Smoking and Gastric Bypass Surgery

My doctor said point blank that he doesn't operate on smokers but he doesn't care if you start smoking again after surgery. Why? What are the surgical risks?

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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Smoke Yes? Weight Loss Surgery No!

I sort of agree with your surgeon. I also don't operate on anybody who is an active smoker, but I STRONGLY urge patients not to start smoking again once they have had their surgery. Unfortunately I have a lot less control of a patient's smoking behavior after surgery. Here are some of the reasons why I don't operate on smokers: 1) Smoking increases the likelihood of the two biggest killers of weight loss surgery patients in the early... more

Smoking and Gastric Bypass Surgery

The reason that bariatric surgeons will not operate on smokers is because complications are significantly increased due to smoking. The risk of a leak from the connection that we make is much higher because smokers do not heal properly. Also your risk of Deep Venous Thrombosis increases significantly as well. Bariatric surgeons make their patients quit smoking at least eight weeks prior to surgery because this improves healing. I'm sure that your bariatric surgeon... more

David Buchin, MD

Long Island Bariatric Surgeon

www.liobesitysurgery.com

Smoking and Gastric Bypass

I choose not operate on patients that smoke and choose to have a gastric bypass. Clearly the complication rate which includes leaks after gastric bypass is higher with smoker than non-smokers. The healing is compromised in patients that smoke. Also patients that smoke after surgery have a higher complication rate as well such as ulcers developing in the anastomosis and these ulcers can bleed or ultimately perforate.

Smoking and weight loss surgery

I do not operate on smokers. This is for many reasons. Smokers do not heal well and have a higher risks of leaks and developing ulcers. Also if we are going to perform a surgery to increase your lifespan by 12 - 15 years, what is the purpose if you just die from lung cancer?