away from nicotine until everything is
completely healed.

You did not include any of your background health information to help answer this question more definitively but as a general rule your risks of anesthesia increase more with underlying health conditions related to your heart and lungs.If you are young and healthy smoking is more likely to impact wound healing only. You will need to pay particular attention to deep breathing post operatively to help prevent pneumonia but you will not die from anesthesia simply because you smoke.Your surgeon and your medical doctor assess these risks factors prior to your surgery to determine your relative risk.However, the longer you can refrain from smoking prior to surgery the less likely smoking will impact your recovery.

Thank you for your question.  Your risk of dying is extremely low from anesthesia because of smoking.  It will however increase the risk of wound healing.  I would visit with your plastic surgeon to discuss and possibly delay surgery if you know you are planning to quit to optimize your outcomes.

I advise my patients to stop smoking at least for 2 weeks prior to surgery. Delayed wound healing is a common problem after surgery for smokers. Please discuss this with your surgeon. He/she may want to postpone the surgery. Best of luck.

The reason to quit smoking really has more to do with your surgery and healing process as well as potential risks associated specifically with breasts and blood supply to the nipples.  You will be fine from an anesthetic standpoint, but from a surgery and healing standpoint, you really should discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon so he or she is aware that you have not quit smoking.  It may be in your best interest to delay the surgery.  Best of luck!

Active smokers have both additional surgical and anesthetic risks. Almost all plastic surgeons insist that they refrain from smoking for two weeks or more before elective surgery. Nevertheless, active smokers can have elective surgery provided they are willing to assume the risks.

General anesthesia is routinely administered to smokers every day throughout the US.  There are higher risks, though, including postoperative pulmonary issues and longer recovery.  Even more so than the anesthesia and smoking connection, however, is the delayed healing smoking can cause in any type of surgery.  Its important your plastic surgeon is aware of your smoking status so that he/she can plan accordingly.   Wishing you the best.

The best person to discuss this question with is your anesthesiologist.  Your plastic surgeon should be able to provide information so the two of you may talk.  Often, anesthesiologists will contact patients the evening before their surgery.  I would ask your plastic surgeon whether that is their policy.

Thank you for your question and you are obviously not going to die during anesthesia because you smoked but it may make recovery more difficultDr Corbin