Smoking and surgery

[cricardo]

I'm set to have the surgery in a couple weeks. I have read places which say it is important to quit prior to surgery. What are the direct risks relating to smoking and the surgery?  Is it that smoking delays healing?  My surgeon said it would not be a problem and didn't say I needed to quit prior to the surgery. I need to know how important smoking is and how it relates to the surgery and recovery afterwards.

[mannyman742]

Some have said you must quit prior to surgery, and some say its not that big of a deal.  I believe its bad for blood loss during surgery, and terrible for healing afterwards.