why it is so important to quit prior to surgery? - Smoking Cessation Message Board

golfmom01 · 09-03-2007, 04:50 AM

....could you please tell me why it is so important to quit prior to surgery? and, is it okay to use the patch with nicotine in it? I have a prescription for Chantix, but I'm very "curious" about the problem with the surgery part of it. Is it the actual nicotine or something else in the cigarettes that causes problems. I've never been told before to quit with surgery...I've had a hysterectomy, total knee replacement and others and have never had anyone tell me to quit. The upcoming surgery is a tummy tuck.

moderator2 · 09-03-2007, 08:17 AM

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HELLASRULES · 09-03-2007, 02:53 PM

Smoking interferes with wound healing for some reason. Not sure why. But I was 2 weeks smoke free when I had my brain tumor (metastatic lung cnacer) removed surgically and I was out of the hospital in 2 days, pain free and it healed up nicely....not even one of those hospital staph infections.
Mosts "plastic" surgeons wouldn't even operate on a smoker because of the wound healing factor, from what I've heard. So your best bet is to quit at least for the surgery.
Of course smoking also interferes with blood oxygen and can impede breathing
while under general anesthesia too, so that's nothing to fool around with.
I'm smoke-free 9 months on the 7th.
If I can quit, anyone can! I smoked for 28 years. Diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in Dec. 2006. It's been 10 months of sheer hell....and no cure in sight.
You can do it! I'll be praying for you!
Hellas

SanyBelle · 09-03-2007, 08:18 PM

Golfmom, in addition to what Hellas mentioned, if you have a smoker's cough, the coughing will be more painful during recovery of stomach surgery. I had a ruptured appendix last year and had emergency surgery (I did quit while in the hospital and have remained quit) and every time I coughed, I thought my incisions were going to open up. It was very very painful!

Good luck with the surgery and the quit!

golfmom01 · 09-04-2007, 10:09 AM

Thank you so much for the information!!!

Will using the patch with nicotine in it hurt me prior to surgery?