Hair Etiquette: PG-13

[Rachel412 116]

I don't think the doc will care, but I know after being in the hospital and having the nurses and doctor lift my gown to check incisions over and over again (and not being allowed to wear undies), it got pretty embarrassing for me after awhile...

Oy. I put on undies and PJ pants as soon as I got into the room!

[ButterflyM 2]

That's FUNNY! I needed that laught! I am NOT shaving- don't want to have to be dealing with the hair growing back along with the gas pain, belly tenderness & so on! Too funny! & i thought I thought way ahead! LOL

[kshallow 9]

Omg..... This whole thing got me laughing! It made me try to remember back a year ago on surgery day to my own he-hem "status"

[lizzy2150 3]

One of my brothers is a surgeon and I asked him once if they notice this kind of thing.

First he snickered.

Then he said he doesn't even think about it--he's always concentrating on the surgery, not anything else. So I'm not going to think about it either. (Of course, he's a trauma surgeon, so many of his surgeries are probably a bit more intense than installing lap-bands. But still. Not gonna bother.)

[Jachut 487]

I'd do the landscaping. last time before my huge bowel resection, I got ny hair done, my toenails done, a new set of acrylic nails - french tips because they had to be clear, lol, legs, underarms waxed and a brazillian as well. Ok, so I knew my bits were going to be seen - they were going to be up my rear end and also used my caesar scar again and I didnt want to deal with the hatchet razor job they usually do - a good wax means the hair wont be growing back a day later when that dressing is on - I'll never ever make that mistake again after having to rip off a huge dressing after a caesaren with grown back pubes - OUCH. Plus mine have gone white, lol, and very patchy since I had the pelvic radiation last year - it all fell out and that's how it grew back. I'm more embarrassed about having the nether regions of an 80 year old than I am about being as bare as a 10 year old.

Anyhow, I think going in to have an op, being in hospital for a few days, being a bit insecure about being looked at when you're anaesthetised and on the table, if it makes you feel better then get the works done. I like to go in feeling good - people are goning to be touching me, looking at my incisions, checking things out, and you have visitors too - I dont think its silly to have a day of grooming so that you're feeling tip top. I know nobody's looking and judging but its not really about that, its just about feeling good about yourself.

[TXNurse77 0]

Oh My Goodness! Bahaha.

Yes, please do a little landscaping down there. Just get in the habit of doing it often and you will find it so much easier to maintain. You never know when someone will see you.

Every catheter I put in and someone is grown out like jungle vines...my mind screams.

Everytime I see pubes coming out of the sides of someone's panties looking like spider legs...my mind screams.

Everytime I palpate or listen to someone's abdomen and their pubes are growing upward of their abdomen and I have to be very careful my stethoscope doesn't land on them...my mind screams.

LOL! I'm not typical medical staff who just ignores things. I'm a bit on the OCD side and notice everything, making mental notes all the way!

[Acadia 20]

A Brazilian wax is safest. You are on your back with legs spread for this surgery so it's nice to be clean. And a wax won't grow back for 4-6 weeks, whereas a shave will start immediately. Get the wax around 3-5 days before surgery to allow swelling to go down.

[Mahogany20 0]

I am being banded on June 28th and have thought of this too! Too funny! Be on the safe side and trim.....I am!

[sassyfrass 24]

Oh my. This post is funny..... however....it has my stomach in knots just thinking of this part of the surgery! And I don't even have my surgery date yet. Oh my!

[Aint Settlin' 0]

I heard that you are given a catheter during the procedure. Is this not true? I sure do hate the idea of someone messing with my "junk" while I'm out of it. All around, just sounds terrible. I try to shave, but my mammoth belly is in the way, so I'm kinda like a yard that someone couldn't finish mowing.

[Acadia 20]

I wasn't catheterized during my surgery, but mine was outpatient. You're only out for an hour or two then in recovery.

[melzie_99 22]

I've never been given a catheter for any of my surgeries to my knowledge (was informed after my breast reduction by the nurse that I actually wet myself during surgery because they pushed so many fluids- how embarrassing); at the end of the day, I guess it's just a matter of what makes you comfortable. A trim can't hurt, but I wouldn't shave for anyone...

[NewStart95987 35]

I didn't know that I would end up naked on surgery day but did a quick shave anyway and I'm glad I did! Just remember, YOU won't be the first or last! 1 minute after they see whatever you decided to do with your landscaping, they will have forgot.

[Shelley64 26]

On the big day I think this will be the least of your worries! I was a nervous, scared mess the morning of. I seriously almost bolted at the elevators to day surgery. Thank God my husband was there to calm me down. After I got in there and got my gown and they started doing iv lines, etc I got some happy juice and I don't remember anything after that. I barely remember the ride home. It's kinda like having a baby....nothing they haven't seen before!

[Kate rules 43]

I'm gonna trim the hedges but not shaving. I tend to get ingrown hairs/folliculitis and don't want to risk infection if my body is busy recovering from surgery. I mean it's really not that bad anyway, seriously.

@Michelle, I am LMAO!!! I have OCD too so I loved your post...

On the big day I think this will be the least of your worries! I was a nervous, scared mess the morning of. I seriously almost bolted at the elevators to day surgery. Thank God my husband was there to calm me down. After I got in there and got my gown and they started doing iv lines, etc I got some happy juice and I don't remember anything after that. I barely remember the ride home. It's kinda like having a baby....nothing they haven't seen before!