Patient Education Bariatric Surgery Patient Education | Page 6

Preparing Your Skin for Surgery
Infection is a risk with any surgery. Our care team takes every measure to
protect you and to prevent infection while you are in our care. There are
steps that you, the patient, need to take to reduce your risk of infection.
This includes not shaving, showering, using cloths to “prep” or cleanse
your skin and wearing clean clothes. Read this ahead of time and carefully
follow all of the steps.
2 or More Days before Surgery
Shaving
Do not shave the hair on any area of your body. You may shave your face if
your surgery is not on your head or neck.
The Night before Surgery
Showering
1. Wash face and hair (scalp) with regular soap and shampoo.
2. Thoroughly rinse face and hair and body with water.
3. Turn off or move away from water.
4. Apply Hibiclens soap to wet disposable wipe and begin cleansing skin
from chin down — building a soap lather on the skin.
5. Leave Hibiclens soap lather on skin for at least one minute.
6. Turn water back on or step back into the water, rinse. Dry with a clean
towel.
Dressing
After you have finished showering, put on clean nightclothes.
The Morning of Surgery
1. Repeat steps 1-6.
2. Put on clean clothes.
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