Just posted this question, but figured it's best here since I intend to go to mexico. Anyone smoke pre sleeve? I know it's bad and every time I try to quit I gain huge amounts of weight, which leads me back to smoking. If I quit and gain weight during preoperative diet will they deny me, or if I quit and start using patch or gum will they deny me for having nicotine in my system ?

I know many surgeons wil allow you to use Nicorette or the patch, just be careful Nicorette is not sugar-free. lol

But seriously ask your surgeon, the nicotine isnt the bad thing in your surgical body, its the smoke, and what it does to your lungs that makes you a higher risk, also your less likely to spike nicotine levels in your blood on the patch than with a cigarette.

I had my surgery in November 2014 and was told to quit smoking because of the risks of clots, anesthesia, etc. related to smoking. I tried really hard and couldn't kick it. So I started using the e-cigs and was able to stop smoking cigarettes in October. My doctor in Mexico was okay with me using the e-cig because the concern wasn't the nicotine. I am not sure if he would have continued with the surgery if I hadn't quit though. This is an elective procedure for the most part and they want to make sure to minimize risks just like a doctor here in the US would. Good luck to you!

Smoking impairs tissue oxygenation and therefore reduces your ability to heal. You will have a lot of internal healing that needs to be done post-sleeve so I would definitely try to quit ahead of time in order to pave the way for the smoothest possible recovery.

Like @@wantingabetterlife, I started using an E-cig. (I actually haven't had a "real cigarette" for over a year) I smoked it up to the day of surgery, and the surgery and recovery both went very smoothly for me.

Back in 05 when I had the Lapband I smoked up until a week before surgery... I just couldn't stay quit. For those 7 days I did chew the nicotine gum, and my surgeon at the time was okay with that... but cautioned me not to start smoking again while I was in the healing stage. I lasted about 2 weeks after that surgery before I started back.

OK thanks guys, I just needed to hear it from some one else, I will ask the doc about these things when I finally make a date but when your just starting so many things go through your head. I know it's bad and am going to quit with gum and patch because my weight will no longer be as difficult to manage while trying to quit.