Q/A: How does smoking affect plastic surgery? Can I still have plastic surgery if I smoke?

Everyone knows the ill-effects of smoking. Media coverage is abundant when it comes to the detrimental effects of smoking. We know that it causes all sorts of cancers, but lets explore how smoking affects plastic surgery.
Smoking affects the microcirculation in the body. It causes the smallest blood vessels to constrict even more. This prevents blood from flowing into areas that are important during healing process. After plastic surgical procedures, whether big or small, we are relying on your ability to heal wounds. Smoking affects this process.
Another affect of smoking occurs with each puff of the cigarette. With each puff, instead of oxygen, carbon monoxide is delivered into the lungs. This same carbon monoxide is then delivered to a wound during the healing process. Now the wound, which needs oxygen to heal, is getting poisoned by the carbon monoxide.
The combination of constricting blood vessels and the absence of oxygen being delivered to a wound adversely affects wound healing. Most of the procedures that are performed in plastic surgery rely on wound healing to occur correctly and effectively. Smoking adversely affects how a wound heals.
The general recommendation of American Society of Plastic Surgery is for patients to quit smoking about 2 weeks prior to the procedure and to remain smoke free at least 4 weeks post surgery.