Quit smoking 12 days before my breast lift and augmentation, will I be okay or should I postpone surgery?

Dear Ms. Lauren5103,Thank you for your questions.Smoking has shown by many scientific studies to:1) deprive your heart, tissue and skin of oxygen2) increased chance of forming blood clots in your veins3) greater difficulty to breathe during and after general anesthesia 4) increase your risk of infection5) impaired wound healing ie loss of skin or dead tissue 6) poor scar formation and appearance 7) alteration in effectiveness of some medications 8) postoperative smoking is worse than preoperative smoking.Multiple studies support and I strongly suggest stop 4 weeks before (minimal of 2 weeks) an 8 weeks (minimal of 4) after your planned surgery(Hopefully forever!).I it's not just the smoke but in addition the contents within tobacco that are similar that are found in e-cigarettes.It's only fair to be truthful and honest about your smoking habits before surgery with your Plastic Surgeon. It is your body and you are making a significant financial investment as well as desiring the best result that can be achieved.I trust your Plastic Surgeons is experienced and Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In addition and ideally he/she is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (denoting by membership as having met additional criteria and a focus on Cosmetic Plastic Surgery).I wish you my best and success,R. A. Hardesty, MD, FACSDiplomate and Certified by the Am. Bd. of Plastic Surgerywwwimagineplasticsurgery.com4646 Brockton AveRiverside, Ca 92506(951) 686-7600ppp

Thank you for your question.  Smoking is bad for you, it causes cancer, heart disease, strokes, etc.From a Plastic Surgery standpoint, we see the effects of smoking everyday in our clinics.  Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor.  When you use nicotine, it constrict the vessels.  Oxygen and would healing cellular messengers can't get to the wound appropriately.  Wound healing needs all of this to mend the wound the best it can.  Wounds that are on tension are even more susceptible to falling apart and/or having poor scarring, (Facelift, Breast Lift, Tummy Tuck).  Some Plastic Surgeons will not do these procedures on those who smoke.  Best to quit smoking as far as you can before the time of surgery, hopefully you won't find the need to pick up the habit again. If you quit, then you don't have to worry about the test.  Please speak with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, as each one may have a different protocol. 
Jeffrey J. Roth, M.D. F.A.C.S.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Las Vegas Plastic Surgery

Thanks for your question. I generally recommend that my patients quit smoking one month beforesurgery.However, I have performed surgery on patients who have quit 2 weeks prior that have not had a problem.So, this would really be a question I would pose to your surgeon to see what his/her comfort level is.