Pipe Smoking Effects on Healing

Ok, first - MODS please move if this is in the wrong section.
Preface : I’m not asking for medical advise as I know those threads are generally closed - I’ve already spoken with my doctor, just want opinions from people who’ve had surgery.
Ok, so I had Nissen Fundoplication surgery 2 weeks ago. For those that don’t know, it’s a surgery to fix acid reflux where the stomach is wrapped around the esophagus to prevent ANYTHING from coming back up. As far as my surgeon and I can tell I’m actually recovering better than expected.
So I asked the important questions: When can I enjoy my pipes again?
His answer was, “Whenever you feel like you can and they don’t have any adverse effect on your healing.
My question for any of you that had any invasive surgery what is the main reason smoking is usually one of those things you have to stop during recovery? Is it the nicotine that can affect healing or is it something else I’m missing?
Everything on the web concerns cigarettes, and the only thing I could find was Winston Churchill supposedly smoked a celebratory cigar after having a major procedure.
I smoked a pipe earlier tonight (an aromatic with low nicotine) but I’m confused as to what I’m looking for as a sign that it’s “interfering” with my healing.
He didn’t seem too concerned with it but more about pressure from heavy lifting and staying away from carbonated drinks and still got me on soft food diet, which SUUUUUUUCKS.

See, I knew something was up when I read an article about why nicotine should be avoided after surgery.
To me I thought it wasn’t very accurate but I was just assuming he didn’t want me to cough and what not early on, but now is basically saying smoke up as long as it doesn’t make me feel sick.
I just hate when you ask a specific question and the DR just says, “Whenever you feel like you can.” I mean, smoking is pretty easy and I’m sure I would’ve as soon as I got home if he hadn’t told me not to.

@5Star I agree and I did but he was essentially like “If you’re feeling better here is WHAT NOT TO DO and the rest was a grey area where if I feel like I can then start slow and if it doesn’t upset your stomach or cause discomfort continue as I see fit.”
As another poster said above, these answers are for liability reasons because if he said you could do something after 2 weeks and you do and it causes a rupture or severe trauma then he would be liable.
I have 100% faith in my surgeon as the surgery I’ve had done is the only surgery he has done since he began practicing. No one has anything negative to say about him and judging by other people online I am doing a lot better than most.
My main question was for what reason should one hold off on enjoying a pipe seeing as I don’t inhale, I’m not a chain smoker, I feel more normal everyday, and the only reason I’ve ever had a doctor tell me not to smoke was for the reason any of them do - “cause it’ll kill ya”
Based on my research there have been articles that state smoking and nicotine inhibits healing but I don’t see how that can be the case in this surgery as it’s my stomach and was done from the outside of the stomach - not inside (as in it wasn’t cut open).
Im just curious because I have never had any major surgery and was happy to hear I could enjoy one of my favorite hobbies but was just at a loss of any negative effects pipe smoking would have on healing or wound recovery.

Because waiting til I’m 100% is around 6-8 months with this surgery - I’ll take my chances :wink:

Thanks for the responses and well wishes.
I did mean to mention that I’m pretty much done with Sodas because of the carbonation. Can’t have that with this type of procedure but Whiskey is just fine.
There are a lot of things I’ve been told to completely avoid entirely or for quite some time but was happy my pipe would at least be coming back on days when I feel like I can enjoy it.