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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Smoking & Tram Flap Surgery
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Sep 25, 2009 03:36PM
, Sep 25, 2009 03:36PM
Dear Mary1113: The reason that most plastic surgeons insist that a person stop smoking prior to tram flap (preferably permanently) is in the hopes that the blood supply to the tissue will improve since smoking is so harmful to circulation. Of course, there are no guarantees that any surgery will be complication free, regardless of whether a person is a former smoker or never smoker. Quitting smoking hopefully will improve the odds that all will go well.
