Smoking 10/11 days post op after breast augmentation. Is this ok?

Thank you so much for your question.  Smoking is a very bad idea post op.  Nicotine is a vaso-constrictor.  Wound healing is all about getting blood supply to the wound.  Smoking has been seen to increase; capsular scarring, wounds falling apart, infections, increasing revision rates.  It is just a bad idea.  You have put time and recourses into this project.  Please don't mess it up.  You have also not smoked for a while, keep up the good work and be a non-smoker.  Always best to tell your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon your concerns. 
Jeffrey J. Roth, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Las Vegas Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your question.  As every surgeon has their own unique set of post operative instructions, it is always bets to first consult with your operating physician.  That being said, we advise our patients to wait a minimum of 3-4 weeks post surgery before exposing themselves to nicotine, smoking, etc. as smoking increases all of the risks associated with surgery such as but not limited to delayed wound healing, risk of infextion, risk of capsular contraucture, and possibility of additional surgical procedures.With kind regards,

Lane F. Smith, M.D.,
F.A.A.C.S., F.A.O.H.N.S., F.A.B.F.P.R.S.

Las Vegas Plastic
Surgeon

Thank you for your question. I require my patients to cease smoking four weeks prior to surgery and for at least four weeks following surgery. Smokers have higher complication rates due to decreased blood flow to the skin. This often results in wound healing problems and possible tissue necrosis. Please discuss with your board certified plastic surgeon.

Thank you for your question- and yes smoking is still bad for you.  The nicotine in the cigarettes causing the blood vessels that allow healing to become clamped down, impairing wound healing and increasing the chance of infection.   All the best, 

As some others have said, smoking
this soon after your breast augmentation can negatively affect your body’s
healing process and has the potential to cause complications. Even just a few
cigarettes, as you mention, is enough to cause problems. Typically, women are
urged not to smoke during the weeks leading up to, as well as at last 4 weeks
following their procedure. Following your plastic surgeon’s specific
instructions for recovery really is key to a safe and effective breast
augmentation. Best of luck!

Of course everyone know the answer to this question.  Smoking is bad for your health at any time and especially after major surgery.  Your tissues need all the help that your body can provide to heal after surgery.  By smoking the oxygen content in your blood is lowered, the blood vessels are constricted and the immune system is inhibited.  All the wrong things if you want to heal properly.  Break the habit, stop smoking now.

Dear newbewbs7,

Thank you for your clinical post and
very common question. Clearly smoking
pre and post-operatively is strongly discouraged and in many cases of flap
surgery such as a face lift, tummy tuck or external rhinoplasty is frankly
contraindicated. Cigarette smoke
contains Nicotine and Nicotine causes vasoconstriction, which is deleterious to
elevated soft tissue flaps and therefore predisposing to necrosis, death and
unsightly scars.

Additionally, smokers are at greater
risk of pulmonary complications following surgery such as pneumonia and other
respiratory illnesses. For flap-based
surgery most surgeons will insist on stopping surgery 4 weeks before surgery
and ensure cessation of smoking until 1 month after surgery. For non flap-based surgery such as
liposuction, breast augmentation and certain endoscopic procedures the
deleterious effects of the Nicotine are much less adverse. So, in answer to your question smoking, when
to chew cigarettes 10-11 days following breast augmentation is likely not going
to compromise wound healing or the post-operative outcome. However, most surgeons would still recommend
not smoking for 4 weeks following surgery.
Clearly, for one’s health smoking which is the number one cause of
atherosclerotic disease and cancer is best not to partake at all.

I’m sure you’re going to get an
excellent result and investing this amount of time and energy, I would avoid
smoking post-operatively until the time that you’re operative surgeon recommends. Check with the office if the instructions are
unclear.

I hope this information is of some
assistance and best of luck.

To find out more, please visit the
link below.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto

Thank you for your question. I advise my patients to not smoke as smoking and secondary smoke affect wound healing in a potentially devastating way. Any exposure to smoke can result in poor wound healing, delayed wound healing, skin loss necessitating skin grafting, increased risk in wound infection and lost of skin and deeper tissues. Decreased blood supply to those areas is the cause of these complications. Nicotine is what causes the constriction of the capillaries and small blood vessels that feed the skin with oxygen.  Just best to stay away from smoke for at least four weeks. Good luck in your continued recovery!