Can you get the gastric sleeve surgery if you smoke and are self paying?

Hello,
Thanks for your question,
Chronic smokers may have problems waking up after surgery; In addition, the leakage risk for smokers is at least 5 times higher than non-smokers.
I hope this answer will help you
Dr.HE

Yes, you can get gastric sleeve surgery if you smoke and are self-paying, but most surgeons strongly recommend quitting smoking before surgery. Some may even require you to stop smoking for a certain period (usually 4–6 weeks) before the procedure because smoking increases the risk of complications, such as:- Slower healing- Higher risk of blood clots- Increased risk of leaks in the staple line- Higher chance of ulcers and acid reflux post-surgery
Since you're self-paying, you might have more flexibility in choosing a surgeon, but many reputable bariatric surgeons will still require a nicotine test before approving you for surgery. Some may proceed with the surgery if you smoke but will strongly advise you to quit for better long-term results.

Thank you for your question. 
First of all, both before and after the surgery, it is vital to quit smoking. In your daily life and recovery processes, smoking is one of the biggest enemy against your body. This is really, really important. Please do not underestimate it and give up. Especially, 1 month before the surgery is really significant about it.