Question:
If you smoke, can the surgery be reversed?

I smoked before the surgery and quit about 2 months before the GBP. I have had a couple of cigs in the past weeks because of stress and just being around people that smoke. Someone told me if I continued I would have to have it reversed. I wanted to know if that is true? I'm so afraid I might have messed up my chance for weight loss. Please help me with some information. Thank you    — Maria L. (posted on June 16, 2003)

June 15, 2003
I've never heard anything like that. If you had an RNY or DS, it would be very difficult to reverse. Most surgeons wouldn't attempt it unless it were necessary to save your life because it is not easy to do. I don't know about the VBG or Lapband, but I wouldn't worry about it.
   — garw

June 15, 2003
It's amazing what people will say to scare someone into not smoking. I did't quit for the surgery (and my surgeon knew it). I really doubt he would have done the surgery if what you were told is true. Yeesh! It IS true that smoking slows healing down, can irritate the pouch and in general is not good for you - however it should have no bearing on needing a reversal.
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 15, 2003
I doubt seriously that smoking can reverse the surgery - there is no way. BUT, smoking is very serious if you had RNY. I have a good friend who has started smoking again since her RNY and our surgeon is very concerned about her. She is nauseated all the time, she has some stenosis of the stoma and smoking can cause that, it keeps you from absorbing nutrients and can cause all sorts of other problems. My surgeon says that smoking after RNY can serioulsy shorten your life. So, you will still lose weight if you smoke, but you might be a very thin corpse. Is it worth it?
   — Patty_Butler

June 15, 2003
I Have smoked for about 20 years and my doctor knew that I did and never told me to quit. I still smoke and Its only been 2 and 1/2 months since my RYN and i've healed very well and I've also lost 56 pounds! I believe that just doing the diet well and not straining yourself after surgery will help you heal faster.
   — Juanita W.

June 16, 2003
That's just ridiculous.
   — Leslie F.

June 16, 2003
WHAT?!?!?!? Is that, like, "if you jump up and down after sex, you won't get pregnant"? Um, no, you won't have to have your surgery reversed. Rest easy (but I do suggest keeping your smoking in check just for health reasons--I'm an ex-smoker too, 4.5 months post RNY, and fighting not to light up again!) Best of luck!
   — Joyce C.

June 16, 2003
I quit 6weeks post-op b/c my Surgeon said he will not do my open rny if I smoked during the last 6weeks, but 2mo. post-op...puff puff away, like an idiot! I am a light smoker and hardly even finish one, but I still smoke and I am still trying to quit. I asked my surgeon how bad it is for me now (I already know it's bad to begin with). He told me they do not want us smoking at all, but we are adults, he said just a warning: If we get ulcers, stomach cancer or anything like that they will have to reverse it, other than that it's not a problem, just us risking our new stomachs ontop of the normal cigarette warnings. We all know the warnings, that's why we are always trying to quit! Good luck!
   — Sandy M.

June 17, 2003
My surgeon's team won't even consider operating on smokers. Not because of any chance of reversal, but because the clinic's belief is that this surgery provides years of life to their patients. If the patient is still smoking, then the patient (per my surgeon's nurse) isn't committed to living a long, healthy life. My surgeon's clinic is kooky about follow-up. If a patient isn't willing to commit to life-long follow-up, then they won't perform the surgery. I guess I can see their point - why bother curing the effects of one problem, only to watch your patient die from the effects of another problem. Anyway, that's what my surgeon's nurse said last Friday. Best of luck to you on your journey! ~LaraKatya
   — Larakatya