I have been honest about my smoking, quit on Dec 1. To be cleared by insurance it says 6 months/puting my surgery in June which is OK, plenty of time to complete everything. My question is, how do they know you quit? Do they take your word for it or do you need to take a test. And how long for you to quit for it to show negative? Ty

They test you for nicotine. I don't know how long nicotine stays in your body. I had my surgery in Mexico so I didn't have to jump through all these silly hoops. I don't smoke but I vape and I vaped up until the very day of surgery then resumed two days later.

Edited January 15, 201610 yr by Proud2BMe

Smoking can be VERY harmful to the healing process, so smoke at your own risk. I had seen WAY too many horror stories back when I was researching plastics to ever even think about smoking right up until surgery. Do some google image searches for smoking and wound healing if you are ever tempted to start smoking again pre-op or immediately post-op!

Jami, no I have quit smoking and don't plan on it again. I think you misunderstood my question. Lol

I know that my surgeon will not proceed with bariatric surgery if your blood tests positive for nicotine. The materials I was given say :

"Patients who use tobacco will be required to stop smoking eight weeks prior to surgery. Blood tests will be conducted to ensure that patients have stopped smoking in order to improve surgical outcomes."

To go one step further, my surgeon asked my main man to not smoke around me for at least six weeks.

They can do a simple swap of your cheek or a blood test. They do this for life of insurance as well.

There is a tool that u blow into like they would with alcohol