Why do i have to stop smoking before my doctor will do a male breast reduction? i wanted to have a male breast reduction, but i'm a smoker and i heard that you have to stop smoking. for how long? what does smoking have to do with a breast reduction?

Smoking : Smoking causes vasoconstriction or tightening of the small blood vessels in the body. This leads to decreased blood flow and increases the risk of poor healing, infections, and in some instances loss of tissue. Patients who smoke before and after surgery are at greatest risk. Patients who stop smoking for at least 4-6 weeks prior to surgery may reduce some of the negative effects of a smoking history but will still be at higher risk than non-smokers.

2 weeks: You should stop smoking two weeks prior to surgery and at least 2 weeks after surgery. Smoking causes the small capillary vessels to contract which reduces wound healing. When the vessels contract less blood gets to your wounds and skin.

Decreases: Vascularity thus increasing chances of wound issues.

Stop smoking: Smoking causes respiratory problems which can be made worse with anesthesia. Smoking also causes blood vessels to constrict, this can cause skin loss, increase in infections, and worse scarring.

Stop Smoking: Nicotine behaves as a vasoconstrictor of vessels thereby decreasing blood flow to tissues ( that need to receive blood flow to heal after surgery).  a decrease in this blood flow may result in wound healing problems and/or tissue death. Patients should avoid all forms of nicotine ( smoking, gum, patches), especially prior to procedures involving flaps such as breast lifting, tummy tuck, facelifts.