Return to Smoking & Vaping 15 Years After Quitting 8 Hours After Quitting 48 Hours After Quitting 72 Hours After Quitting 2 Weeks to 3 Months After Quitting 6 Months After Quitting 1 Year After Quitting 10 Years After Quitting 15 Years After Quitting More Good Reasons The positive effects on the body after being smoke free for 15 years: Your risk of dying from a heart attack is the same as a person who never smoked.