Hi! My BA surgery is on Friday at 9AM...48 hours essentially. I am not an occasional smoker but today I smoked two cigarettes and also three cigarettes last week. I am 24 years old, healthy, etc. I did smoke for two years in college but the past five months, I have occasionally smoked while drinking. Over the past week (leading up to my BA), I smoked a total of 8 cigarettes, last Wednesday and then two cigarettes today. Should I cancel my BA surgery on Friday ? Thank you for your help!
June 22, 2015
Answer: Ask your surgeon Smoking affects your ability to heal, and I recommend that you stop smoking at least two weeks before your surgery to adequately prepare your body. However, you should ask your surgeon for their advice. They may recommend your surgery be postponed.
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June 22, 2015
Answer: Ask your surgeon Smoking affects your ability to heal, and I recommend that you stop smoking at least two weeks before your surgery to adequately prepare your body. However, you should ask your surgeon for their advice. They may recommend your surgery be postponed.
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September 20, 2015
Answer: Smoked two cigarettes 48 hours before BA surgery - is that ok? 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 breast surgery where the viability of the nipple-areolar complex 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 any surgical procedure. Nicotine always increases the risk for infection and wound complications, as well as other health consequences. These couple cigarettes will likely not impact vascularity, but I would discuss this with your surgeon prior to your procedure. Some surgeons will refuse to operate on smokers due to increased risk of infection, wound complications, scarring issues, blood clots, let alone the pulmonary complications that can occur with general anesthesia and afterwards. Hope that this helps! Best wishes!
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September 20, 2015
Answer: Smoked two cigarettes 48 hours before BA surgery - is that ok? 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 breast surgery where the viability of the nipple-areolar complex 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 any surgical procedure. Nicotine always increases the risk for infection and wound complications, as well as other health consequences. These couple cigarettes will likely not impact vascularity, but I would discuss this with your surgeon prior to your procedure. Some surgeons will refuse to operate on smokers due to increased risk of infection, wound complications, scarring issues, blood clots, let alone the pulmonary complications that can occur with general anesthesia and afterwards. Hope that this helps! Best wishes!
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