Breast cancer
posted by Dolly
22 February 2019

Reconstruction and smoking

Last reply: 25 February 2019 11:12

Hi, I have been off cigarettes for months in the wait for breast reconstruction but recently split with my partner and caved a bit last week. I just got a date, very soon and I'm terrified they will test me prior to surgery and not proceed. Do you get checked for smoking prior to surgery. I am back off them again.

3 comments

Comments

commented by CeCe
22 February 2019

22 February 2019 15:22

Hi Dolly, yes they do test for smoking. My surgeon tested me but I was off of them 3 months at that stage. Don't berate yourself and try again, still time for them to go from your system and they told me the reconstruction would have higher fail rate if I was smoking, so I thought I would much rather nice boobs and be healthy. Everything will work out, try quit.ie, they give great tips to stop smoking. Best of Luck with everything

commented by Dolly
22 February 2019

22 February 2019 15:40

Thanks so much for your reply. I was off them for months and only had a couple of days of relapse, but it was only this week and my surgery is early March, only found out today. Do you mind me asking where you had your surgery and what type you had?

commented by CeCe
25 February 2019

25 February 2019 11:12

Hi Dolly, My operation was in the Mater Private in Dublin. I had reconstruction using my Lattissmus Dorsi Muscle and an implant but during radiation my implant became mis-shapen so I had it removed and the vacuum filled with fat grafting over a number of years. The cigarettes will be gone from your system by March. I went back smoking too for a couple of days so it happens to be the best of us. Best of luck with your surgery.

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