Can You Get a Facelift If You Smoke or Vape?

The Truth Few Practices Will Tell You

If you smoke, vape, or use nicotine products—and you’re considering a facelift—you’ve probably heard this before:

“Sorry, you’re not a candidate.”

That’s because most facial plastic surgeons won’t operate on patients with any nicotine exposure due to concerns about wound healing, skin necrosis, and infection.

But here’s what makes Raggio MD different:

We’ve developed an evidence-based, advanced facelift protocol—called the PreservaLift™—designed with enhanced healing, meticulous blood flow preservation, and regenerative therapies that reduce risk and support optimal outcomes.

While we always recommend quitting nicotine altogether, you can still undergo a facelift here—safely and beautifully—even if you have a history of smoking or vaping.

Why Nicotine and Facelifts Don’t Mix—Without the Right Protocol

Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor. It reduces blood flow and oxygen delivery to the skin and soft tissues—which is disastrous when you’re healing from facial surgery.

Risks for smokers and nicotine users include:

• Skin or tissue death (necrosis) 
• Open wounds or delayed healing 
• Major scarring and contour irregularities 
• Infections and fluid collections 
• Blood clots or hematomas 
• Poor facelift longevity or failed results 

This is why most surgeons simply say no. But not all facelifts—or facelift surgeons—are created equal.

The Raggio MD Solution: A Safer Facelift for Smokers

At Raggio MD, we believe patients deserve honest options—not automatic rejection. We’ve created a facelift pathway that provides the safest, most predictable outcomes possible for patients with nicotine exposure.

Here’s How:

1. The PreservaLift™ Advantage

Our signature deep-plane facelift and necklift technique:

• Preserves key blood vessels that nourish your skin 
• Reduces tension on sutures, allowing for better oxygenation 
• Avoids over-dissecting areas most at risk for necrosis 
• Allows natural, layered healing from the inside out 

2. Preoperative Medical Optimization

We don’t just “hope” you’ll heal—we optimize you medically beforehand:

• In-office nicotine testing (cotinine) to assess candidacy 
• On-site Nurse Practitioner for cardiovascular and metabolic clearance 
• Nutritional guidance, supplements, and pre-op skincare prep 
• Transparent, compassionate education about your risks and options 

3. Regenerative Healing Tools (Built-In)

Every PreservaLift™ patient at Raggio MD receives:

• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): Our in-office hard chamber saturates your blood with oxygen, boosting circulation and dramatically enhancing healing—even in nicotine-compromised tissues. 
• Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF): We apply your body’s own growth factors to incision sites and lasered areas to reduce bruising and encourage tissue repair. 
• CO2 Laser & Skincare: Scar optimization tools built into your recovery journey. 

Not a Free Pass—But the Best Option for a Second Chance

Let’s be clear: nicotine always increases surgical risk. No facelift is ever risk-free—especially in smokers.

But if you’ve been told “no,” or feel shamed by other providers, know this:

🟢 You’re not alone.
🟢 We have options.
🟢 And you deserve access to a surgeon with the experience and systems in place to support your healing—without judgment.

At Raggio MD, we don’t turn you away. We partner with you—to reduce your risk, elevate your results, and help you look as vibrant as you feel.

What to Expect If You’re a Smoker or Nicotine User

• Nicotine Screening: We perform a simple urine test before surgery.
• Cessation Guidance: Ideally, we ask you to stop nicotine at least 1 month before and after surgery. But even if you haven’t, we can often still help.
• Consent & Clarity: You’ll sign an acknowledgment of risks—but you’ll be treated with dignity and care.