Hair removal - laparoscopy

[pinktiger33]

I have my 1st lap on Tuesday - a while ago I read some posts about whether to get rid of body hair (specifically down there) before the lap. I remember some people were saying no as increases risk of infections, others were saying yes due to it hurting when dressings removed... but I can’t seem to find any of these posts!

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks in advice.

[Holleymuzz]

Hi have had 5 laps and only ever trimmed down there before a lap because

1. You may accidentally cut yourself and have an open wound

2. The regrowth will be uncomfortable specially if your unable to do bending and scratching!

I made the mistake of shaving my tiny snail trail and it came back with vengeance!

I’m having a lap tomorrow for hysterectomy and they will be going into my vagina and removing the uterus and cervix via the vagina, I’m not shaving everything. Just having a trim x

[pinktiger33 in reply to Holleymuzz]

Thank you for your reply, I think I may jus have a trim like you suggest.

Good luck with your surgery, I hope everything goes well for you 💛 x

[Holleymuzz in reply to pinktiger33]

Aww thank you. And you! Just take it easy try not obsess over little details because everyone is different 💛 x

[Rehanat]

I got waxed and got rid of everything down there- didn’t affect my recovery at all x

[Jen82]

Hi. I remember that was the last of my concerns and more the prep for an empty bowel was the focus....im not good without food. Plus medical staff dont care or see our privates like we do. It's all medical to them. I had the mirena coil inserted when I had my lap. I hadn't been told about bleeding by the doctors but by a friend who had had a lap. So luckily I came prepared for a period with some pads and old knickers. By then I didn't care who saw me as I was in a state but then I don't do well with anaesthetic so Im the worst patient recovering.

[luthien]

I just trimmed with my usual hair clippers so it's all about 1cm long

I don't think docs care about hair there, they do trim / shave any areas they need to get to. I don't think you're meant to shave less than a week before as the hair needs to break through the skin and regrow reducing the risk of infection. If you shave the day before they often don't like it as they need to clean the whole area properly as bacteria can stick to the skin where there's no hairs.

For plaster removal I got an amazing spray off Amazon (look up spray plaster removal) you spray it on the plaster (the bit sticking to the skin, not the padded bit - providing it's normal non- fabric white and not the waterproof kind) wait a 20 to 40 seconds and it dissolves the sticky stuff which makes it's easy to pull off.

Hope all goes well x

[Tracy_lou]

I’ve had 2 laparoscopies in the last 2 years and wasn’t bothered because I was in so much pain leading up to the surgery. The dressings aren’t painful...felt like a plaster to remove. My incisions were on my abdomen though and not bikini line. I would have removed if incision was on my bikini line but even if you don’t and the surgeon needs you to be hair free, they will shave you 🤗 the joys of being a woman! X

[Emsky]

I didn't remove any hair, I always just keep it trim anyway, but I never had any plasters of tape over any of my hair it was just above it where my cut was made, so had no issues removing any plasters or tape

[Penguins_81]

I just trimmed mine, wasn’t a problem with the dressings, it was easy to remove and was far less painful than pulling off a plaster. I just placed hand on skin and gently pulled it off.

Good luck and honestly don’t worry about it. Medical profession do not care what we have down there.

[Chirongreen]

I was told not to shave the area in my pre op as it can cause infection. I’m sure they’ve seen it all lol