Question:
ACRYLIC NAILS

SHOULD ACRYLIC NAILS BE A PROBLEM I HAVE A BAD HABIT OF BITING MY NAILS AND WHEN IM NERVOUS I NIBBLE ON MY HANG NAILS AND IT DRIVES ME NUTS AND WANTED TO KNOW IF WE CAN HAVE NAILS...THANX HOPE THAT SISN'T SOUND CORNY LOL    — Marian M. (posted on August 22, 2003)

August 22, 2003
Not a corny question. I was wondering the same thing till I talked with a nurse friend of mine. And she says that they look at your finger tips to make sure they arn't turning blue, kinda like oxygen sensors. I don't know if that's an old wives tale but it makes sense...
   — Michelle J.

August 22, 2003
I wasn't sure if you were asking if you can have acrylic nails during surgery or acrylic nails after surgery...you didn't say. If during surgery, many surgeons require that you have see thru nail polish on your fingers. My surgeon had me remove the acrylics from 2 nails. As for after surgery, yes, you can definitely have them. I have had acrylics for years and years.
   — Cindy R.

August 22, 2003
I would ask your doc, that is for the anestesiologist (sp) they look at your nails to watch your color sometimes, but some look at your toenails, so I would ask, good luck!
   — Saxbyd

August 22, 2003
I have acrylic nails and I asked the same question before surgery. My surgeon said that I didn't need to remove any nails or nail polish for surgery. My hospital uses a pulse machine that is put onto your index finger and registers your pulse and other things while in surgery. I would just ask your surgeon and go by what they say. Good Luck!
   — Dionne P.

August 25, 2003
Hi I had the same concern... My bestest friend in the world is getting married 4 days prior to my surgery and being I am her Matron of Honor she wants us to go get our nails done together. My surgeon said I can leave the nails on but all polish has to be removed. Check with your surgeon, it would appear that this can differ surgeon to surgeon.
   — lillbitofsin

August 26, 2007
Acrylic nails during surgery isn't recommended. If your surgeon allows, you may be able to get away with just removing one or two acrylic nails. The reason for this is the pulse oximeter that they place on your finger during surgery and sometimes after surgery on the floors. The pulse ox measures how much oxygen is getting to your tissues. It definitely is important. We use pulse ox readings to determine if the patient needs higher amounts of oxygen, etc. So, I'd say take off the nails, keep no polish or light polish on so the light sensor can read through the polish. It is for your safety they recommend this.
   — Angela213