Will smoking marijuana affect general anesthesia in any way?

It is a good idea to stop marijuana use before rhinoplasty. If you had some a few days before surgery, it should not be a big deal. However, discuss it with your surgeon as every case is unique. Good luck. 

Any irritant to the lungs can increase the chance for increased coughing or bronchitis after anesthesia, so we always have patients stop at least two weeks before undergoing surgery. The basic rule is to be sure to inform your doctor of EVERYTHING you put into your body regularly so a determination may be made about stopping it prior to surgery.

In general smoking of any substance prior to general anesthesia is a bad idea.  The smoke paralysis the cilia, which are the cells that move mucous and debris out of your lungs and hence increase your risk for a pneumonia.  If you smoked once you will be ok but you really want to stop 4 weeks prior to allow the normal function of the cilia

It is imperative that you tell your surgeon that you smoke pot, and important that you cease from doing so before and after your surgery. The real danger is a hidden danger:  that there are now so many other substances that are added to the pot that individuals don't know what they are ingesting or inhaling. Any number of substances, pot included, can influence the anesthesia and healing, so it's best to be safe and not smoke. 

Smoking in general will interfere with your anesthesia and the recovery period. I usually prohibit any kind of smoking 2 weeks prior to surgery. Use of any drug must be informed to the anesthesiologist prior to surgery who may need to modify the anaesthesiology medical regimen.
Hope this helps,
Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

Hello,Thanks for your question. Coming from Colorado, that is a question we explore with every patient. What my anesthesiologists and I have noticed is that patients who smoke marijuana regularly use more narcotic during the surgery but have fairly good pain control afterwards. Some patients request to use CBD products after surgery to reduce narcotics exposure and they do well. As with any medication, you should fully disclose your marijuana usage to your doctor, surgeon, and anesthesia provider. They can then take any necessary measures to ensure your safety during and after surgery.Good luck,Dr. Shah

As a health care provider, my number one priority is patient safety. Prior to undergoing anaesthesia, it's important to make your doctor aware of any legal or illegal substances you have in your system. Since marijuana works as a natural sedative, it lowers your blood pressure and pulse, leading to depressed respiration and neurology. The drug also irritates the lungs and can lead to complications during sedation. It works against the surgical and recovery time. No healthcare provider will report marijuana usage to the authorities, as patient confidentiality applies to every individual. It is important that patients refrain from blood thinners and marijuana at least two weeks before their procedure to minimize bleeding and enhance recovery after surgery.

Marijuana can affect lung function and increases the chances of coughing and bronchitis after a procedure that requires anesthesia. Prior to any surgical procedure, I advise my patients to avoid lung irritants [such as marijuana and tobacco] at least two weeks prior to the date of the surgical procedure.
Be sure to inform your doctor of everything you ingest or put into your body in order for your surgeon to determine what he/she will require you to avoid in the weeks leading up to your procedure. Thank you for your time. Dr. Kian Karimi 

Marijuana is not considered a blood thinner, so your surgeon may not be concerned by occasional usage. In our experience, marijuana may be an irritant to the lungs, and lead to chronic bronchitis - similar to the effects of tobacco. Avoidance of smoking may diminish the likelihood of an anesthetic complication, when general anesthetic is used. Thank you. Dr Joseph

Whether you are smoking marijuana or tobacco, either one can affect lung function and thus potentially an impact on general anesthesia.  It is important to advise your surgeon of any history of smoking anything, including frequency and degree of smoking.  Equally important is not engaging in any "street drugs" post-operatively unless approved by your surgeon in order to maximize your result.
Hope you found this answer helpful.  All the best!