Wearing a wig during surgery?

Options
chriskaput
chriskaput Member Posts: 109
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Does anyone know if you are allowed to wear a wig during a lumpectomy. I am going in for surgery some time early Nov. and I already have this in my mind! I have not been outside without wearing my wig nor has my family even seen me bald without a hat on. Just wondering what you ladies have done. Of course the most important thing on my mind is getting clear margins after the surgery but I still think about this. I wanna wear my hair during surgery :-(

Comments

  • survives
    survives Member Posts: 254 Member
    #2
    Options
    Ask you hospital nurses
    When you register for your surgery, ask. I say this because when I registered, one told me that if I wanted to I could wear makeup and lipstick. I didn't, but there are those who do. If you are uncomfortable without your wig, I have a feeling that arrangements can be made.

    Best wishes for your upcoming surgery.

    Jennifer
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #3
    Options
    Wow that's a good question.
    Wow that's a good question. Losing your hair sucks, doesn't it? I HATE it - worse than losing my boobs. Did you ever see that paparazzi picture of Britney Spears with that angry grimace on her face, pointing an umbrella at a photographer with her freshly shaved head? THAT'S what I tell people I think I look like lol...I bet you could call your surgeon's office & ask them. I mean - they cover your head anyway with the surgical cap, I don't see why they wouldn't let you have your wig on, or at least a bandana or something.
    On a lighter note, last night I went in our backyard for what I thought would be a relaxing soak in our hot tub. The mosquitoes were horrible & now I have red itchy mosquito bites on my head!!
    *hugs*
    Heather
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #4
    Options
    Hi Chris, they will but a
    Hi Chris, they will but a cover on your head that looks like a shower cap anyway before surgery. Perhaps you could wear the wig to the hospital, take it off for the surgery and put it right back on during recovery.
  • meena1
    meena1 Member Posts: 1,003
    #5
    Options
    Eil4186 said:

    Hi Chris, they will but a
    Hi Chris, they will but a cover on your head that looks like a shower cap anyway before surgery. Perhaps you could wear the wig to the hospital, take it off for the surgery and put it right back on during recovery.

    You can not wear a wig
    You can not wear a wig during surgery. They will give you a surgical hat to wear, but when i got back to my room it was off my head, and i was so embarrassed that i was laying there bald! Which i know is crazy, i just had major surgery to have my breast removed and i am upset that i am laying there bald. take care
  • Cat64
    Cat64 Member Posts: 1,192
    #6
    Options
    I don't know
    about a wig, but they let me wear one of my caps. Then again, they may have taken it off once I was out, who knows, but it was on when I woke up. (Maybe they won't even realize it is a wig!) Talk to your surgeon, I don't see why they would mind.
    Take Care
    ♥ Cat
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #7
    Options
    Cat64 said:

    I don't know
    about a wig, but they let me wear one of my caps. Then again, they may have taken it off once I was out, who knows, but it was on when I woke up. (Maybe they won't even realize it is a wig!) Talk to your surgeon, I don't see why they would mind.
    Take Care
    ♥ Cat

    I would ask. If you had your
    I would ask. If you had your own head of hair they would just put a cap on you. I wonder what the difference is other than if your wig is not human hair maybe it's not safe.
  • Bella Luna
    Bella Luna Member Posts: 1,578 Member
    #8
    Options
    Chris... when I had my
    Chris... when I had my lumpectomy, I wore(mandatory) a loose fitting( shower type) cap. I think you might be uncomfortable if you should decide to wear your wig underneath it. Rest assured, your head will be completely covered.

    Best of luck on your journey.
    BL
  • mariam_11_09
    mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691
    #9
    Options
    you might not want to wear


    you might not want to wear the wig under the shower cap during surgery. I had surgery before I had chemo and my hair was very long. I tied it up real good and put the shower cap on. After surgery I was amazed by how the hair band was almost out of my hair and I had a huge knot in it that took me days to get out. My hair was such a mess. I always meant to ask the surgeons what on earth happened. I looked like I belonged in the pysch ward which was next to mine in the hospital.

    Like the others I suggest you wear it up until you put the cap on which I am sure you can do in private, then have you wig handy for after surgery. I know in our hospital your bags go with you wherever you are so the nurses could help you. They have also seen it all.

    Best wishes.
  • mrs gadget
    mrs gadget Member Posts: 118
    #10
    Options
    curious what you decide
    I have only had one round of chemo and the hair is still on my head. Once I do lose my hair, I plan to kind of "hide out" in my wig like you are doing. I would rather not show my baldness to the world. Also, I am getting my chemo and have my lumpectomy planned sometime around November or December too. Keep me updated...
  • Skeezie
    Skeezie Member Posts: 586 Member
    #11
    Options
    mrs gadget said:

    curious what you decide
    I have only had one round of chemo and the hair is still on my head. Once I do lose my hair, I plan to kind of "hide out" in my wig like you are doing. I would rather not show my baldness to the world. Also, I am getting my chemo and have my lumpectomy planned sometime around November or December too. Keep me updated...

    You have to ask the hospital what
    their rules are about that...but you do have a surgical cap on during surgery. When I was hospitalized for four days I wore a nite cap thw entire time...you mite want to check into something like that. I can't imagine how uncomfortable a wig would be in recovery, not to mention it would probably be sideways when you came out of surgery! I don't know how many people you plan on having in your recovery room but you can have your husband the first one to see you (and he can make sure you head is covered, your husband has seen you without a head covering hasn't he?) The hospital staff is usually wonderful and will try and do whatever they can to help you out in that dept., they mite even help you with a head covering before your family sees you.

    I did not want the world to see me bald, but my hubby was ok, I just couldn't stand to have my head covered at home...losing hair is horrible but thankfully itdoesn't last forever. My hiar is now long enough (approx 3 inches at the longest parts) and just a couple of days ago I suddently "felt" it all over my head, it was like I had a head covering! You will get there too.

    Good luck for a great outcome and please keep us posted on what happens with your head!

    Hugs, Judy :-)
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175
    #12
    Options
    When i went in for my
    When i went in for my surgery in July they would not let me wear my bandanna into surgery so im sure the same applies to wigs. They did give me the surgical hat and like Meena i was laying there bald in the recovery room when i woke up with all my family there.
    I never thought to request that they put it back on me before taking me into recovery...never thought i had to request it.
    Some hospitals might let you but most i believe wont...just request they put your wig on before they bring you into recovery with your family.
  • SDickerson
    SDickerson Member Posts: 44
    #13
    Options
    I was told I could
    When I had my surgery my hair was gone. I told the nurses when I come out of surgery to have my best friend come in and put my scarf on my head. She told my surgeon and they told me I could wear my wig if I wanted to. I choose not to because of the hot flashes.

    I lost my hair 3 months ago and although it is growing back I just started going without a scarf or wig at home. This is the first time I let my family see my almost bald head. I still wear scarfs or wigs in public.

    God Bless

Discussion Boards