Question:
Fake Nails & Surgery
I have false nails on and would like to know if I have to remove them before surgery. I am sorry if this question has been asked before. I didn't find it. — Barbara T. (posted on January 18, 2003)
January 18, 2003
I had my acrylic nails before, during and after surgery.. No problems -
6mths post-op.
— HelpMeRhonda !!
January 18, 2003
Hi, you can keep the acrylic nails on during surgery if and only if there
is only clear polish over them. They need to see if you're having any
discoloration on your body during and after surgery, so they need to see
the skin beneath the nail bed. Just get a french manicure with a square
tip (they're the trendiest anyway) :) Good luck
— Iris B.
January 18, 2003
I have acrylics. They just gave me some nail polish remover to take off
the polish before surgery.
— Linda A.
January 18, 2003
I had acrylic nails with polish as well as a pedicure with polish before my
surgery. I didn't remove either finger or toenail polish. In this day of
electronic monitoring devices in the operating rooms, your nail beds are
the last thing the anesthesiologists look at.
— Laureen59
January 18, 2003
I am a licensed nail tech by trade, I agree with everyones post. They used
to need polish free nails to check for circulation problems. They can tell
this if the nail bed was getting purple. Again there should be no need to
have them removed. Unless of course they are the press on type.
— luckyflowers
January 18, 2003
As a BTC surgical nurse, I know for a fact that we require you to take all
fingernail polish off your hands and the polish off both big toes. If you
have acrylics, we require that the acrylic nail be removed from both index
fingers. The pulse ox monitor that we clip on your finger that monitors
the oxygenation level in your blood can not usually read through acrylic,
even if it does not have polish on it. Like someone brought up at my
support group......you always have a choice, would you rather keep your
acrylics on or have surgery? I've actually had patients argue with me and
they've ended up having to peel away the acrylic in the pre-op area. But,
as always, ask your particular facility.
— Lynette B.
January 18, 2003
I have acrylic nails and did not have to remove them or remove the polish
from them. I did not have to take them or the polish off when I had my
gallbladder surgery either. I think it just depends on the
anesthesiologist and/or the hospital policy.
— garw
January 18, 2003
I have had several surgeries and always had my nails too. I would have
french nails with clear polish on them. Ask your anethesiologist or the
nurse at your preop visit. Some mind, some don't.Good Luck.....
— Sharon1964
January 18, 2003
11 surgeries here...had my acrylic nails on for each one just had a french
manicure....the pulse ox clip NEVER had a problem reading my pulse ox with
the acrylics on ...and i was never asked to remove them by anyone (and i
asked each time) just wanted clear polish on them.
— bekka K.
January 19, 2003
I had my surgery 12/23/02 at BTC in Ypsilanti MI. I've worn acrylics
forever. I had the fake nail removed off both pointer finger (first
finger) then they put a light coating of acrylic on my own nails, the rest
of my nails where done in a french manicure
— debmi
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