Stop Smoking for Surgery

Clinical research has shown that patients who stop smoking around six weeks before surgery show a much lower risk of complication during surgery and better outcomes when measured six months later.

However, a collaborative study between the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Federation of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) and Australia’s University of Newcastle showed that patients could expect a further 19% improvement in health outcomes for every smoke-free week beyond this initial one month period.

Your GP can discuss your unique situation in more detail with you. It's important to note that Medbelle surgeons require patients to be nicotine-free for at least six weeks before surgery, although obviously longer is preferable. After around 3 months, the body has had time to reverse some of the damage caused by smoking significantly, and healthy blood flow is restored to every organ of the body.

Traditional cigarettes aren’t the only culprit of these risks. Smoking cigars, shisha (hookah), recreational drugs like cannabis, and vaping can cause the same complications and need to be avoided before and after surgery.

Many patients are also surprised to learn that nicotine replacement therapy like nicotine patches or gums are also problematic. This is because nicotine in any form is a vasoconstrictor meaning it narrows your blood vessels and results in compromised blood flow, and therefore reduced oxygen levels to your body’s tissues.

Doctors recommend quitting entirely, even if you feel your tobacco usage is very minimal. Even one cigarette is enough to have profound and measurable effects on the body’s respiratory, cardiovascular and immune systems. So it’s very important to be honest about your nicotine use. If you’re unsure, ask your GP or surgeon for help on how to quit as you prepare for your procedure.

Surgeons at Medbelle appreciate that quitting smoking is challenging and doesn’t always work the first time around. If you’re worried that you may not be completely nicotine free before your surgery, contact us. Your health comes first, so you must notify your surgeon immediately so the surgery can be rebooked.

Though it may be frustrating to hear, the fact is that it’s highly recommended to postpone any kind of surgery until you’ve successfully stopped smoking for at least six weeks beforehand. Thankfully, there are many options available to make the process easier.

The NHS has a free and effective programme called Smokefree to support those who wish to quit smoking, or your GP or surgeon can point you in the direction of other suitable programmes. It’s always a good idea to give yourself as much time, patience and support as you need – going cold turkey seldom works. Be aware, however, that although nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can gradually help you quit, you’ll also probably need to have quit all NRTs for at least six weeks before surgery.