I'm curious if everyone needed to be nicotine-free or nicotine free for a period of time. In other words if you could pass the test and prove that you weren't smoking was that enough or did you have to be able to be without your cigarettes for 3 months at a time in order for them to do the surgery?

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@@Gypsy52 Mine made me stop smoking immediately after my first appointment. That was about 3 months ago, and I have my surgery next Monday! Mine is REALLY REALLY big on making sure all his patients are nicotine free before and after surgery due to the risks it creates and that it makes it so much harder for your body to heal after surgery. I had to do a nicotine test last week, and if I would have failed he would not have done my surgery. He didn't have a specific time frame I had to be smoke-free, but I had to be able to pass my nicotine test prior to surgery and be willing to ensure I don't do it after surgery too.

For instance. Someone told me that they had to be nicotine free for 3 mos?

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Once you meet with the surgeon your suppose to stop smoking that's what I was told. I don't smoke but this was the advice from my surgeon.

Just quit. Look at it as fresh start along with the surgery. You won't regret it.

not to mention that if you're obese and undergoing general anesthesia you are already at a HUGE risk for a pulmonary embolism- which can be fatal in an instant. smoking is just a MASSIVE addition of risk to the whole scenario.

if you are still pre-op it is likely that you'll have to have a cardiac clearance and most cardiologists worth their salt won't clear you for surgery if you are actively smoking.