Washing The Week Before Surgery

[Irish Lad 34]

Does everybody have to use an antiseptic shower gel such as Hibisec in the days prior to surgery? I don't recall my surgeon advising me to use it but I might have missed something. I'm having surgery on Wednesday.

[lasthope2.0]

I was advised to use Hibiclens (Active Ingredient: Chlorhexidine Gluconate 4.0%).

-The night before surgery,
-The morning before surgery, and
-During my first shower after removing the mummy wrap.

I’d confirm this with the surgeon.

https://hibiclens.com/pre-post-op/before-surgery/

https://hibiclens.com/pre-post-op/after-surgery/

[Colby-jack__]

My dr instructed to use it and I did.
I read a study recently that said there was no change in the rate of infection from people who used it and people that didn't but what could it hurt, right?

My guess would be it may or may not help most people but some people could have some worse bacteria/germs on their skin that hibicleans will remove and you dont know if thats you.

[GoodWood]

It’s really important to check with your surgeon on this. They really vary in their method and you want to make sure you are doing what your doc wants.

I was instructed to NOT clip or shave in the days before surgery. Nicks and cuts could harbor infection. They said THEY would clip or shave what they wanted while I was on the OR table.

I was instructed to use Hibiclens the night before surgery and again the morning of.

Just give the doctors office a call tomorrow and ask. (Or text or email, however they have been communicating)

[Tuscan_Order]

I was instructed to use Hibiclens the night before surgery and again the morning of.

Dr. must have thought I was excessively filthy - he told me to use Hibiclens for three days before surgery!

[UpNorth]

Three days for me.

[LGXDownunder]

It’s really important to check with your surgeon on this. They really vary in their method and you want to make sure you are doing what your doc wants.

I was instructed to NOT clip or shave in the days before surgery. Nicks and cuts could harbor infection. They said THEY would clip or shave what they wanted while I was on the OR table...

Agree, mine was similar but different timing. At the appointment when I signed up for the procedure my doc told me to stop shaving immediately, and said he would shave me on the table. That was 5 or 6 weeks beforehand.

Nothing specific about washing. I just gave everything a good dousing with antibacterial soap the morning of surgery. In addition to any pre-op treatment I would hope that they disinfected the relevant body parts in the OR.

[ElbowRoom]

Hibiclens the day of surgery for me. Doc said if I used it after only do it once a week, it's tough on your skin and if you use it more often it can mildly burn your skin.

Do use an anti-bacterial soap like Dial when you shower until your incision is healed. I was told to shower with my back to the water and just let the water and soap sluice over the incision. You don't want water pounding on the incision and you don't want to scrub it.

I also put Neosporin and Silver Sulfadiazine (SSD) on the incision post-shower and a few times a day to make sure no bacteria can get in there. That was part of the post-op instructions from Dr. Hakky,

[Old Guy]

I was instructed to use Hibiclens the day before surgery and the morning of surgery. Do not shave or clip hair. Whatever they use to de-hair you left me feeling like they burned it off! LOL

[ElbowRoom]

I was instructed to use Hibiclens the day before surgery and the morning of surgery. Do not shave or clip hair. Whatever they use to de-hair you left me feeling like they burned it off! LOL

Yeah I had some form of razor burn for two weeks!