Is it a common procedure to wash hair after SMAS facelift while still under anesthesia?

Yes, it is common to wash/rinse the hair after a facelift in the operating room.  It is typically done with sterile water and by an experienced surgical staff team. The washing cleans the area of blood and other elements that can pose infection risks.  Although it does add to surgery time, most experienced surgeons avoid taking short cuts (not washing the hair, for example) because of the risk of compromising results and the patient's health.I hope this helps.

Thank you for your question. The professors and others who I learned from all wash the patient's hair at the end of a facelift case. There well be some blood that gets into the hair during the case. It is much better to get this taken care of at the time of surgery, as opposed to waiting until the dressings come off days later. The time to do this is not very long. Typically this is done after the last stitch is placed, and operative time ends. It is when the patient is slowly emerging from anesthesia. Best to ask your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon what protocol they have.

Jeffrey J. Roth, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Las Vegas Plastic Surgery

It is common practice to wash or at least rinse the patient’s hair after an SMAS facelift. This helps to remove residual blood, anesthetics, and sweat. It only takes a few minutes and does not add to the price; it’s simply included in the procedure. If you would rather not have your hair washed while under anesthesia, you can discuss this with your facial plastic surgeon before your procedure.  I hope this helps.