Why Do You Have to Remove Toenail Polish Before Surgery?

The nail bed is one of the best places to detect cyanosis caused by low oxygen levels. This is why acrylic nails, nail polish, solar nails, shellac polish, etc are asked to be removed prior to surgery.

What happens if you don't Remove nail polish before surgery?

Avoid wearing acrylic nails or nail polish – this is where the pulse oximeter is usually placed to measure oxygen levels in your blood, and it sometimes does not work as well when you wear finger nail polish. If you forget to take it off, the surgery team can find another location on the body to monitor oxygen levels.

Is toenail polish OK for surgery?

All nail polish should be removed prior to surgery, including polish on toenails. Patients with long hair should not wear metal hair pins or barrettes.