Do I have to remove manicure gel nails before Breast Augmentation surgery?

Question

i ve heard its not neccessary to remove fake nails as long as you can see a decent distance around the nailsbond and the fake nail.. so is that true? thanks

Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS · Answer

The answer to this question used to always be that you absolutely had to get rid of anything and everything except your very own fingernails.  And the purpose behind this was so that the anesthesia machines could detect your oxygen saturation through your nail bed but the nail treatments impeded the machine's ability to do so.I can tell you from experience, if someone told my wife to remove her nail treatments  - she would not be happy.  Not a good thing.  So fortunately, the anesthesia machines are better at detecting "through" nail treatments and alternatively some measurements can be made on your earlobe which are rarely painted or covered with gel coatings!best of luck!

Sultan Hassan, MD, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Hi and thanks for your question. No its not vital, as this is all to do with an oxygenation measuring probed attached normally to your fingertip. However it can be attached to your earlobe or a toe.

William T. Stoeckel, MD · Answer

Most likely, you should not have to remove the nails. Most surgeons will use a pulse oximeter to measure your oxygen levels during surgery. We used to tell patients that they needed to remove their nail polish in order to get accurate readings on the pulse oximeter. But I have tried my pulse ox machine on patients with several types of nail polish and it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. As always, you should ask your surgeon. He/she may have a different answer.

Karen Singer, MD · Answer

The reason this is sometimes requested is for theanesthesiologist’s monitoring of the pulse oximeter, which measures the levelof oxygen in the blood. This can also be monitored and measured by attachingthe sensor to the toe or earlobe, so most likely you will not need to remove agel nail. Discuss with your Board Certified plastic surgeon to determine whichis the approach he/she takes for surgery.Karen Singer, M.D., P.A.Harvard GraduateBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon

Michael B. Tantillo, MD · Answer

You will likely need to remove at least one of your nails to the oxygen monitoring devices can be used correctly.  Your anesthesiologist will give you your definitive answer.

Do I have to remove manicure gel nails before Breast Augmentation surgery?

Answers (5)