We’ve all heard that cigarette smoking can cause heart disease and cancer but it can also negatively impact wound healing and post-operative complications after surgery. A report in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal from 2003 reviewed 132 patients having abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery and showed wound healing problems in 47.9% of smokers versus 14.8% in non-smokers.

Cigarettes contain nicotine and carbon monoxide which constrict blood vessels and decreases red blood cells ability to carry oxygen. These factors can lead to increased problems with anesthesia and decreased blood supply to the skin and deeper tissues. Post-surgical risks for smokers include poor or delayed wound healing, increased risk of infection, longer bruising period, skin loss, hypertrophic or keloid scarring, increased risk of pulmonary problems and tissue breakdown.

Dr. Murphy recommends stopping smoking for a minimum of two weeks before and after any procedure. This two week cessation is a minimum but it can rid your body of the majority of nicotine in it and is a positive step towards ensuring a healthy recovery.