Patients preparing for surgery are required to remove all cosmetics, including foundation, lipstick, and eye makeup. This is a fundamental safety measure that allows the medical team to accurately monitor the patient’s physiological status and prevent serious complications. The removal of these products is necessary because they can interfere with standard safety protocols and obstruct the medical team’s view.
Obscuring Vital Signs and Patient Assessment
Cosmetics significantly hinder the medical team’s ability to assess a patient’s condition by obscuring natural skin color changes. Doctors and nurses observe the patient’s lips, nail beds, and skin tone to detect immediate problems like pallor or cyanosis, which signal poor circulation or oxygen deprivation. Heavy foundation or colored lip products can mask these crucial diagnostic indicators, delaying the recognition of a life-threatening change in status.
Makeup also interferes with medical monitoring equipment, particularly the pulse oximeter. This device measures blood oxygen saturation. Dark nail polish, artificial nails, or thick foundation on the fingertip can block light transmission or absorb light differently, leading to inaccurate readings. If the oximeter provides skewed data, the medical team may not intervene promptly when a patient is experiencing oxygen deficiency.
Hazards Related to Surgical Tools and Procedures
The tools used during surgery present a specific physical risk when metallic or flammable cosmetics are present. Many cosmetic products, especially glitter or shimmery eyeshadows, contain electrically conductive, metal-based pigments. These particles pose a danger when electrocautery is used, which is a common surgical instrument that uses heat generated by an electrical current to cut tissue and stop bleeding.
If electrocautery is used near the face, the electrical current can travel through the metallic particles, leading to severe thermal burns or potentially igniting the product. Furthermore, heavy cream-based products or foundation interfere with the effectiveness of pre-surgical skin disinfectants. These disinfectants must thoroughly penetrate the skin surface to reduce the bacterial count and prevent a Surgical Site Infection (SSI), a process hindered by an overlying layer of cosmetic product.
Risks Associated with Anesthesia and Infection
Certain cosmetic applications carry a risk of physical detachment that is dangerous during anesthesia. When a patient is under general anesthesia, loose items, such as false eyelashes or powdered makeup, can detach during intubation or extubation. These particles can be accidentally inhaled or aspirated into the lungs. Aspiration of foreign particles leads to severe respiratory complications, including aspiration pneumonia, which complicates the patient’s recovery.
Makeup products also introduce a biological risk into the sterile operating room environment. Cosmetics can harbor bacteria, introducing a potential source of pathogens that increases the risk of infection into the surgical site or bloodstream. Furthermore, cosmetics contain chemicals and fragrances that can cause allergic reactions. If a patient develops a rash or swelling during surgery, it is challenging for the medical team to determine if the reaction is due to the anesthesia, medication, or the makeup, potentially delaying necessary treatment.