When you think of surgery, images of masked men in blue scrubs and overly nervous patients probably come to mind. However, there’s so much more to it than what meets the eye. While each surgical procedure is different, there are certain things that remain the same for all of them. These include pre-operative procedures, post-operative care, and precautions for recovery. When it comes to jewelry during surgery and recovery, many people wonder if they can wear their rings or other pieces of jewelry during the process. The answer isn’t exactly simple because it depends on a variety of different factors surrounding your specific case. Here are some explanations as to why you cannot wear jewelry during surgery and how you can prep your body beforehand:
Why You Can’t Wear Jewelry During Surgery?
The main reason why you can’t wear jewelry during surgery is to ensure that your body is as clean as possible. This is important because all jewelry, such as rings, earrings, and necklaces, can become infected if they aren’t properly cleaned. While some pieces of jewelry are easier to clean than others, all of them can harbor bacteria that can lead to infections in your body. If your surgical team finds out that you have jewelry on before surgery, they will have to remove it immediately. This isn’t just for the sake of cleanliness — it’s also for your health. If your jewelry isn’t taken off beforehand, it can get caught on something during surgery and cause damage to your body. This can be extremely painful and may even require another surgery to fix the damage.
How To Prepare Your Body Before Surgery?
Prepare Your Body for Surgery Without Jewelry
The first step to preparing your body for surgery without jewelry is to cleanse your body of metals. This may sound simple, but it’s a very important step to making the surgery go as smoothly as possible. If you do not remove all metals from your body, the metal may interfere with the imaging device during the procedure. This can affect the results and even increase the amount of time it takes for the procedure to be performed. To cleanse your body of metals, you can try a few different methods. The first and simplest method is to start taking an acid-forming diet 3 weeks before your surgery date. An acid-forming diet is high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and high in fiber. The second method is to take medication to help flush your system of metals such as a chelation agent.
Check-up and Lab Tests
The next thing you should do when preparing your body for surgery without jewelry is to schedule a check-up with your doctor. This helps you prepare for surgery and can even save you money. Did you know that many insurance companies will cover all or part of the cost of taking off your jewelry for a procedure that requires it? If your insurance provider does not cover any of the costs, you might even be able to talk to your doctor about taking off the jewelry for free. This can save you a lot of money and time on your end. If you have a severe medical condition, you may have to do extra lab tests before surgery. These tests help your doctor monitor your health during the procedure and after. If your doctor notes that you have a condition that might affect the procedure, you may have to take off the jewelry.
Stop Eating Processed Food
The next step in preparing your body for surgery without jewelry is to stop eating processed food. When you consume processed food, you consume chemicals and additives that are bad for your body. This can cause irritation and discomfort when you try to remove your jewelry before a procedure. During the two to three weeks before the procedure, you want to cut out all processed food from your diet. Instead, you want to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and proteins. This will help your body be prepared for the taking off of your jewelry.
Increase Fibre in Your Diet
One last thing you should do before the procedure is to increase your fiber intake. Fiber helps your body be more prepared for the taking off of your jewelry. It also cleanses your bowels to eliminate waste, which can cause discomfort when you have your jewelry taken off. During the two to three weeks before the procedure, you want to consume foods that are high in fiber. Some good options include whole wheat bread, bran cereal, legumes, and nuts.
Light Stretching Exercises
Last but definitely not least, you can perform light stretching exercises before the procedure. Exercises such as yoga, Pilates, and stretching are aimed at relaxing your body and relieving some of the stress that comes with surgery. You may not be able to perform these exercises in the hospital or before the procedure, but you can definitely do them before the surgery. These exercises can help you prepare your body for surgery without jewelry. They help relax your body and improve your blood circulation. This helps your body be more prepared for the procedure and can even help ease any pain that comes with the procedure.
Cons Of Wearing Jewelry Before Surgery
- Jewelry can be a bit of a risk when it comes to surgery.
- It can irritate the skin and cause discomfort, which is definitely something you don’t want when you’re already feeling stressed and sensitive.
- It can also pose a risk of infection if the skin around it is broken or if the sterile field isn’t kept intact.
- Another disadvantage of wearing jewelry before surgery is that it can be difficult to remove or resize as needed.
- During surgery, you may need to have your jewelry removed or altered, which can make this a difficult process if you’re wearing something intricate.
- Also, many people choose to avoid wearing jewelry before surgery because they think it could pose an infection risk.
- Infections become more likely when the skin is broken, so wearing jewelry before surgery can make this more likely to occur.
Tips For A Better Recovery
If you want to make your recovery easier and reduce the risk of complications, you should try to do everything in your power to get your body ready before surgery. In order to help your body recover, you should try to follow these tips:
- Stay active: While you may have to slow down during the weeks leading up to surgery, you should try to stay as active as possible. This will help you recover more quickly and help your body get ready for surgery.
- Avoid smoking and drinking: While you may want to unwind with a drink or two, alcohol and smoking can negatively impact your ability to recover. Avoid these two things as much as possible during the weeks leading up to surgery.
- Create a recovery playlist: While you don’t want to spend your entire recovery period in bed, it’s important to take it easy during the first few weeks after surgery. To help the time pass more quickly, create a playlist you can listen to during your recovery period.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why you can’t wear jewelry during surgery, but the most important one is safety. This will help you avoid complications and a long recovery process. Furthermore, you can also follow these tips to get your body ready for surgery.
