Acrylic nails before surgery. Surgeons prefer that patients do not wear acrylic nails before surgery for a few reasons:

  1. Increased risk of infection: Acrylic nails can trap bacteria and other germs underneath them. During surgery, any bacteria present on the patient’s skin or nails can potentially contaminate the surgical site and increase the risk of infection.
  2. Interference with monitoring devices: During surgery, various monitoring devices are used to track the patient’s vital signs, such as heart rate and blood pressure. If a patient is wearing acrylic nails, they can interfere with the accuracy of these devices, potentially causing a safety issue.
  3. Difficulty in checking circulation: After surgery, doctors and nurses regularly check the patient’s circulation by examining their nail beds. If a patient is wearing acrylic nails, it can be difficult to see if the nail bed is pink and healthy or if it is blue or pale, which could indicate a problem with circulation.

For these reasons, it is generally recommended that patients do not wear acrylic nails before surgery.