smoking and breast reduction

[julie1224]

will any thing seriously happen if i have the surgery without quitting

[seroma]

One of my Dr.s told me to quit 1 to 2 weeks before surgery, I did as instructed and ironically, I then had every complication I could get other than death!. I was  a smoker for every other surgery I ever had w zero complications all other times. So go figure?  My mom had 2 mastectomies done at different times (5 years in between them) and has smoked heavily for about 50 years and had zero complications. Her surgeon told her not to quit right b4 surgery because the little hairlike things that line your lungs start to get feeling back in them (they go numb from the smoke) and then  makes you cough which is not good for new sutures etc healing. Try not to stress. Thats the worst thing for you! Just be honest w your Dr so he knows and help you the best he can.

[julie1224]

my dr says as long as i cut down to 5 a day everything will be ok but your saying even if i quit 2 weeks before the results will be the same

[Howard Rosenberg, MD]

Smoking results in reduced blood supply to tissues and affects healing from surgical procedures.  In a typical breast reduction, while the nipple is not removed, it is carried on a pedicle flap to its new location.  The flap has a reduced blood supply that can be further compromised in a smoker.  Smoking is well know to compromise circulation to skin that has been elevated at the time of surgery.  Stopping smoking for several weeks before a surgical procedure is not the answer.  To achieve the position of a non-smoker, smoking must be stopped for probably at least one year.  While surgery in a smoker can still be performed with complications, the patient should understand that the risks are definitely increased.