How Long Do You Have to Stop Smoking Before Bariatric Surgery?

Key Takeaways

Quitting smoking at least 6-8 weeks before bariatric surgery is essential for optimal healing and reducing surgical risks.
Smoking impairs blood flow and oxygenation, hindering tissue recovery and increasing the likelihood of complications.
Adhering to your surgeon’s smoking cessation guidelines is crucial for a successful surgery and recovery process.

If you smoke nicotine and are planning to have bariatric surgery, it’s important to quit at least a couple of months before your procedure.

Smoking reduces blood flow and oxygenation to your tissues, which reduces your body’s ability to heal. Smoking cessation isn’t just a recommendation but a requirement for your safety and to make sure your surgery and recovery go well.

We’ve written this guide on when you need to quit smoking, why you need to quit smoking, what happens if you don’t quit, and more.

Recommended Timeline For Quitting Smoking

how long do you have to stop smoking before bariatric surgery

Your surgeon will ask you to stop smoking a minimum of 6-8 weeks before your surgery date.

This is the amount of time it takes for your body to start healing from smoking’s effects and to help your lungs work better.

If you’re a heavy smoker or have other health issues, your surgeon might ask you to quit earlier, maybe 3-6 months before surgery. One scientific study recommends stopping at least one year before.

To ensure that you stay on track, your medical team may conduct nicotine tests throughout your pre-operative period. These tests can spot nicotine from any source – regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes, patches, or chewing tobacco.

It’s important to be completely honest with your medical team about your smoking habits, as they are just trying to keep you safe.

Why You Need to Quit Smoking Before Bariatric Surgery

Quitting smoking before your bariatric surgery is essential for your safety during surgery and healing. When you smoke, your blood vessels become smaller, like a pinched garden hose. This means less blood flows to your organs, making it harder for your body to get the nutrients it needs.

Smoking also makes it harder for oxygen to reach your tissues. Imagine trying to breathe through a narrow straw instead of normally. This lack of oxygen can lead to complications during surgery and recovery.

During surgery, smokers face additional risks. The anesthesia—medication that puts you to sleep—might not work as intended, and your lungs may have trouble getting enough oxygen.

After surgery, the incisions made during the procedure will take longer to heal, and there is an increased risk of infection.

What Happens If You Don’t Quit?

You put your safety at risk when you continue to smoke before surgery. Your surgical wounds might not heal properly, increasing your risk of infections. You may have to stay in the hospital longer than anticipated, or worse, your surgeon may cancel your surgery altogether.

why do you have to quit smoking before bariatric surgery

One of the scariest things that can happen is developing leaks where your surgeon re-connected parts of your digestive tract. This is very serious and may require another surgery to fix it.

That’s why many surgeons simply won’t do the surgery if you’re still smoking—the risks are just too high.

How to Successfully Quit Smoking Before Bariatric Surgery

Quitting smoking isn’t easy, but there are many ways to make it more manageable. Start by talking to your healthcare provider about medications that can help with cravings. These might include nicotine patches or gum.

Talking to a counselor or joining a support group is also helpful. They can teach you tricks to handle stress without smoking and help you stay on track.

Let your friends and family know you’re quitting and ask for their support. Many people also find it helpful to use phone apps that track their progress and remind them why they’re quitting.

Post-Surgery Smoking Risks & Guidelines

Here are several reasons to avoid smoking after your bariatric surgery.

Your New Stomach and Smoking

Your freshly altered stomach is very delicate after bariatric surgery. When you smoke, it’s like throwing harsh chemicals on this sensitive area. The chemicals in cigarette smoke directly irritate your stomach’s delicate new lining. This irritation can create ulcers—deep, painful sores in your stomach wall.

They’re serious wounds that can bleed and cause intense pain whenever you eat or drink. The ulcers often form around the new surgical connections, which is especially dangerous and may require another surgery.

Getting Nutrients from Food

After bariatric surgery, your body processes nutrients differently. Your stomach is smaller, and in some cases, food bypasses parts of the intestine where absorption normally happens. This makes it even more important to get the most nutrition from the food you eat. Smoking complicates this process in several ways.

What happens if you don't quit smoking before bariatric surgery?

First, smoking damages the small blood vessels that help transport nutrients from your digestive system to the rest of your body. When these vessels aren’t working properly, fewer nutrients get absorbed and delivered where they’re needed.

Second, smoking increases inflammation in your digestive tract, making it harder for your body to absorb essential vitamins and minerals. It can also lead to acid reflux and increased stomach acid, which can further irritate your stomach and intestines, interfering with healing and digestion.

Because of these effects, smoking after surgery puts you at a higher risk for serious nutrient deficiencies—even if you eat well and take supplements.

Healing and Recovery

In the months after bariatric surgery, your body is working hard to heal and adjust to its new structure. Your stomach is learning to function with less space, and your digestive system is adapting to these changes. Smoking can seriously interfere with this process.

Smoking reduces blood flow, meaning less oxygen and fewer nutrients reach the areas trying to heal. This slows recovery and increases the risk of complications. Nicotine also triggers your stomach to produce more acid, which can irritate and damage healing tissues.

Smoking also increases the risk of developing leaks at the new connection sites in your digestive system.

Impact on Eating Habits

Smoking messes with your eating habits in surprising ways. Nicotine can fool your body’s hunger signals—sometimes making you feel less hungry than you should be. Not eating enough after surgery is dangerous when needing to get proper nutrition.

Many people use smoking as a way to deal with stress or control their eating. This creates a tricky situation after bariatric surgery because you need to develop healthy ways to manage stress and hunger.

The problem gets more complicated because smoking affects how food tastes and smells. After quitting, many people find that food suddenly tastes much better—which is good for enjoying healthy foods, but it can also make it harder to resist unhealthy choices.

Do they test for nicotine before bariatric surgery?

Your Medical Team’s Support

Your medical providers will schedule regular check-ups to make sure you’re healing well. During these visits, be honest about any smoking cravings or slip-ups. Your healthcare team can:

Help you find new ways to deal with stress
Suggest support groups or counseling
Recommend healthy activities to replace smoking
Adjust your medications if needed

Conclusion

Bariatric surgery is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your health. Preparing for the surgery’ll take up a significant amount of time, money, and emotional commitment. By choosing to stay smoke-free, you’re protecting this investment and maximizing your chances of long-term success.

Looking ahead, your smoke-free status will continue to protect your bariatric surgery results for years to come. You’ll have a lower risk of complications, better wound healing if you need any future surgeries, and improved overall health outcomes.

Your medical team will be better able to support your long-term success when they don’t have to address smoking-related complications.

How Bari Life Can Help

Bari Life offers a comprehensive range of bariatric vitaminsvitamins and nutritional supplements specifically designed to support you before and after bariatric surgery. Their products, including bariatric protein shakes, bariatric protein bars, and bariatric snacks, are formulated to provide essential nutrients and help prevent deficienci.

Additionally, Bari Life provides specialized supplements like bariatric calcium chews and bariatric multivitamin with iron, which are crucial for maintaining optimal health after surgery. If you experience thinning hair post-surgery, bariatric vitamins for hair loss can also support your recovery and overall well-being.

Founded by a bariatric surgeon, the products are formulated to address your unique nutritional needs before and after bariatric surgery, helping to prevent deficiencies and promote optimal health.

Visit the Bari Life website to explore the products and find the right supplements for your needs.