According to a study by World Health Organisation (WHO), if smokers can quit smoking four weeks ahead of an operation, it can help them recover better and faster.

Quitting smoking at least four weeks prior to operation helps patients significantly reduce the risk of having postsurgical complications because of the improvement in their blood flow.

WHO said that minor or non-essential operations on regular smokers could be delayed to give them time to quit smoking and thereby improve outcomes such as wound healing and heart function.

The study, conducted in co-operation with University of Newcastle, Australia and World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists showed that every additional tobacco-free week beyond four weeks, improved health outcomes by 19%.