Smoking and plastic surgery, especially if the procedure involves skin tightening and removal, do not combine well. First and foremost, the nicotine found in tobacco products inhibit normal healing as it constricts the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood towards the wound. A good rule of thumb is to avoid smoking at least 3-4 weeks before and after surgery, although it is not uncommon for some plastic surgeons to be extra conservative especially if the procedure includes skin tightening/contouring such as facelift, body lift, tummy tuck, breast lift, etc. Good luck and best wishes.
Make sure your surgeon knows about your smoking. He/she can then advise you regarding his/her preference for how long to be off of cigarettes and possibly adjust the surgical plan. I typically have my patients off of cigarettes and all products that contain nicotine for 6-8 weeks before a facelift. I will sometimes alter that timeframe based on various factors.Take care