Smoking increases your risk
of problems during and after
your operation. Quitting 4–6 weeks before your operation
and staying smoke-free 4 weeks
after it can decrease your rate
of wound complications by
50 percent. Quitting permanently
can add years to your life.
Your Chance for a Better Recovery
Prepare for Your Quit Day
As listed on the American Cancer Society website:
- Pick the date and mark it on your calendar.
- Tell friends and family about your Quit Day.
- Get rid of all the cigarettes and ashtrays
in your home, car, and place of work.
- Stock up on oral substitutes (sugarless gum,
carrot sticks, hard candy, cinnamon sticks,
coffee stirrers, straws, and/or toothpicks).
- Decide on a plan. Will you use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or other medicines? Will you attend a stop-smoking class? If so, sign up now.
- Practice saying, “No thank you, I don’t smoke.”
- Set up a support system, which could be a group program such as Nicotine Anonymous or a friend or
family member who has successfully quit. Ask family
and friends who still smoke not to smoke around
you or leave cigarettes out where you can see them.
- If you are using bupropion or varenicline,
take your dose each day of the week
leading up to your Quit Day.
- Think back to your past attempts to
quit. Try to figure out what worked
and what did not work for you.
Download a Quit Smoking Plan and "I Can Quit" Log
On Your Quit Day
- Do not smoke. This means none at all—not even one puff!
- Keep active. Try walking, exercising, or hobbies.
- Drink lots of water and juices.
- Begin using nicotine replacement if that is your choice.
- Attend a stop-smoking class or follow your self-help plan.
- Avoid situations where the urge to smoke is strong.
- Avoid people who are smoking.
- Reduce or avoid alcohol.
- Think about how you can change your routine. Use a
different route to go to work, drink tea instead of coffee,
eat breakfast in a different place, or eat different foods.
Dealing with Withdrawal
Nicotine replacement and other medicines can help reduce
many of the physical symptoms of withdrawal. Most smokers
find that the bigger challenge is the mental part of quitting.
If you have been smoking for any length of time, smoking has
become linked with nearly everything you do—waking up in the
morning, eating, and drinking coffee. It will take time to “un-link”
smoking from these activities, which is why, even if you are using
a nicotine replacement, you may still have strong urges to smoke.
Resources to Help You Quit
Talk to your health care provider about the best option
to help you with quitting, but know how truly important
it is that you quit before your operation.
The National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation provides the latest information
on how to quit smoking with its program called “Become an EX.” Proven
methods to teach smokers how to quit and stay quit are provided.
The American Lung Association has information and plans like its
“Freedom from Smoking” program, an online program that takes you
through modules and provides you with the tools you need to quit.
The American Cancer Society has helpful detailed
information and a hotline number on its website.
Call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit this site.
Extensive help resources from government and
professional associations offering quit help.
www.CDC.gov/tobacco
Support by phone or Internet including “talk to an expert.”
www.smokefree.gov
Order copies of this handout online
This information is published to educate you about preparing for your surgical procedures. It is not intended to take the place of a discussion with a qualified surgeon who is familiar with
your situation. It is important to remember that each individual is different, and the reasons and outcomes of any operation depend upon the patient’s individual condition. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a scientific and educational organization that is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery; it was founded to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient. The ACS has endeavored to present information for prospective surgical patients based on current scientific information; there is no warranty on the timeliness, accuracy, or usefulness of this content.