Shaving?

Any LAVH ladies out there - did you need to shave 'down below' for an LAVH? I know the top inch goes if you're having abdo surgery but not sure about the for the vaginal.

Thanks

hello,

had tvh/bso on 12/26/02. Was so excited after taking the catheter out and going to the bathroom that they hadn't shaved me. I was soo happy. I was worried about not feeling like a woman after surgery, of which I did somewhat for a while, but that helped knowing they hadn't shaved me.

tammie

Sometimes the decision to shave or not to shave is as individual to the doctor as the decision to give a bowel prep or not.

The important thing is not to take it on yourself to do the shave, unless the doctor directs you to do so. I've known of surgeries that were cancelled due to the patient shaving themselves. (Increases the risk of knicks in the skin and infection.)

Check with your doctor at your pre-op appointment about the shave. And if they do it in the hospital, it's usually after you're already "out".

s,

Lisa

I had an LAVH Jan 30th. I kinda shaved a little and trimmed it up - but didn't do a complete shave. They didn't shave me at all. Hope that helps.

Hi, I too have heard of surgeries postponed because of someone shaving themselves. Please let your dr do whatever is required at the time of surgery. If you don't want surprises, feel free to ask what to expect before your surgery.
Best wishes!
S

Thanks everyone - I guess I'll ask when I go for my bloods - I just hope if they do it while I'm 'out' that they are as careful about nicks and cuts as I would be myself The 'grow back' period is horrible don't you find!! lol I think I might *cough* tidy a little .... you know what I mean girls......

It's up to the dr. I was told I would probably be clipped with an electric trimmer. When I went in for my surgery the nurse in the holding area told me I was going to get trimmed and then after awhile she said I wasn't going to have it done afterall. I was happy and actually found out from reading this site that there are a lot of women that had a vaginal hysterectomy and didn't get shaved or trimmed.

Hi Chris!
I too, um....'tidied up' before surgery. My doc said there was no reason to shave me. My incision was VERY low (love my doc)...and I actually have a few hairs that grow right from my incision line! I was very surprised to see them poking out the first time I saw my incision I can't imagine the discomfort of them growing back through the cut if I had shaved...YIKES!

Lynn