Will skin die due to smoking?

joyakajrt
joyakajrt Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

My Plastic Surgeon says I need to stop smoking b4 my surgery,due to the skin dying after my b-lateral and reconstruction. Has anyone else 's PS told them this.I am so stressed and  I need my cig's!! At least I think.Lol

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  • mbscruggs
    mbscruggs Member Posts: 141
    edited March 2009

    Hi Joy.What type of reconstruction are you going to have?  I am a smoker and am trying to cut down.  There is a good stop smoking thread that you should visit on this same forum.  

    Yes- smoking intereferes with the blood flow to newly constructed tissue.  I had  atissue expander put in 2 Mondays ago.  Things look ok, but I worry every day about it.

    Best of luck to you with your surgery.  Glad you found this site.  There are some incredibly smart, strong women here.

    Mary Beth

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  • Janzin
    Janzin Member Posts: 502
    edited March 2009
    Hi Joy,

    If you can't quit then try cutting down. Every pack of cigs gives you 20 or more hours of bad towards healing so every puff counts! I am sure that you have read our quit smoking thread, ti will help you when you think about quitting, come join us.

    Good luck to you and let us know how you are!

    Best,
    Janet
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  • lori5
    lori5 Member Posts: 75
    edited March 2009

    Yes if very well can.  Even if you quit it stays in your system.  I quit in January ffound I had b/c in May surgery in June and my skin died.  We tried saving it for 10 days if was not fun.  I lost so much tissue I cannot reconstruct,  So please try to give them up you will feel better trust me.  

    Best of luck

    Hugs and Prayers

    Lori

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  • looper
    looper Member Posts: 67
    edited March 2009

    joyakarjrt:  I had smoked for many years until just before my unilateral mast in September.  Had a tissue expander right away.  My PS is the most anti-smoking person I've ever met, but it did get me to quit after many attempts previously.  After a week it was found that my skin died and I had to go back to surgery on Oct. 1 and have cadaver skin.  It was so very traumatic, but I haven't smoked since, and my healing is progressing nicely now.  I had my exchange surgery on Feb.  9th.  Please do whatever you can to quit right now--your life truly depends on it.

    So many people say if I can do it anyone can, but I smoked since college in the 60's, back when it was cool, and I do believe if I did it anyone can!

    Suzie 

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