No, you can't wear hairspray during surgery. Hair products could be flammable and may be dangerous to have in the operating room. It's best to put your hair up in a braid or ponytail so it can be out of the way.
If you have long hair, consider braiding it or putting it in a ponytail. Don't put on makeup or use any hair products. Remove your contact lenses and wear your eye glasses to the hospital (if this applies to you) Remove all jewelry, including any and ALL piercings (leave them at home).
Do not wear metal hair clips or hairpins. Metal can interfere with the operation of some surgical equipment. Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
Hair contains pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms that have been identified to cause SSIs. Based on current literature and reviewed evidence, covering the hair and ears in the surgical settings is a practical act to decrease the risk of harming a patient.
Rinse your hair thoroughly and do not use conditioner or any other leave-in styling products. Turn the water off to prevent rinsing the antibacterial soap off too soon.
removing hair with clippers and cream may make little to no difference to the number of infections; Clippers and hair removal cream probably cause fewer infections than shaving using a razor. Removing hair on the day of, rather than the day before surgery may slightly reduce the number of infections.
This is because all humans have germs on their skin that may cause an infection after surgery. Taking two showers (one at night and one in the morning) with CHG soap removes germs and reduces the risk of infection. Your doctor's office will give you the CHG soap and showering instructions.
Yes, please! Showering will help prevent surgical site infections. You may shower the night before and the morning of your surgery, but avoid aggressively scrubbing the area of the surgical site.
Makeup, perfume and hairspray should not be worn the day of surgery. Bathing, creams, lotions, deodorants. Please shower or bathe the night before your surgery. Your surgeon may request bathing with a special soap; please follow their instructions.
You will be taken into an area where you will be asked to remove all of your clothing and jewelry and you will be given a hospital gown. This is sometimes called the Pre-Operative Holding Area. The staff will help secure your belongings, or have you give them to your family for safekeeping.
Can I wear deodorant before surgery? Refrain from using deodorants, powder, perfumes, lotions and moisturisers, as the products can leave residue on your skin.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. This includes water, coffee, gum, or mints. If you do, it may be necessary to cancel your surgery. Do not smoke or use chewing tobacco after midnight the night before your surgery.
Clothing/Hygiene: We suggest loose fitting, comfortable clothing and shoes be worn the day of your surgery. You may bring socks to wear. Do not wear contact lenses, make-up, nail polish, hairpins, or jewelry, including body piercings.
All nail polish should be removed prior to surgery, including polish on toenails. Patients with long hair should not wear metal hair pins or barrettes. Be sure to remember cases for contacts, glasses or hearing aids.
Anesthesia Can Impact Your Hair Too
During surgery, doctors use anesthesia to put the body into a very relaxed state. When this happens, it causes the fast-paced cell division occurring in your hair follicles to slow down. This can cause a significant disruption in the normal production process.
Preparing for day of surgery
Avoid wearing acrylic nails or nail polish – this is where the pulse oximeter is usually placed to measure oxygen levels in your blood, and it sometimes does not work as well when you wear finger nail polish.
The best meals before surgery will include a balance of lean protein, unprocessed carbohydrates, vegetables, and healthy (mainly plant-based) fats. Lean protein sources could include eggs, chicken, and fish. You can add a range of healthy carbohydrates like bananas, buckwheat, quinoa, sweet potatoes, and more.
Before your surgery, your skin needs to be as clean as possible. You can decrease the germs on your skin and reduce your risk of infection by following the shower instructions we have provided. You are required to shower both the night before and the morning of your surgery.
Do remove all piercings and jewelry. Don't smoke, chew tobacco, or drink alcohol the day of your surgery. Don't wear any makeup, nail polish, deodorant, perfume, or scented lotion. Don't eat food, chew gum, or have any type of candy (including no cough drops) after midnight prior to your procedure.
Can I brush my teeth the morning of surgery? Yes. You may brush your teeth and swish with a small amount of water to rinse.
Do not wear makeup, lotion, powder, deodorant or nail polish. It is important to remove your nail polish so that the doctors and nurses can see your true color during the surgery and in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit.
Do not rinse CHG off the skin prior to surgery. Put on clean pajamas and sleep in clean sheets. After applying CHG wipes, do not shower, bathe, or apply lotions, moisturizers, or other personal care products.
Usually, before having a general anaesthetic, you will not be allowed anything to eat or drink. This is because when the anaesthetic is used, your body's reflexes are temporarily stopped. If your stomach has food and drink in it, there's a risk of vomiting or bringing up food into your throat.
This is one of many steps we take to help reduce the chance of infections. You can reduce the number of germs on your skin by carefully washing before surgery, using the following instructions. For all pre-op patients: Change the sheets on your bed the first night of the bathing protocol.
Do not shave or wax any area on your body for a week before surgery (legs, bikini, underarms, etc.). Shaving can nick the skin and increase the risk of wound infection. If hair needs to be removed, it will be done at the hospital.