Can I put moisturizer on my face before anesthesia?

Preparing for your surgery day

Getting ready for a medical procedure can bring up all kinds of little questions, like whether you can swipe on your favorite face cream. The short answer is no—you should skip the moisturizer, along with any other lotions, makeup, and oils, on the morning of your surgery.

Hospitals and surgical centers have strict rules about keeping your skin completely bare. This isn't just to keep things simple; products like creams, lotions, and deodorants can interfere with the special skin prep used in the operating room or react poorly with medical equipment and monitoring devices.

To keep things smooth and stress-free on surgery day:

• Take a shower early enough so your hair has plenty of time to dry completely.
• Leave all body emollients, oils, creams, deodorants, makeup, and lotions in the cabinet after your wash.
• Always double-check with your surgical care team if you have any doubts about specific prescribed skincare items.

Following these steps helps your medical team keep everything clean, safe, and right on track for your procedure!