Tummy Tuck: Prices, Photos, Reviews, Info, Q&A

In my practice, I require patients to stop all nicotine containing products for four weeks before surgery and continue for at least four weeks postoperatively.

While you may not have a complication after only two weeks, the potential for skin and tissue loss is still high and if it does happen, you will wish that you had stopped for the full four weeks.

Extensive tissue loss is not easily correctable once the excess tissue has been removed by the tummy tuck. At best, you will have a pulled up scar.

At worst, you can be left with an open wound that can take months to heal and could even require skin grafting. (Donald Griffin, MD, Nashville Plastic Surgeon)

Nicotine use Before Tummy Tuck?

Smoking before tummy tuck surgery

Unfortunately, there can be no guarantees that you will be “okay” despite stopping all nicotine products several weeks before surgery.

In other words, complications may still arise despite everyone’s best efforts. Please make sure you have selected a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. (Tom J. Pousti, MD, FACS, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)

Stop smoking before tummy tuck

Most plastic surgeons advocate quitting smoking minimum of 6 weeks prior to surgical procedures. This is particularly important prior to abdominoplasty. The complication risks increase 6 times in smokers that non-smokers. Nicotine gum or patch can cause the same constriction of small vessels to cause similar complications.

Smoking before tummy tuck operation

Smoking cessation should continue into the postoperative period as well to avoid additional problems. Be sure to be honest with your surgeon about your smoking to avoid problems with your surgery. (Glen Brooks, MD, Springfield Plastic Surgeon)

Smoking Cessation Prior to Plastuic Surgery

It is vital to completerly stop smoking before plastic surgery. Nicotine causes small blood vessels to go into spasm. This means these vessels cannot bring oxygenated blood to where it is needed at the healing edge. This means that smokers are more likely to have complications than a non smoker. Wound infections are more common, delayed healing is more common, bad scarring occurs more often and tissue death can even occur.

Smoking before tummy tuck cigarette

It is not worth it to take a chance on an elective cosmetic procedure. A month is a bare minimum and longer is better. Use the surgery as an oportunity to motivate you to quit and contribute to a healthy lifestyle. (Mary Lee Peters, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

Smoking cessation before tummy tuck

Stopping smoking at any time is an excellent idea. Even though it is better to refrain from smoking for at least 1-3 months prior to surgery, it will help but there are no guarantees that this will give you immunity from the longterm results of nicotine on wound healing. You should also refrain from smoking after surgery. It’s a great time to stop and not return to smoking. To reduce the risk of postop complications, you do have the option of completing a smoking cessation program and then going forward with the surgery.

Two weeks of no smoking is better than nothing, but this surgery is one that can be particularly prone to wound healing issues so I prefer to ask my patients to cease smoking for as long as possible (at least 4 weeks) before the abdominoplasty. I think it is equally important that they do not take up smoking again for at least 2 weeks after surgery. (Ronald V. DeMars, MD, Portland Plastic Surgeon)