Such as skin patches, chewing gum, lozenges, inhalers, and nasal or oral sprays.
Even if you can only manage to stop smoking for a short time before your operation, it’ll help you recover more quickly.
As a smoker, you:
- Need more anaesthetic during surgery to prevent spasms and coughing caused by the tar in cigarettes
- Need more oxygen therapy straight after the operation because the carbon monoxide from tobacco smoke reduces the oxygen levels in your blood
- Have a higher risk of developing chest infections
- Have a slower wound healing rate due to the lack of oxygen being able to reach the wound
- Have a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after surgery
- Have a higher risk of your bones healing properly
Before an operation could be the perfect time to give stopping smoking a go!
Although you can go ‘cold turkey’ and try to stop smoking without any product or support, you can also lean on:
Electronic cigarettes/Vaping
Although vaping is not permitted in any internal building or courtyard within the hospital building, it is permitted outside the hospital building, except for the immediate areas close to entrances.
For help with how to change your habits and manage cravings, visit our Stop Smoking Stages pages.
If you manage to stop smoking before your surgery, congratulations!
You’ve already done the hardest bit, so why not use this as an opportunity to stay stopped?
If you’re not sure, just remind yourself of the benefits:
- Have you noticed your taste and smell has improved?
- Do you find yourself having more energy?
- Are you less anxious or stressed?
- Do you have more money?
You might not be there just yet, but these are just some of the long-term benefits of being smoke free!
