Smoking and Plastic Surgery: What You Need to Know
If you’re considering plastic surgery, you might wonder whether you need to stop smoking before the procedure. The clear answer is yes—ideally, you should stop smoking prior to undergoing surgery.
Certain plastic surgery procedures require patients to cease smoking entirely. Any surgery that involves significant undermining of tissue or creation of tissue flaps, such as tummy tucks, breast reductions, or larger body contouring procedures, makes quitting smoking essential.
Medical guidelines recommend that patients stop smoking at least four to six weeks before surgery. This period allows enough time for nicotine and other harmful substances from cigarettes to leave your system, helping to optimize your body’s condition for healing.
Why is quitting smoking so important for surgery?
Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide, which binds to blood cells about 200 times more effectively than oxygen. This significantly reduces oxygen delivery to tissues. Instead, carbon monoxide—a harmful contaminant—is delivered, which impairs healing.
Smoking also causes blood vessels to constrict and can lead to the formation of micro thrombi—tiny blood clots that obstruct small blood vessels. Together, these factors severely limit oxygen delivery to the surgical site.
Oxygen is critical for cellular energy production and tissue repair. When tissues at an incision site don’t receive adequate oxygen, their ability to heal effectively is compromised, increasing the risk of complications.
In summary, smoking is highly discouraged for anyone considering elective plastic surgery. To achieve optimal results and minimize complications, it’s crucial to be in your best possible health state—one free from the negative effects of smoking.
