Preoperative smoking cessation: Is it a trigger for long-term abstinence?

Perioperative smoking cessation reduces wound-healing complications, yet its long-term effect on sustained abstinence after elective plastic surgery remains uncertain. This study examined patients who underwent elective plastic surgery and participated in a follow-up interview to assess whether adherence to short-term perioperative smoking cessation instructions was associated with continued abstinence post-surgery. All smokers were instructed to quit at least 4 weeks prior to surgery and remain abstinent for at least 4 weeks afterwards. Patients were categorised as either compliant or non-compliant with preoperative guidance. The findings suggest that elective plastic surgery may serve as a teachable moment that extends the immediate smoke-free period; however, short-term instructions alone seldom result in lasting abstinence. Integrating structured cessation programmes with perioperative counselling may be required to transform temporary compliance into enduring behavioural change.