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Types of Perioperative Hair Removal

Traditionally, removing hair is part of the preparation for surgery. Hair can harbor bacteria making it possible to cause infection. But some surgeons now allow patients to keep their hair, thoroughly cleaned with antibacterial wash, during surgery.



There are three major forms of hair removal. The term perioperative refers to the time a patient is under surgical care. This includes, preoperative, surgery and post-operative care. Since hair removal, if needed, occurs before the surgical procedure, in this case it is both preoperative and perioperative.

  1. Clipping

    • Some hair doesn't need to be completely removed before surgery. Merely clipping longer hair and washing the site with antibacterial solution is enough to prevent surgical site infection in some situations. Not only does this method prevent skin abrasion, but it also helps the patient return to his preoperative state faster. Electrical clippers remove hair in large areas; small sharp scissors clip the hair in small spaces.

    Shaving

    • Shaving with an electric or disposable razor is one of the most common forms of preoperative hair removal. This method, while simple and cost effective, contributes to surgical site infections. Shaving can cause skin abrasions that are open to infection. Additionally, as the hair grows back, a patient may suffer discomfort and follicular infections.

    Depilatories

    • Another form of hair removal is cream depilatory. As cream saturates the hair, chemicals dissolve protein in the hair follicles allowing a user to wipe or rinse hair away. Many patients prefer using depilatory creams privately, as early as a day before surgery, to a stranger shaving them. Preoperative nurses must check for any hair that might have escaped the depilatory.

    No Hair Removal

    • According to Infection Control Today, many plastic surgeons no longer require hair removal, even on scalp lacerations. Where necessary, long hair is clipped or pulled away from the incision site. According to the National Institutes of Health, when hair is thoroughly washed with antibacterial solution, there is no significant difference in surgical site infection between patients who had hair and those whose hair was removed.

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