Many people who vape wonder if it’s safe to use e-cigarettes and vapes after having surgery. Vaping after surgery is generally not recommended by healthcare providers due to concerns about wound healing, infection risk, and other complications.
Can I vape after surgery?
Most surgeons and doctors recommend not vaping at all for at least 2 weeks after surgery and up to 6 weeks in some cases. This applies to any type of surgery, including:
- Open surgery with large incisions
- Laparoscopic or arthroscopic surgery with small incisions
- Dental surgery or oral surgery
- Cosmetic surgery
Vaping too soon after surgery can lead to:
- Problems with wound healing and increased risk of infection
- Postoperative bleeding
- Damage to surgical repairs like sutures or staples
- Reduced blood flow to healing tissues
- Scarring issues
- Other complications
Nicotine and other chemicals in vape liquid and vapor can negatively impact the body’s ability to heal after surgery. Even secondhand exposure to vaping can slow healing if someone is vaping around you.
How long should I wait to vape after surgery?
The general guidelines for vaping after surgery are:
- At least 2 weeks after minor procedures like dental surgery
- 4-6 weeks after major invasive surgery like open heart surgery
- Anywhere from 2-6+ weeks after laparoscopic/arthroscopic surgery depending on the specifics
Talk to your surgeon or doctor about the recommended timeframe for your particular procedure and health status. The larger and more invasive the surgery is, the longer you should refrain from vaping during recovery.
Why is vaping dangerous after surgery?
There are a few reasons why vaping and e-cigarette use can be problematic after surgery:
- Nicotine: Nicotine causes vasoconstriction which reduces blood flow to healing surgical wounds and tissues. This can impair wound healing and increase the risk of infection.
- Coughing: Coughing from vaping can put extra strain and pressure on incisions and repairs from surgery.
- Toxins: Chemicals and toxins in vape liquid may contaminate surgical sites and get into the bloodstream.
- Carbon monoxide: CO exposure from vaping reduces oxygen delivery throughout the body which can impair healing.
Even just the mouth contact from using vapes could transfer bacteria and introduce infection to areas like mouth or dental surgery sites.
What problems can occur from vaping after surgery?
Some of the problems that may happen if you vape too soon after surgery include:
- Wound dehiscence (splitting open of incision)
- Surgical site infections
- Cellulitis
- Poor wound healing
- Bleeding, hematoma
- Blood clots
- Increased pain, swelling
- Damage to stitches, staples, or surgical repairs
- Complications from anesthesia
- Facial swelling after oral surgery
- Dry socket after tooth extraction
In the worst cases, severe infections at the surgery site could require hospitalization or additional surgery and treatment.
How does vaping affect anesthesia?
Vaping before and after surgery can lead to potential issues with anesthesia including:
- Higher anesthesia requirements during surgery
- Longer effects from anesthesia drugs
- Increased nausea and vomiting after anesthesia
- Greater risk of aspiration pneumonia from inhaling vomit
- Difficulty breathing after anesthesia (respiratory depression)
Let your anesthesia providers know if you vape so they can adjust medications accordingly and monitor you more closely.
Does vaping increase the risk of COVID after surgery?
Yes, vaping and surgery are each risk factors for developing more severe COVID-19 complications. Together they substantially worsen odds of getting COVID pneumonia or other problems after exposure to the virus.
Reasons vaping increases COVID risk after surgery:
- COVID is a respiratory virus that attacks the lungs.
- Vaping introduces toxins deep into the lungs.
- Surgery stresses the body, weakens the immune system, and lowers resistance to infection.
- Surgical patients are exposed to more people (doctors, nurses) increasing COVID risk.
Avoiding vaping after any surgery is especially prudent during the pandemic due to the increased susceptibility of developing COVID-19 and respiratory complications.
Can vaping after surgery cause a fever?
Yes, vaping after surgery can sometimes cause an elevated body temperature or fever. This is most likely shortly after surgery when the body is mounting an inflammatory healing response.
Reasons vaping may generate a fever response after surgery:
- Nicotine’s stimulation of the adrenal glands releases stress hormones that may raise body temperature.
- Inhaling hot vapor directly into the lungs can raise core body temperature.
- Toxins and contaminants in vapes may trigger inflammation and fever as the body fights them.
- Bacterial infections at surgical sites due to vaping can result in fever.
If you have a fever after surgery, contact your doctor to rule out serious complications like wound infections which may require antibiotics or additional treatment.
What are the risks of vaping before surgery?
Vaping in the weeks or days leading up to a surgical procedure can also pose health risks including:
- Increased risk of respiratory complications from anesthesia.
- Higher chance of post-op nausea and vomiting.
- Greater blood loss during surgery.
- Longer and more difficult recovery.
- Higher heart rate and blood pressure during surgery.
- Potential drug interactions between vape ingredients and surgical medications.
If possible, try to quit vaping at least 2-4 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
When can I start vaping again after surgery?
Most doctors recommend completely avoiding vaping for at least the first 48 hours after surgery. After that, you may be able to gradually resume use, but it’s best to get explicit clearance from your surgeon first.
Here are general guidelines for restarting vaping after different types of surgery:
- Minor dental surgery: After 2 weeks
- Tonsil/adenoids removal: After 3-4 weeks
- Hernia repair: After 4 weeks
- Joint replacement: After 6 weeks
- Open heart surgery: After 8+ weeks
If you do get the OK to use vapes again after surgery, start very slowly (just a few puffs) and gradually increase to avoid complications. Avoid coughing as it can disturb internal repairs.
Can I switch to nicotine gum or patches after surgery?
Nicotine replacement therapy products like gum, lozenges, or patches are generally considered safer alternatives to vaping and smoking after surgery.
However, some surgeons still recommend avoiding all nicotine products for at least 2 weeks post-op to allow proper healing without any impairment of blood vessels or wound sites.
If you do opt to use NRTs after surgery, here are some precautions:
- Use the minimum effective dose to manage cravings and withdrawal.
- Take frequent breaks from nicotine intake to prevent overly high levels.
- Use nicotine patches at lower doses than typical recommendations.
- Remove gum or lozenges before meals, before bed, and when not actively craving nicotine.
Talk to your doctor about whether substituting vaping with NRT items is advisable for your situation.
What if I have complications from vaping after surgery?
If you experience any problems like excessive pain, bleeding, fever, or suspected infection after vaping following a surgical procedure, immediately contact your surgeon’s office or seek urgent medical care.
Some complications that warrant emergency attention include:
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Red streaking around incisions
- Pus or foul-smelling discharge from wounds
- Extreme swelling at surgery site
- Fever over 101 F (38 C)
Catching post-surgical problems early can help prevent more serious complications from developing. Be open with your surgeon about any vaping so proper treatment can be provided.
Key takeaways
- Avoid all vaping for at least 2 weeks after any surgery, or up to 6+ weeks after major invasive procedures.
- Vaping after surgery raises the risk of impaired wound healing, infections, bleeding, and other problems.
- Nicotine and vaping suppress the body’s healing abilities which are crucial after surgery.
- Get your surgeon’s explicit approval before using e-cigarettes again post-operatively.
- See a doctor immediately if you have worrisome symptoms after vaping following surgery.
Conclusion
It’s best not to vape at all in the weeks to months after surgery to allow your body to fully recover. Vaping too soon introduces toxins and delays healing at the precise time when good circulation and immune function is most needed. While an occasional slip-up may not cause catastrophe, try your best to abstain during your post-surgical recovery. Don’t jeopardize your healing just to satisfy an urge to vape.