I plan on quitting smoking but have not set a date yet - just planning at this point. Does anyone smoke with the band? I have heard some docs won't do the surgery if you smoke. My doc has never said anything about it. Just wondering if I need to take steps now to quit - hoping to have the surgery in October.

Of course you know that you should quit smoking for your own health but you are not asking for and probably don't want that lecture ;0) . I have seen on this site where a lot of surgeons use this surgery as an opportunity to get patients to quit. My surgeon did not require it and you would have to ask your surgeon if it is a requirement.

Other than the possiblity of slowing down healing after surgery (an issue with any surgery a smoker might have)and the obvious health risks there is no direct effect on the band.

Anesthesia is more dicey with a smoker. Make that an obese smoker and that spells TROUBLE...or at least most anesthetists see it that way. Also Jodi is right; smoking impedes healing.

If you feel up to it, quit now...Many surgeons do require it and take my word for it; quitting is easier than losing weight (both are hard, but quitting smoking is finite....eventually the urge to smoke goes away)

Good luck!

My surgeon won't perform surgery on someone who is still smoking (and I believe he even says that the patient needs to be abstinent for 3 months prior to surgery).

You are taking this opportunity to get healthy with your weight, why not extend that to your lungs? I've never smoked but I think I would be so sad to get thin and healthy and then die from complications of another unhealthy addiction I had.

Plus, presumably you'll want to start working out once you get your band (or before you get it is even better). I can't imagine running on the treadmill or trying to get a hard workout on the elliptical if you can't breathe from smoking. My fiancee used to smoke, and I told him I wanted him to be around for our kids and grandkids and for me. He quit cold turkey that day. Its been over a year since he last smoked. It is possible, you just have to want it.