Skip to main content
mayologo1
  • Patient Online Services
  • Pay Bill Online
  • Request an Appointment
    • Services
    • Providers
    • Locations

      Minnesota

      • Adams
      • Albert Lea
      • Austin
      • Belle Plaine
      • Blooming Prairie
      • Butterfield
      • Caledonia
      • Cannon Falls
      • Fairmont
      • Faribault
      • Janesville
      • Kenyon
      • Lake City
      • Le Sueur
      • Mankato
      • Montgomery
      • New Prague
      • New Richland
      • Northfield
      • Owatonna
      • Plainview
      • Red Wing
      • Sherburn
      • St. James
      • St. Peter
      • Waseca
      • Waterville
      • Wells
      • Zumbrota

      Wisconsin

      • Arcadia
      • Barron
      • Bloomer
      • Chetek
      • Chippewa Falls
      • Eau Claire
      • Ellsworth
      • Glenwood City
      • Holmen
      • La Crosse
      • Menomonie
      • Mondovi
      • Onalaska
      • Osseo
      • Prairie du Chien
      • Rice Lake
      • Sparta
      • Tomah

      Iowa

      • Decorah
      • Lake Mills

      View map
    • Classes/Events
    • Blog
    • Wellness
    • Referrals
    • COVID-19

    Recent Posts

    • Child on swing
      Speaking of Health
      Create an asthma action plan for your child
      March 24, 2023
    • Person with arm up, expressing joy
      Speaking of Health
      Tips for embracing joy in daily life
      March 23, 2023
    • Child eating apple
      Speaking of Health
      How to help your child reach a healthy weight
      March 23, 2023
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Join our email newsletter
    Speaking of Health
    Tuesday, February 3, 2015

    Tobacco products and weight loss surgery

    Topics in this Post
    • Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery
    • Smoking and Tobacco Use

    Sharon Alfuth, R.N.You’ve decided to pursue weight loss surgery. You’ve found out your insurance provides coverage. You’ve attended all your pre- and post-operative appointments. You’ve discovered you are a good candidate for weight loss surgery. Now, you are told that you have to stop the use of tobacco products before you can have surgery. Why is this necessary?

    If you have had surgery before, you’ve been told that smoking affects your lung function, putting you at greater risk of anesthesia complications during and after surgery. Smoking can increase your risk of developing blood clots in your legs following surgery, which can lead to clots to your lungs, heart and brain. Smoking also decreases blood circulation, affecting the healing process of your incisions. Besides the risks to the heart and lungs, tobacco decreases blood flow to the lining of the stomach, leading to a threefold increased risk of ulcer formation in the surgically altered stomach and small intestine following weight loss surgery.

    If you use tobacco products, you know how hard it is to stop. But, in order to continue on this journey, you’ve decided to quit. Where do you begin?

    In general, there are four phases to quitting smoking:

    1. Preparing to quit. Make a list of all the reasons you’ve decided to quit smoking. Identify your smoking triggers (things that make you want to smoke). Learn why you smoke by keeping a journal noting when, where and with whom you smoke. Write down your feelings when you smoke. Are you angry, nervous, bored or depressed?
    2. Choosing your quit date. Whatever method of quitting you choose, your quit date is the day you stop smoking for good. You can prepare to quit by smoking fewer cigarettes, switching to a brand you don’t like, signing up for a smoking cessation program, or speaking with your health care provider about using a medication to help you cope or using nicotine replacement therapy.
    3. Coping with withdrawal. Nicotine is an addictive drug. Quitting can bring on temporary withdrawal symptoms, such as strong cravings, headaches, irritability, insomnia and difficulty concentrating. With help and support, you can overcome withdrawal symptoms.
    4. Fighting slips and relapse. This phase involves making changes in your lifestyle that help you stay free from smoking. Plan things to do when you feel the craving for a cigarette, such as going for a walk, chewing sugarless gum, brushing your teeth, or chewing on a celery or carrot stick.

    Resources that can help you are your primary care provider, Wisconsin Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW; the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association.


    For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
    Topics in this Post
    • Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery
    • Smoking and Tobacco Use

    Related Posts

    Items promoting healthy weight Are you ready to change habits to lose weight?
    Sharon Alfuth, R.N. Manage your cravings after weight loss surgery
    Bowl of oats with fruit and yogurt 10 tips for getting your weight loss back on track

    Stay Connected

    • Contact Us
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Community Resources
    • Mayo Clinic Connect
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • Home
    © 2018 - 2023 Mayo Clinic Health System