Do nurses shave you before surgery? The modern approach to surgical prep

September 22, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the World Health Organization, removing hair with clippers or depilatory cream, rather than shaving with a razor, significantly reduces the risk of surgical site infections. Modern pre-operative protocols have evolved to focus on patient safety, addressing the common question, "Do nurses shave you before surgery?"

Quick Summary

The traditional practice of shaving patients with a razor before surgery is largely abandoned in modern medicine due to increased infection risks. Today, nurses and other healthcare staff use electric clippers or depilatory creams, but only if hair removal is absolutely necessary to prevent infection or interfere with the surgical field.

Key Points

Modern Practice Avoids Razors: Modern surgical protocol recommends against shaving with a razor due to the risk of microscopic cuts and subsequent infection.
Clippers or Cream are Preferred: When hair removal is necessary, nurses use electric clippers or depilatory creams, which are safer alternatives to traditional razors.
Timing is Key: Any necessary hair removal is performed as close to the time of surgery as possible to minimize infection risk, often in the pre-op area or operating room itself.
Patients Are Told Not to Shave: Patients are typically instructed not to shave the surgical area at home to avoid causing skin trauma and increasing the chance of infection.
Hair Removal Is Not Always Necessary: Many surgical procedures do not require any hair removal at all unless it will interfere with the operation.
Prioritizing Patient Safety: The move away from razor shaving is a key part of modern patient safety efforts aimed at reducing surgical site infections.

Outdated Practices and Modern Protocol

For decades, it was a routine procedure for nurses to shave a patient's body hair from the surgical site using a razor. The practice was based on the assumption that hair harbored bacteria and could increase the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs). However, scientific studies have shown this assumption to be flawed. Shaving with a razor can cause microscopic cuts and abrasions in the skin, which can actually increase the risk of infection by allowing bacteria to enter the wound. In response to this evidence, medical protocols have been updated across the board.

Today, the decision to remove hair is based on necessity rather than routine. If hair must be removed, the method is chosen to minimize skin trauma. A nurse will use electric clippers, which trim hair close to the skin without causing nicks, or a depilatory cream. The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) has long recommended against shaving with a razor.

The Role of Hair Removal in Modern Surgery

Is Hair Removal Always Necessary?

In most cases, no. Hair removal is only performed if it will directly interfere with the surgical procedure, such as obstructing the surgeon's view, interfering with incisions, or preventing a dressing or medical device from adhering properly. For many surgeries, no hair removal is required at all.

Clearer field of vision: For procedures on smaller areas, a significant amount of hair could obscure the surgical site for the surgeon.
Securing medical devices: Hair removal may be necessary to ensure that electrodes, dressings, or adhesive drapes stick properly to the skin.
Patient safety: In some cases, a very hairy area could be a risk factor for infection if hair falls into the wound during the procedure.

Modern Alternatives to Razor Shaving

Instead of a razor, healthcare providers rely on these safer methods:

Electric clippers: These are the most common and safest method used by nurses. They trim hair very short, but don't cut the skin, significantly reducing the risk of micro-trauma and subsequent infection. Clippers are typically disposable or have disposable heads to maintain sterility.
Depilatory creams: These chemical hair removal products are sometimes used, though less frequently. They break down the hair shaft below the skin's surface. A nurse will perform a patch test first to check for allergic reactions, as these creams can cause skin irritation.

Comparing Hair Removal Methods


Feature	No Hair Removal	Electric Clippers	Razor Shaving
Infection Risk	Lowest. Recommended unless hair obstructs surgery.	Low. Minimal risk of skin trauma.	High. Microscopic cuts increase infection risk.
Skin Damage	None.	Minimal to none.	High potential for nicks, cuts, and abrasions.
Patient Comfort	Highest. No physical discomfort.	High. Non-irritating and quick.	Low to moderate. Can cause irritation, ingrown hairs, and itching as hair regrows.
Efficiency in OR	High, no time spent on removal.	High. Quick and effective for necessary removal.	Low. Time-consuming and can delay procedures.

Prepping for Surgery

Timing is Everything

The timing of hair removal is crucial for reducing infection risks. For the most sterile outcome, any hair clipping should be done immediately before the surgery, ideally in the operating room or pre-op area. This minimizes the amount of time the freshly clipped skin is exposed to potential contaminants. Removing hair days before surgery, especially with a razor, allows time for bacteria to colonize any micro-abrasions, increasing the risk of infection.

Patient Education and Communication

Many patients still mistakenly believe they should shave themselves at home before their surgery. Healthcare professionals now actively discourage this practice. As part of a comprehensive pre-op checklist, patients are given clear instructions not to shave the surgical area themselves. This is to prevent any self-inflicted cuts that could lead to infection and potentially postpone the procedure.

If a patient has excessive hair, they may be instructed to use an electric clipper to trim it lightly, but a full, close shave is always discouraged. Always follow your hospital's specific instructions and ask your healthcare team if you have any questions or concerns about preparing for your procedure.

Conclusion: A Shift Towards Safety

The era of routine pre-operative razor shaving is over. Instead of asking, "Do nurses shave you before surgery?", patients should understand that hair removal is now a carefully considered step performed only when necessary, using safer methods like electric clippers to reduce surgical site infections. This shift from outdated ritual to evidence-based protocol reflects a stronger focus on patient safety and better overall outcomes in modern healthcare.

For more information on surgical site infections and prevention guidelines, you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. The CDC provides extensive resources on healthcare-associated infections and patient safety practices [https://www.cdc.gov/hai/ssi/ssi.html].

Frequently Asked Questions

It is unlikely that you will be shaved with a razor. Current medical guidelines prioritize patient safety and discourage razor use due to the risk of causing skin nicks and infections. If hair removal is needed, nurses will most likely use electric clippers right before the procedure.

Hair removal is performed only when hair in the surgical area might obstruct the surgeon's view, interfere with the incision, or prevent dressings and other medical devices from adhering properly. It is not a routine practice for all surgeries.

Studies have shown that razor shaving can cause microscopic abrasions on the skin. These tiny cuts can harbor bacteria, increasing the risk of a surgical site infection. Safer methods like electric clippers are now used to prevent this.

No, you should not shave yourself at home. Hospitals strongly advise against this. Any cuts or irritation caused by at-home shaving can increase your infection risk and may lead to a delay in your surgery.

If your healthcare provider advises you to handle some hair trimming, they will provide specific instructions. They may recommend using an electric clipper or depilatory cream under supervision, but never a razor. Always follow their guidance precisely.

Nurses now use specialized electric clippers that trim hair very short without making direct contact with the skin. These clippers are either disposable or have disposable heads to maintain a sterile environment.

If you have a significant amount of hair, the nurse will use electric clippers to remove it just before your surgery, in the pre-op area or operating room. This ensures the hair is removed safely and in a sterile manner.