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

Smoking and surgery

Stopping smoking is for your benefit. We always want the nicotine out of your system since it leads to problems with the skin healing (necrosis).

We usually need about 4 weeks prior to surgery (Sanjay Lalla, MD, FACS, West Orange Plastic Surgeon)

Smoking cessation prior to surgery – a cautionary tale

Most surgeons insist on their patients stopping smoking 4-6 weeks prior to surgery. Nicotine is a potent vasoconstrictor, may linger for many days after the patient has smoked. This starves the tissues of oxygen and it literally dies.

stop smoking before tummy tuck one week

Your doctor and you will not likely want to take such a risk. The danger comes postoperatively for some patients who ‘sneak’ a cigarette, only to wake up the next morning with a large dead area of their abdomen.

The same goes for the facelift procedure. The effect can be immediate and drastic. As plastic surgeons, we take the tissues nearly to their limits when we perform surgery, and seemingly minor noncompliance can ruin the surgery or obligate the patient to many months of wound care.

Patients who smoke also are much more prone to bad scarring. (Brent Moelleken, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)

Smoking before Tummy Tuck

stop smoking before tummy tuck necrosis

You should speak with your surgeon. I required patients stop smoking and using nicotine for 4 to 6 weeks before and after surgery. (Lisa M. DiFrancesco, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)

Time to cancel your tummy tuck!

In my practice, unless you were away from ALL nicotine for 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after (including second hand, gums, patches etc) I would cancel your surgery. In addition I would have had you sign a waiver before that time agreeing that if you did not comply precisely with this, there would be financial consequences because the surgeon can’t just plug in another surgery at short notice. But smoking near a TT can lead to skin death, major wound problems and terrible scars. Call your doctor IMMEDIATELY and fess up! (Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

Smoking before a Tummy Tuck

What did your surgeon say at the time of booking your surgery? If he was aware that you are a smoker, he likely told you that you need to quit 4-6 weeks before your procedure for your own safety. You need to speak with your surgeon. (Matthew Schulman, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon)