Expert: Diminishing Dawn - 8/12/2010

Question
I will be having the sleeve in the very near future and I smoke.  I have two questions.  First what are the details of the complication that come from smoking during and after this surgery.  Also, what is the shortest and safest duration to quit before this surgery.  I'm going ahead regardless, but I will quit for my own safety, but do I have enough time.

Answer
Complications emerge with breathing in surgery. Anytime that you are "put under" you have the risk of developing complications related to lungs, pneumonia, blood clots..and smoking can highly increase your chances of running into these post surgery.  Smoking causes an increase in the amount of mucus secreted while at the same time decreasing the ability of the lungs to clear these secretions. In addition, smoking causes the small airways in the lungs to be narrowed and more prone to collapse. The end result of these effects are an increased susceptibility to infection, chronic cough and increased chance of pulmonary complications.


Most surgeons require 3 months to 12 months of being smoke free before they will operate on you as opinions vary as to the "safe" amount of time.  The good news is that patients who quit for more than four weeks do seem to have a decreased risk of complications. In addition, patients who are able to quit for ten weeks or more have their risk reduced to almost the same as patients that have never smoked. But again, it is up to your surgeon to set the standard clearance time.

Many people find success with drugs like Chantix or Zyban. My husband took the latter and was successful with quitting for the last time.

Good luck :)