:tt1:can anyone please tell me how many days/weeks post-op i have to wait before returning to my regular sexual activities? My boyfriend is afraid that he "might hurt me." lol

Also, besides the known facts that smoking kills, what are (if any) the negative affects of smoking to the band?

Thank u!

Im a half pack aday smoker..and this is a good question...i think ill do a little research and get back to ya!

My surgeon's PA told me over a year ago that I would have to quit smoking to get the band. I quit Oct. 1, 2009 but I use an electronic cigarette. After a week of this Optifast diet I would kill for a regular cigarette and a scrambled egg! It must be about oral fixations for me!!!:thumbup:

:crying:they did tell me that about 1 month to 2 weeks prior to surgery i had to quit, as it helps the recovery.. however,, i only smoke about 2-4 per day... so i never quit.. must say that recovery was not easy, wehther it was due tot he smoking or not.. but i guess going forward with my new lifestyle.. it's probably better to quit.. but i don't want to!

Hi I was banded on the 1st of June and went I went for my one week follow up visit, my doc told me I can return to my normal life "sexual activities". About the smoking sorry i can't help not a smoker.

in one of my "informational pamphlets" it said that 2 weeks post op is an okay time to begin sex again. (good calorie burner lol)

also, i quit smoking before my surgery and did okay not smoking for a few weeks after it but i started again and haven't noticed anything super bad... i'd like to know if there are any band-specific complications too. i know it reduces the oxygen in your blood so that may have something to do with it.

I did some searching online about the smoking. Not too much other than the fact it makes for a slow healing process (like you mentioned) post surgery and you are more prone to infections and illnesses like pneumonia, since your lungs are compromised.

I continued to look and this is what I found on one site:

Lap Band erosion: The lap band erodes into the stomach and causes the stomach to leak. This leads to a failed lap band ineffective and the patient may not lose any more weight. The most telling symptom of lap band erosion is infection near the port and the patient may even vomit blood. An endoscopy may be required to diagnose lap band erosion. There are two types of erosion: early and late. Early erosion may happen within 1-6 months of the surgery, whereas late erosion may happen much later and may go unnoticed. Alcohol and smoking are known to increase the risk of lap band erosion. Lap band erosions happen in about 14% of patients. (Source: Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery by William B. Inabnet, Eric J. DeMaria, Sayeed Ikramuddin)

Lap Band Revision Surgery Abroad | Medical Tourism

Hope this helps!

(Oh, and I think hubby and I actually resumed um, "activity" the week after I had the surgery LOL)