Question regarding smoking (quitting cigarettes)

[ohclementine 9]

I just read in another post where someone's friend had major complications, following the DS procedure, which they discovered, "were caused by his lying about quitting smoking."

Can someone explain this to me and give me an idea of how long a person will need to be free from smoking cigarettes until having this surgery is a "safe" option? I have just recently quit smoking and never considered that I may need to wait a certain amount of time after quitting to go through with surgery.

Anyone have any advice?

[Sharon1964 2,530]

When I called my insurance company to ask about requirements for WLS, they said "no alcohol or substance abuse for 18 months" and "no smoking for last six months."

Ask your surgeon what his/her requirements are. It could be anywhere from 30 days to 180 days or more.

I tried to give you some links to data regarding smoking and surgery, but those sites were not allowed to be posted here.

[scstxrn 213]

I would consider 3 to 6 months to be acceptable, depending on the surgeon's rules.

Smoking causes smaller blood vessels which decreases the amount of blood supply available to healing tissue. It is linked to increased risk of just about every complication.

And TBH, I wouldn't want a stop smoking cough when I had surgery... that would have SUCKED! Bad enough when I had to VIS.

[DgotSleeved 103]

my surgical team said at least 2 months. and they've cancelled surgeries due to noncompliance. also no hormones for at least 1 month prior. all are blood clot risks.

[*Lexie* 1,486]

I think my surgeon required 3 months smoke-free. Smoking can cause complications in any surgery, especially abdominal surgery. If the surgery is elective, they can be more strict about it in order to reduce risk. You can google it to find out more.

BTW, great job on quitting smoking. I quit a few years back and it's not easy. I remember going through pre-op thinking about how hard it would be to lose the required weight and fight nicotine cravings.

[bobbyswife 862]

Mine recommended 3-6 months. I was a year out, so thankfully I passed lol

[par1959 470]

I quit smoking 18 years before surgery, but relly dont see much of an issue. I had several surgery prior to the sleeve.

[Babbs 14,681]

I think if you aren't actively smoking at the time of your surgery and don't pick it back up, you should be okay. I had quit for 2 months before mine, but not because of any requirement (although my surgeon stressed I quit smoking). I just thought gosh darn it, I'm doing a major surgery to get healthy, so why would I keep doing something that's completely unhealthy?? I'm so, so glad I quit. Between quitting smoking and losing almost 50lbs, I feel amazing!! Here is also some info on how it affects healing:

http://www.woundcareclinic.net/2013/smoking-and-wound-healing/

[wannaBthinsoon 1,634]

I quit smoking a year before I planned on having the surgery. I knew I would be denied if I smoked. What did I want more? To lose weight, and be healthy, or to continue to smoke cigarettes, be fat and unhealthy or dead? I weighed the pros and cons and the cigs lost. No more of those things for this gal.

[Dabliss111114 180]

My surgeon said he wouldn't touch me unless I quit at least 3 months before surgery. He actually adds something to the blood workup right before surgery that can measure nicotine in the blood,if he thinks a patient is noncompliant. As for picking it up again. I was told in no uncertain terms that if I started to smoke again after RNY that it can result in serious ulcers and internal bleeding. Not good..... I wanted to quit for years, and never did it. Now I know I'll never go back.

[sarah-tiffany 10]

With any surgery they recommend at least six weeks, but every surgeon is different. Mine says 6 weeks. One post I read somewhere said her surgeon required six months of testing negative for nicotine.

Ten yrs ago I had breast augmentation, and they required me to stop 30 days b4 surgery.

[KShingler82 16]

My surgeon said 2 months and gave me a urine nicotine test last week (my surgery is scheduled for February 20th) and said they would re-test me the morning of surgery and would cancel if it was positive. I quit cold turkey November 30th 2014 after 2 packs per day for 19 years! Good luck!