Do I have to reschedule breast reduction if I just quit smoking?

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 breast reduction 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 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!

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.

The decision is a joint one up to you and your surgeon. I would contact your plastic surgeon as soon as possible and let him know truthfully. He will appreciate your honesty. Next a discussion over your specific increased risks in necessary before a decision is made. 

 


Other factors need to be considered and  also add up such as being overweight, on Birth Control Pills or hormones, or if you have a medical condition that causes hypercoagulation. Most experts unanimously agree that smoking increases the rate of  breast  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.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.

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. For example,  for a tummy tuck there is increased likelihood of both an infection and loss of skin because of inadequate circulation

Thanks for your question, and good job quitting smoking, however you bring up an excellent point of debate, how long is long enough before major surgeries like a breast reduction to quit.  My advice has always been 3-4 weeks before and 3-4 weeks after to reduce smoking related healing complications.  Each surgeon uses different breast reduction techniques-some of which are more susceptible to the negative effects of nicotine.  Please call your surgeon to discuss this important matter.  Good luck.

Every surgeon will have his/her own policy on smoking restrictions and elective surgery. I personally would require at least 4 weeks of no smoking before a breast reduction. Rescheduling is less inconvenient than the possibility of dealing with wound healing issues. Although the chances are actually good that you could have the surgery without any problems, there really is no reason to increase your risk for an elective procedure.