Do I NEED to remove the acrylic from my nails and all nail polish prior to a breast augmentation procedure? (Photo)

Question

I wear very short nails with acrylics on them. please tell me if I would absolutely have to melt off the acrylics and remove the polish. I am okay with removing polish but I would like to keep the acrylics on. please advise

Ryan Neinstein, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Thanks for the question, I ask every patient to have at least one finger preferable more than one to have absolutely nothing on it to make sure the monitoring equipment is working

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

A pulse oximetry device that is placed on the finger registers that mount of oxygen that the tissues receive. Acrylic can mask the ability of the device to work properly.

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

I agree that acrylic nails can be implicated in postop infections--which is why I do not permit my assistants to have extensions!  At least the thumbs should be free from polish, gels and acrylics so the pulse oximetry can be valid. The oxygenation levels cannot be read by the anesthesiologist through the nail polish and other extensions.

Adam L. Basner, MD · Answer

We do not require patients to remove nail polish prior to surgery.  This practice could vary between surgeons so you should check with your particualtr surgeons office prior to surgbeyr.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

There are two main reasons why surgeons ask patients to remove nail polish and not wear acrylic nails. First, you will have a monitor placed on your finger which will read how well you are breathing. Many monitors can read through many shades of polish, but not through all shades. Secondly, nail polish and acrylic nails do trap bacteria and provide a potential source of infection. We do know you will quickly reach up and touch your breasts after surgery. Doctors and nurses in the operating room are often not allowed to wear polish due to this reason as well.

Do I NEED to remove the acrylic from my nails and all nail polish prior to a breast augmentation procedure? (Photo)

Answers (5)

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