How long must I stop smoking before a mommy makeover?

Thank you for your excellent question.  Because of the types of skin flaps created during mommy makeover surgery it would be wise to try and eliminate the negative blood flow and breathing effects of nicotine as much as possible.  I would recommend stopping at least 4 weeks before and after surgery.  Hope this helps. 

Hello Khondida,I ask that my patients be completely nicotine free (cigarettes, patches, gum...) for at least one month prior to surgery and after.  The nicotine contained in a single cigarette decreases the blood flow to the skin for around 90 minutes.  Healthy blood flow is essential to proper wound healing and without it the risk of infection and wound healing issues greatly increase.   Stopping smoking prior to an elective surgery is necessary to lower your surgery and post-surgery risks and is a great opportunity kick the habit completely.Best of Luck!Dr. Rednam

Thank you very much for your question, and I would like to direct you to your own surgeon to ensure that you get the best advice. Since there are many differences between the types of surgery, anesthesia and medications that are used between procedures and surgeons, then the best thing to do would be whatever he says. Good luck to you.

The standard answer to that question is 4 to 6 weeks.  Cigarettes can cause the blood vessels to go into spasm and this gets less likely at 4 weeks and then there is the direct affect of decreasing oxygen to the tissue when you smoke shortly after surgery.  As an former smoker, I would say if you have made it four weeks then you should never start again. There are some difficult urges to smoke for a year but they are less frequent and last for only short periods of time.

You should stop smoking at least two weeks (preferably four weeks) before any type of body contouring plastic surgery. Discuss this in more detail with your surgeon.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno

Smoking cigarettes (and the nicotine found in some gum) can cause serious healing issues.The blood supply to the nipples/areolas as well as to the skin around and below the navel is reduced because of the nicotine.With a reduced blood supply, the skin of these regions can actually die once an incision is made with either a mastopexy (breast lift) or abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).  I ask my patients to stop smoking all cigarettes and discontinue any nicotine gum for one month prior to their procedures. 

Glad to hear that you are aware of the danger of smoking and surgery. It can definitely impact your surgery and healing. I recommend that you stop as soon as possible, I require my patients to stop at a minimum of two weeks prior to surgery, but longer is better! Good luck!

Thank you for your question.  Smoking in the peri-operative period has been shown, in multiple studies, to result in a higher complication rate. I require my patients to stop smoking at least 4 weeks prior to surgery and not smoke for 4 weeks following the procedure. Please make sure you are cared for by a board certified plastic surgeon. Hope this helps and good luck.

I usually ask my patients to refrain from nicotine for 6 weeks preop, but the longer you are off nicotine the better.  Good luck. Jane

It really is paramount that you eliminate nicotine use when elective surgery is planned. Four weeks before and after surgery is ideal. As I tell all patients, if you can grasp that cigarettes, cigars, patches, nicotine gum all place you at an elevated risk for wound healing complications, skin death, higher potential for revision so surgery...why do the surgery?? Quitting is a short term investment for a long term gain. Especially when you consider the time, effort, and money you'll be putting into the procedure.