What are the risks of smoking 5 weeks after tummy tuck?

Question

I just really need someone to kick me on the a**. I quit 7.5 years ago started to have the occasional smoke while drinking 6 months ago...didn't have any at all for 5 weeks after tt..then life became stressful with all my bills coming in and the last 2 weeks I been smoking about 6 or 7 a day.

Ozge Ergun, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question. You should wait 1-2 months because your operation area trying to get healed. Then after yes you can do smoke and drink. I wish you all the best.

Jeffrey J. Roth, MD, FACS · Answer

Remaining smoke free is important to the result.  Using tobacco products brings a significant risk of cancer, stroke, heat attack, etc. From a Plastic Surgery standpoint it is a vasoconstrictor. Wound healing is all about getting oxygen and needed entities to the wound. It is well known that patients who smoke have a tremendous increase in their rate of serious complications, (infections, wounds falling apart, etc.). Nicotine is the main vasoconstrictor, so getting a patch or lozenge of nicotine won't help the vasoconstriction. Best to be off the tobacco/nicotine entirely before surgery. Please be honest with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Together you can make a plan to stay a non smoker.

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 such a procedure as a breast augmentation where the viability of the
skin/tissue, and  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!

Frank Lista, MD · Answer

Smokers potentially have a greater risk of skin loss and
wound healing complications or infection.  You can reduce
your risk of complications by closely following your surgeon's instructions
before and after the surgery.  You have
quit before so if there was ever a time to quit, now is that time.  Remember you had this surgery for a reason
and you don’t want to do anything that may jeopardize your final result.

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

The risk is skin loss, and it can still happen at 5 weeks.  The TT itself wipes out a lot of the blood supply to the abdominal skin by dividing many small arteries that came from the underlying muscles. Nicotine decreases blood flow by a separate mechanism (narrowing the remaining small arteries) and often causes skin loss and prolonged healing problems. ALl the best.

What are the risks of smoking 5 weeks after tummy tuck?

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