Preoperative Hygiene: Instructions

It is important for your skin to be as clean as possible going into surgery. Following the instructions below will help to decrease the germs on your skin and reduce the risk of infection after surgery.

• Taking a bath or shower with hair wash the night before surgery and the morning of surgery helps to prevent infections.  
• Take a bath or shower using soap and water. Shampoo your hair, but do not apply any additional products.  
• DO NOT shave or remove body hair. Facial shaving is usually permitted, but if you are having neck or head surgery, please check with your provider. 
• After showering, DO NOT apply any skincare products or hair conditioner. 
• Ensure all clothes, towels, bedding, comfort items (stuffed animals, blankets, etc.) are cleaned before the day of surgery. 
• Clean your wheelchair, car seats, etc. as needed leading up to surgery to make sure they are clean before coming into contact with the surgery site or dressing.
• Pets should not share a bed with the person having surgery after they have taken their preoperative shower or bath.  

1.  Remove jewelry and nail polish. 
2.  Trim fingernails to ¼ inch or shorter.  
3.  Rinse body with warm water.  
4.  Wash your hair with your personal shampoo. Then thoroughly rinse it off your body and out of your hair. 
5.  Wet your hands and lather soap. Firmly scrub all areas: neck, arms, chest, back, abdomen and hips. Clean your legs and feet and between your fingers and toes and underneath your fingernails. Pay attention to your surgery site and all surrounding skin. Ask for help to clean your back if you are having a spinal surgery. 
6.  Rinse your body. 
7.  Dry off with a clean towel. 
8.  Put on clean clothes and use clean bedding.

If you have questions, please call our pre-op office at 651-229-3918.