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Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors affecting rhinoplasty results — both before and after surgery. Nicotine restricts blood flow, reduces oxygen delivery, slows healing, and increases the likelihood of complications that can permanently affect the outcome of your nose procedure.
Because rhinoplasty relies on delicate cartilage, soft tissue, and skin healing, even occasional smoking can interfere with recovery. This is why surgeons strongly advise patients to stop smoking well in advance of surgery and avoid all nicotine throughout the healing period.
In this guide, we explain exactly why smoking is harmful, how long before rhinoplasty you should stop, and what happens if you smoke too soon after your surgery.
Smoking restricts blood flow and oxygen, which are essential for proper rhinoplasty healing.
Patients should avoid all nicotine—including cigarettes, vapes, and nicotine products—for 2–4 weeks before surgery and at least 3–4 weeks after.
Smoking after rhinoplasty increases risks such as infection, prolonged swelling, cartilage complications, and poor scar formation.
Nicotine affects anaesthesia, wound healing, bleeding control, and overall surgical safety.
Thick-skinned or revision patients may need a longer smoking-free period for optimal results.
Vaping is not safer than smoking; it carries the same risks due to nicotine and airway irritation.
Smoking before surgery significantly increases the risks associated with anaesthesia, tissue healing, and surgical outcomes. Patients who smoke are more likely to experience:
Nicotine accelerates the metabolism of anaesthetic drugs, causing them to wear off more quickly. This can make it harder to maintain consistent anaesthesia during the procedure.
Nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict, reducing oxygen supply to the surgical site. Rhinoplasty relies on precise healing of cartilage and skin, and reduced circulation increases the risk of delayed healing or tissue complications.
When the tissues cannot receive sufficient oxygen, the risk of infection, excessive bleeding, and impaired wound healing increases. This can negatively affect both your safety and your final aesthetic result.
Post-operative healing is even more sensitive to nicotine exposure. Smoking after rhinoplasty can compromise the entire healing process and lead to long-term concerns.
Nicotine constricts blood vessels and limits oxygen delivery — two factors essential for wound healing. This slows recovery, increases swelling, and prolongs discomfort.
Poor circulation makes it harder for your body to defend itself, which can lead to infections, delayed incision healing, and worse scarring.
Smoking thins the blood and irritates nasal tissues. After rhinoplasty, this can lead to heavier or prolonged bleeding that may disrupt delicate surgical work.
One of the most serious complications, skin necrosis occurs when tissues do not receive enough oxygen to survive. Smoking dramatically increases this risk, particularly around the nasal tip, where blood supply is already limited after surgery.
Anything that slows or disrupts healing can affect the position of cartilage, increase swelling around the tip, or create asymmetry — making the outcome less predictable and less refined.
Surgeons universally recommend avoiding all nicotine — including cigarettes, vapes, cigars, nicotine pouches, and nicotine gum — for a minimum of:
2–4 weeks before rhinoplasty, and
3–4 weeks after rhinoplasty, ideally longer.
However, patients with thicker nasal skin, tip work, cartilage grafting, or revision rhinoplasty should abstain for at least 6 weeks after surgery, as these cases rely even more heavily on strong blood flow and oxygen supply.
Even one cigarette or vape hit during early healing can:
Trigger blood vessel constriction
Interfere with graft or cartilage healing
Increase swelling
Alter scar tissue formation
If complete cessation is difficult, many patients find success with medically supervised stop-smoking plans. Your surgeon will always prioritise your safety and outcome, so be honest about your smoking history during consultation.
Yes — vaping carries the same risks as smoking when it comes to rhinoplasty healing.
E-cigarettes still deliver nicotine, which restricts blood flow and slows the recovery of nasal tissues. Many vapes also contain chemicals that irritate the airway, increasing swelling and congestion at a time when breathing is already limited.
Whether you smoke or vape:
The blood vessels constrict
Oxygen to healing tissue decreases
The risk of infection and necrosis increases
For rhinoplasty patients, all nicotine sources should be avoided, regardless of form.
Quitting smoking is challenging, but the right strategies can make the process manageable and protect your surgical results.
Aim to stop smoking at least two weeks before surgery, ideally four. This gives your circulation time to recover.
Nicotine patches, gum, and vapes still constrict blood vessels. If you need support, speak to your GP about nicotine-free cessation aids.
Remove cigarettes, lighters, vapes, and anything that triggers habit cues.
Tell your family or partner about your plan so they can support your smoke-free period.
Many patients achieve better success through GP-led or pharmacy-based stop-smoking programmes.
A successful surgery — and the long-term aesthetic result — is worth the temporary challenge.
For more information about having a cosmetic nose procedure, visit our Rhinoplasty Page.
Most surgeons recommend stopping smoking 2–4 weeks before rhinoplasty. This allows your blood vessels and oxygen levels to return to normal, reducing the risk of complications during surgery and improving your healing afterwards.
You should avoid smoking for at least 3–4 weeks after surgery. Nicotine restricts blood flow, slows healing, increases swelling, and raises the risk of infection or poor cosmetic results. Longer is always better—waiting 6 weeks or more provides the safest outcome.
No. Vaping still delivers nicotine, which causes the same blood vessel constriction as cigarettes. The heated vapour can also irritate nasal tissues. For rhinoplasty recovery, all nicotine products should be avoided, including vapes, patches, gum, snuff, and cigars.
Smoking after rhinoplasty can lead to:
Delayed healing
Increased swelling and bruising
Higher risk of infection
Wound breakdown or scarring
Cartilage or skin complications (including tissue loss in severe cases)
It can also compromise the final shape of your nose.
Yes. Nicotine decreases oxygen delivery to healing tissues, which can affect how well the nasal tip and cartilage settle. This may lead to asymmetry, prolonged swelling, or a less refined result than expected.
Yes. Frequent exposure to secondhand smoke can still irritate nasal tissues, worsen swelling, and introduce toxins that interfere with healing. Avoid smoky environments during the first few weeks of recovery.
Absolutely. Your surgeon will not judge you. Knowing your smoking habits allows them to adjust your care plan, provide support for nicotine cessation, and monitor your healing more closely.
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