Is quitting smoking 14 days prior to mommy makeover enough time to reduce risks?

Hello! Thank you for your question! The issue with nicotine is that it
also acts as a vasoconstrictor, clamping down of blood vessels. Blood
supply is always of great concern during any surgical procedure, but
especially in such a procedure as a mastopexy and ummy tuck where the viability of the
nipple-areolar complex as well as skin/tissue and belly button is obviously important. Since the vascularity to
the area is already tenuous since it will be raised by cutting around
the area, maximizing blood flow to the tissue is critical. Typically,

we recommend at least 6 weeks of smoking cessation prior to and at
least 6 weeks after any surgical procedure. The longer, the better.
Nicotine always increases the risk for infection, nipple necrosis, poor
scarring, and
wound complications, as well as other health consequences including blood clots. The
anesthesia risk is greater with general anesthesia as well as pulmonary
issues/lung infections postoperatively. I would
discuss this with your surgeon prior to your procedure. Hope that this
helps! Best wishes!

Smoking brings a significant risk of cancer, stroke, heat attack, etc. From a Plastic Surgery standpoint it is a vasoconstrictor. Wound healing is all about getting oxygen and needed entities to the wound. It is well known that patient who smoke have a tremendous increase in their rate of serious complications, (infections, wounds falling apart, etc.). Nicotine is the main vasoconstrictor, so getting a patch or lozenge of nicotine won't help the vasoconstriction. Best to be off the tobacco/nicotine entirely before surgery. Please be honest with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Together you can make a plan to quit and proceed with surgery. The amount of time between quitting and surgery will depend on the Plastic Surgeon and the procedure.

Smoking increases the risks of many complications during and after surgery. It is reccomendded that patients stop smoking atleast one month prior to surgery. The longer you stop, the better.

My typical recommendation when a patient is undergoing a tummy tuck and breast lift and augmentation is to quit smoking 2-3 months prior to your surgery date. 

We require our patients to have quit smoking 2 weeks before a tummy tuck, breast lift, or facelift because of the specific risks of healing associated with nicotine exposure. Keep in mind that you haven't really quit until whatever withdrawal symptoms you will have are over as well; until then it is just good intentions.

Most surgeons expect patients to quit smoking two weeks prior to a mommy makeover. The literature however is very Unclear about the specific effects of smoking relative to the time of an operation.

Nicotine causes constriction of the blood vessels that are vital to proper healing and the effects can last long after the last cigarette is smoked.  Smokers have a higher risk of wound healing problems, skin loss, infection, and poor scarring.  Exactly how long a patient should avoid cigarettes before their surgery to minimize their risks has not been identified.  If you stop smoking 13 days before your surgery, your risks may be lower than if you smoked a cigarette the day of surgery, but it's probably not as low as it could be.  When you're having elective cosmetic surgery, it's in your best interest to do all you can to have the best result you can achieve.  I recommend that patients stop smoking and all nicotine products for at least 4 weeks and preferably 6 weeks prior to surgery and avoid those products in the first two weeks after surgery as well.  I suggest you talk with your surgeon about postponing your surgery until you've been off  cigarettes longer.

I typically recommend that my patients stop smoking 6 weeks prior to surgery.  Please check with surgeon concerning his/her recommendations concerning the matter.

There are several studies that have been conducted recently that have tried to identify exactly how long a patient should stop smoking before surgery. But we don't have any exact answers to the question yet. But every plastic surgeon should have a policy concerning the issue. I make my patients stop smoking a minimum of 4 weeks before a breast lift or tummy tuck procedure. I feel more comfortable when they have stopped 6 weeks before as at least 1 study would suggest. But your surgeon might have a different policy and set of experiences. I will say that you are considering having a surgery that will certainly tax your body and is going to require as much oxygen as possible to heal well. For that reason, I would probably consider postponing your procedure. If you were just having a breast augmentation with a 3.5 cm incision, it would be a different story.

  Anytime you quit making smoking its a good thing. We prefer for patient to stop smoking altogether 3-4 weeks prior to their surgery. The answer to your question is yes, however, longer time is preferable. Good luck