Is it safe to wear earrings during submuscular Breast Augmentation and applying body lotion to certain areas pre-op?

Question

At my pre-op appt I asked the nurse if it's okay to lotion my face&legs (as they are notoriously dry & will leave me uncomfortable all day long the day of surgery without lotion after my morning shower) she said I can apply lotion to my face/legs; is this safe or should I just not apply? Also she said it was okay to leave in one of my ear piercings that isn't fully healed and she said they would cover it with tape? Is this safe practice also? Or should I have it changed out professionaly pre-op?

Shlomo Widder, MD · Answer

Dear Arfup,        Let me tell you the policy in my surgery center. All earrings or studs are supposed to be removed before surgery for better patient's safety. If for some reason the earring can not be removed, taping  them is acceptable. As far as lotions, it depends on the surgery area. In your situation, it will be ok to apply it on the legs, but not on the upper body. Obviously, this is my policy, but you should always follow the policy of your surgeon. You can discuss these issues with your surgeon prior to surgery.             Best of luck,                                    Dr Widder

Jon Paul Trevisani, MD, FACS · Answer

Jewelry should be removed before having surgery for several reasons but here a few main reasons. The first one is that jewelry and body piercings increase the patient’s risk of surgical burns from the use of medical equipment during the surgical procedure. An electrocautery unit is used during surgery to help minimize and control bleeding and to achieve hemostasis. Electricity can travel to any metal on the body which is the reason why a grounding pad is used during surgery. However, to prevent the patient from receiving a “possible” burn from the current that comes from the electrocautery unit, it is good practice and safe practice to have jewelry removed before surgery. Additionally, if the patient experiences swelling during surgery, the jewelry can pose a danger in impeding circulation to an extremity. Lastly, infection is always important to prevent. Jewelry can harbor bacterial growth and thus leading to unnecessary infections.

William Andrade, MD · Answer

Hello, each surgeon and clinic will have variability in their preoperative instructions.  If you are not comfortable or clear about your preoperative advice provided by the clinic RN, you could clarify with your PS and/or anesthesiologist prior to surgery.

Jose M. Soler-Baillo, MD, MS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  If you are worried about the answer that was given to you by the nurse, it would be best to ask your plastic surgeon to see what he or she advises.All the best,Dr. JSB

Adrian Richards, MBBS, MSc · Answer

Thank
you very much for your question.Generally in our practice at Aurora, we would encourage you to remove
earrings prior to surgery or have them taped.The reason for this is, in surgery a diathermy (cautery machines) are
sometimes used and any exposed areas of metal can potentially cause burns in
this area.

Generally
we also advise you to reduce use of body lotion particularly on the leg areas
and also the areas which are going to be operated on.

The
reason for this is that body ointment makes it less easy to apply a pad which
is required for the diathermy and also makes the preparation and drawing on the
skin in the surgical area more difficult.

However,
each surgeon’s practice varies considerably and I think it would be best to
discuss with your plastic surgeon and their nursing team, their preference
prior to surgery.AR

Is it safe to wear earrings during submuscular Breast Augmentation and applying body lotion to certain areas pre-op?

Answers (6)

Answer: Jewelry and lotion

Answer: Jewelry and lotion

Answer: Lotion and earrings during surgery

Answer: Lotion and earrings during surgery

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Everything you need to know about Breast Augmentation

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Is it safe to wear earrings during submuscular Breast Augmentation and applying body lotion to certain areas pre-op?

Answers (6)

Answer: Jewelry and lotion

Answer: Jewelry and lotion

Answer: Lotion and earrings during surgery

Answer: Lotion and earrings during surgery

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Augmentation

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.