Question:
should i remove nail polish and arcrylic nails before surgery
a girlfriend of mind said that nail polish may make me have a reaction. Does anyone know if there's some truth to this and has anyone had surgery with there fake nails and nail polish on. — Tanya W. (posted on November 10, 2003)
November 9, 2003
Hi, I didn't remove the acrylic before surgery but I did go have a
manicure. I went with the solar nails so that way they looked natural.
Had no problems at all. I wouldn't recommend having a colored polish
underneath since the hospital may want to watch your nail beds, just go
with something natural and you will be fine. Good Luck!
— lesleeloo
November 9, 2003
I only had to remove two of the nails so they could see the nail bed and
also, so the pulse oxygen monitor would work properly. The other eight
nails were polished bright red and caused no problem. You might ask when
you go for pre-admission.
— SCbabe B.
November 9, 2003
My pre-op instructions say to remove them.
— [Deactivated Member]
November 9, 2003
I did not have to remove my nails but I could only have clear polish on
them. Ask your doctor for sure.
— laurab
November 9, 2003
Call your surgeon and/or the hospital. I did and no one seemed concerned. I
had a french manicure so there was not polish but they didn't seem to think
it was necessary (I still had my acrylic nails on). Good luck
— Sunny S.
November 9, 2003
The hospital preadmission testing said I did not have to remove my acrylic
nails, just the nail polish. But when I got to the hospital, they were a
little upset that I had my nails on. So I bit off my index finger nail
prior to surgery. While I was in ICU, the nurse said that I should not
have had the nails on, that was how they monitor the oxygen level (or
something to that effect). She said she was going to talk to preadmission
testing about that.
— ttilles
November 10, 2003
Had the same problem and no way did I want to remove my nails.
My manecurist removed the fake nails off both of my index fingers and they
put just a light coat of acrylic over my own nails and clear polish. I
left the rest of the nails on and had a french manecure done. It worked
out perfectly. If you have the money get a pedicure done before surgery
too, it feels great.
— debmi
November 10, 2003
Yes, remove them, it's best. I recommend having them removed
professionally. I agree with the pedicure statement. I had one the week
before surgery and my sweet husband took me yesterday for a ped/manicure -
what a treat. I'm 12 days post op.
— T. L. M.
November 10, 2003
This question drives me nuts, as I get different instructions from the
hospital (the same danged hospital at that) before every surgery concerning
nails. At this point, I keep 'em on, but I do a French manicure so they
can see the nail bed.
— Suzy C.
November 10, 2003
I was told as long as I didn't wear a dark color polish I could leave them
on. I wore only a clear coat over the acrylic nails and never had a
problem. What they want to be able to do is check you for oxygen
saturation. They will put your finger inside a little contraption. Mine
read perfectly with the clear polish. And looked great too. I may wear the
clear coat only sometimes just for fun.
— nancysho
November 10, 2003
I wore mine. :-)
— RebeccaP
November 10, 2003
I was told in the surgeons office to remove all polish. I never had long
nails so the stuff I was wearing was a clear strengthener. I asked about
that and the nurse said...yes even the clear polish, your nails are gonna
break anyway. Wow...talk about harsh. So far I am 6 weeks post-op and my
nails are actually growing better than ever before. Hopefully my hair will
take head and follow suit rather than fall out.
— Michelle B.
November 10, 2003
In regards to acrylic nails, you can have a the tips painted white and a
clear overcoat. That is ok for surgery.
— Sharon H.
November 10, 2003
I did not remove mine and I had dark red polish on. If I heard it once I
heard it a hundred times, "Oh you have beatuitful nails!~" No
one said anything about taking them off.
— Jane C.
November 10, 2003
I did not have to have my nails removed but I did have to remove the
polish. The anathesiologist and the healthcare staff monitor things with
your oxygen by checking your nail bed. As long as you get your protein in,
there should not be a problem with your hair falling out or your nails
breaking. I had a little bit of hair thinning, but absolutely no problem
with my nails. I am 11 months post op!
— Lisa R.
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