NOW is always the best time to stop smoking. Stopping NOW you will not be jumping anxious to smoke even more before or after your surgery. You should be relatively peaceful about it by then.
If you want to be successful -- don't smoke that first one after you have quit. It only leads to another one eventually (and usually in a relatively short period of time after the first puff/cig). We are addicts and the only way not to be drawn back into active addiction once quit is to not smoke. Period.
It's simple (the Law of Addiction). Not always easy, but simple. You can do it too. You can. Choose it! Best Wishes.
Not until you understand the addiction. The only reason I say this is because my opinion is, that your success rides on your understanding of how nicotine works in your brain and by having a plan of action ahead of time to combat the craves that will come no matter how you quit,.....be it cold turkey, patches, gum....etc....
The best way to understand is to read read read....on this very site. Read Allen Carrs SHORT book on THE EASYWAY TO QUIT SMOKING. It saved my life.
You have all month before surgery, so I would soak up as much knowledge as you can now.....get some plans in order as to what you will do when those craves come, numbers of people who you can call for support...get a bit more active here. Then quit right before your surgery. You will also have a better recovery 
Sure, you can quit right now. Without knowledge...but I feel thats a bad plan. You are going to war. Be prepared. Understand the enemy. You can do this, and beat this but be smart about about.
Thats my best opinion on it...it took me several failures before I did just this. Just trying to save you the pain.
The more you know, the stronger you will be going into your quit. I wish you the very best and I hope we see lots of you!We have your back!
