We are leaders in cosmetic surgery, facial aesthetics, and medically supervised weight loss, serving the entire San Francisco Bay area. Whether you live in the Bay Area or are coming in from out of town, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have on your path to your new self. Book your cosmetic surgery intro call or Med Spa consultation today and take the first step towards realizing the look you’ve always wanted for yourself.
Smoking and Scheduled for Breast Augmentation and Lift — Am I Safe?
Smoking always interferes with wound healing. It can also pose dangers with general anesthesia (something many plastic surgeons forget since we focus so much on wound healing). You should discuss this issue seriously with your plastic surgeon.
Clinical Context
Smoking undermines surgery through two separate chemicals. Nicotine constricts small blood vessels, and carbon monoxide binds hemoglobin so the blood that does arrive carries less oxygen — a poor combination for healing tissue, and worst where circulation is already stretched thin. A breast lift raises skin flaps and moves the nipple on a narrowed blood supply, so it is far more vulnerable to this than augmentation alone; compromised healing can mean wound breakdown or, rarely, nipple loss. Smoking also irritates airways, raising the odds of coughing and airway spasm around general anesthesia. Most surgeons require a nicotine-free window before and after surgery — the length varies by practice, and vaping counts.
