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Was anyone else told not to shave their legs 4 days before surgery?

Ok ladies, this ones for you! When the nurse called from the hospital to go over everything about the surgery day and anesthesia they informed me not to shave my legs 4 days prior to surgery because of the wipe they will give me to wipe on my body. They said it “can” make some women itch. Was anyone else told this and did you listen? Did you shave and then had an itching problem? Personally, I can’t stand fuzzy legs so I’m going to take my chances, but I am just curious about this.

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  • SusieQ2019
    SusieQ2019

    My instruction say do not shave the area where the incision will be and do not apply perfume, deodorant, lotion, makeup or chemical where incision will be.

  • Also, I had to shower with an antiseptic soap the night before and the morning of surgery and on top of that they made me use these wipes on my entire body. Talk about taking precautions!

  • Please don't shave. I'm sure it's in your best interest. I dont think they care what you look like. I must have looked crazy all sprawled out under anesthesia. lol

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I had to do that Dial soap and wipe thing before one of my c-sections. It definitely made me itchy and uncomfortable (but bearable). I never was told not to shave though. Maybe that would have helped some!

Yep! I was told no shaving the 3 days prior to surgery.

I had to use the antibacterial soap wipe thing but they never said anything about not shaving.

11 hours ago, KimB7811 said:

Ok ladies, this ones for you! When the nurse called from the hospital to go over everything about the surgery day and anesthesia they informed me not to shave my legs 4 days prior to surgery because of the wipe they will give me to wipe on my body. They said it “can” make some women itch. Was anyone else told this and did you listen? Did you shave and then had an itching problem? Personally, I can’t stand fuzzy legs so I’m going to take my chances, but I am just curious about this.

I wasn't told that but gtk. I suggest getting a wax anyway about two weeks before surgery. Treat yourself to the waxing and you won't have to worry about shaving for 6 weeks. The new hard was doesn't hurt at all.

Yes indeedy. Too much MRSA and MSSA floating around in the hospital. They don't want to risk any open sores.

Mine didn't say anything either, guess I could have shaved anything I wanted as long as it wasn't my abdomen. And I couldn't use Hibiclenz so did alternate plan with Dial Gold Liquid. Pits and legs were smooth, I'm more traditional , lady bits stayed au natural, since I'm a natural Redhead not THAT THICK there in first place! That is, if anyone required my testimony on this subject.

yes, told not to shave anything a week prior so there is no chance of any "open wounds" which could be prone to infection.

I was told not to shave legs within 48 hours of surgery. Knicks are open wounds which could be infected by staph. It’s a precautionary method my hospital used. I also had to shower using dial and hibaclense twice.  No wipes unless they did that after I was knocked out.

The reasoning behind this is that shaving creates micro Knicks in the skin that can get infected. Also, many hospitals give you chlorhexidine wipes to wipe your entire body down with before surgery and that stuff is not supposed to be applied to any open wounds.

That being said, when I had my gallbladder out I showered the night before washed with the hibiclens (same ingredient as the cloths), showered the next morning as instructed, shaved my legs, then used the hibiclens. When I got to the hospital they had me use the wipes and I about clawed my damn legs off. Ended up getting Benadryl because I was so itchy. I'll be using Nair next time ?

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1 hour ago, ahillig said:

The reasoning behind this is that shaving creates micro Knicks in the skin that can get infected. Also, many hospitals give you chlorhexidine wipes to wipe your entire body down with before surgery and that stuff is not supposed to be applied to any open wounds.

That being said, when I had my gallbladder out I showered the night before washed with the hibiclens (same ingredient as the cloths), showered the next morning as instructed, shaved my legs, then used the hibiclens. When I got to the hospital they had me use the wipes and I about clawed my damn legs off. Ended up getting Benadryl because I was so itchy. I'll be using Nair next time ?

Ugh that stinks. I’m sure that must’ve been hell. That’s what they warned me about as far as possibly itching after applying the wipes but I did take my chances lol. Thankfully, I didn’t have a reaction!

Yes, they give you these surgical wipes at preop to wipe down your body the night before & morning of surgery. If you shave they burn like crazy. I made that mistake before.
On ‎4‎/‎24‎/‎2019 at 7:06 PM, KimB7811 said:

Ok ladies, this ones for you! When the nurse called from the hospital to go over everything about the surgery day and anesthesia they informed me not to shave my legs 4 days prior to surgery because of the wipe they will give me to wipe on my body. They said it “can” make some women itch. Was anyone else told this and did you listen? Did you shave and then had an itching problem? Personally, I can’t stand fuzzy legs so I’m going to take my chances, but I am just curious about this.

I shaved under my armpits (not even thinking) the night before or morning of and I really wished I hadn't. It burned like fire when I used the wipes. They had me use the wipes from my shoulders down to my toes before I put my gown on.

Are you on the blood thinner shot? I was on blood thinners and they took me off of them 6 days before surgery and I had to give myself blood thinner shots 5 days in a row. The no shaving rule was one of the things they told me. They gave me the shots the morning of surgery and daily until I was discharged.
Late response but I got my legs waxed a day or two before surgery. I was in utter hell. I seem to have an allergy to the surgical scrub and/or chemicals used to wash hospital sheets. I will be waxing sooner before my next surgery (shoulder) and warn them about my allergy. It was seriously hell on earth and Benadryl didn’t do squat

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