Smoked a Cigarette 3 Days Post Breast Implant Removal, Will I Heal Okay?

Question

I Smoked a Cigarett 3 Days Post my Breast Implant Removal, Will They Not Heal, I Wont Smoke Again

Kurtis Martin, MD · Answer

1 cigarette will probably not affect healing for breast implant removal since you are not altering the blood supply. But don't do it again!

Ozge Ergun, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question. You should meet your Board Certified Surgeon after this situation. Because you should wait 4-6 weeks because your operation area trying to get healed. Then after yes you can do smoke and drink. I wish you all the best.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Most experts unanimously agree that smoking increases the rate of  breast augmentation surgical complications significantly. Just about all plastic surgeons strongly recommend  women  to stop smoking and all nicotine products well in advance of breast augmentation with breast implants.  Many plastic surgeons recommend stopping all tobacco products several months prior to surgery.Here is the reason why: the nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products (including Nicorette gum, patches, etc) is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it makes the Smoking is a significant multiplier of many potential complications following surgery and breast augmentation with implants are no exception. Nicotine from smoking causes blood vessels to vasoconstrict ( tighten up). Over time, these constricted arteries and capillaries deliver less blood to the breast tissue which is needed for normal healing. Smokers therefore have an increased incidence of higher likelihood of complications such as infection, and in particular capsular contracture (hardening and distortion of the implants). General complications of surgery such as blood clots, anesthetic problems such as pneumonia are also increased. A scientific article in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicated that, among all forms of surgery, quitting smoking eight weeks prior was never associated with an increased risk of complications.In young patients you will probably statistically avoid these complications, why tempt fate by increasing your odds that something bad will happen.On a long term basis, smoking also causes accelerated aging of the skin and loss of elasticity. Hopefully these reasons will help give you the will power and courage to stop smoking.

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Smoking before or after your surgery can increase your risk of developing complications including infection and wound healing problems.  I tell my patients that it is ideal to stop a couple months ahead of surgery and then for a couple months after surgery. Please discuss with your surgeon what their guidelines are for your particular surgery.

Lewis Albert Andres, MD · Answer

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 surgical procedure where the viability of the
 nipple-areolar complex and tissue 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!

Marc Pacifico, MD, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

All forms of nicotine should really be avoided for any plastic surgery procedure. This is particularly true of cigarettes, but also applies to replacement patches/gum etc. 

	 

	The reason is that nicotine act as a powerful drug that shrinks down small blood vessels. And it is exactly these small blood vessels that are needed to heal your wounds. In addition, the skin is often put under tension in plastic surgery operations. This also has the effect of reducing blood supply. Therefore if you smoke as well, it is effectively a "double whammy" for your wounds and they are at a much higher risk of infection and would healing problems.

Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS · Answer

While a single cigarette is unlikely to significantly impact the results, cigarette smoking does risk complicating healing.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Cigarettes are a no no!  While I doubt one cigarette will cause any problems, cigarettes in general increase the risk of major complications with healing.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Although impossible to say for certain, I think it is unlikely that a single cigarette smoked 3 days after breast implant removal will change your course. These operations are associated with small incisions are generally heal well.

	Best wishes.

Smoked a Cigarette 3 Days Post Breast Implant Removal, Will I Heal Okay?

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