Question:
Can I keep my manicure intact during surgery?

If I have the acrylics on, are they going to remove one so they can watch the color of the nail bed during surgery? What about that clamp they put over one finger, (I think to count pulse) can it see through acrylic and nail polish?    — jocelyn (posted on August 17, 2002)

August 16, 2002
Hi... I had surgery in April and no problem with my nails. I had them done the weekend before to hold me for a bit. They can use your toenails for the looking at nailbed color and I had no problem with my nail on with the pulsox. They do ask though that you use a lighter polish as red or the deep colors can be a problm. Good luck to you!
   — AJC750

August 16, 2002
Hi Alyce. You may want to check with your surgeon. Mine required me to remove one fingernail and have the other nine done with clear polish. I chose instead to have all of mine taken off and then treated myself to a new set when I got home from the hospital. Good Luck.
   — Pam S.

August 17, 2002
My surgeon requires that ALL manicure products be removed...no nail polish, even clear...nothing on the nails. I removed everything and as soon as I was up to it, I darn near ran to get a whole new set on...felt nekid w/o my nails LOL But it was a very small price to pay! ~CAE~
   — Mustang

August 17, 2002
It might be wise to remove them for awhile. Even after surgery, long nails might make changing your bandage after surgery a little difficult. My surgeon required that all fake nails be removed.
   — Sarah K.

August 17, 2002
i did with no with no problem - red polish also!
   — Susan B.

August 17, 2002
I had acrylics with a french manicure, they had to play with the thingy they put on my finger to get a good reading, but they seemed to know how to deal with the nail issue-
   — ~~Stacie~~

August 17, 2002
Check with your surgeon. I have acrylics and had remove the index finger and thumb on one hand only.
   — Cindy R.

August 18, 2002
i think the clip you are talking about is the pulse/ox indicator...i would think thta the nail would need to be "bare" for it to give a acurate readding.
   — Becky M.