Can I wear knickers during surgery?

[Runningincircles]

I'm booked in for a lumpectomy later this month. I am starting to feel a bit anxious about it.
Will I be able to wear my knickers during the surgery? I know that I will be being treated by professionals, but I will be much less anxious if I can keep my knickers on.

I feel more worried about the knicker situation and the anesthetic, than the tumour at the moment.

I think they usually give you paper knickers so everything's sterile but it might vary from hospital to hospital. Good luck with your surgery.

You normally have to put paper knickers on as accidents happen due to the anaesthetic and it is much easier to clean up. You can ask the nurses who are prepping you but it is highly unlikely.

Don't you get a catheter fitted during operations? Paper pants I would imagine for hygiene reasons.

@Santaisstilleatingmincepies

Don't you get a catheter fitted during operations? Paper pants I would imagine for hygiene reasons.

Not always, I didn't have one for a 5hr op Wore my own knickers as I was on my period

Thanks for the replies. Paper knickers is better than no knickers. I feel a bit better about it now.

Ask for paper knicks, they wont be sterile, they are usually just kept on the ward. I wore them with a panty liner just in case. What I didnt expect was the staff removed them in recovery to have painkillers up my bottom which you can ask the sugeon or anaesthetist about when you sign your consent form.

If it’s a teaching hospital you might want to be aware of this lovely practice.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3553045-UK-teaching-hospitals-allowing-students-to-carry-out-pelvic-examinations-on-women-having-surgery-without-consent

They'll give you paper pants if you ask.

I had a lumpectomy back in December 2020, and I kept my own knickers
on. I asked the same question and my consultant laughed and said she wasn't interested in anything down there.
Make sure you wear a zip up top/ sweatshirt. Its much easier to get dressed after operation.
Good luck

I had head & neck surgery and wore my pants, I seem to recall if they were cotton I was ok to keep them but can't remember why. Didn't have a catheter as far as I'm aware and was in surgery for over 4 hours.
When I had a gynae procedure they gave me paper ones to put one which they then cut at the side to do the procedure and when I woke up i was sort of still wearing them - I was lying on them and they'd draped the front back over me.

Hi to clarify, if you’re embarrassed and worried about an upcoming visit to theatres, wear a 100% cotton vest and pants. I work in theatres and it’s my biggest gripe! No one should have to remove any underwear if you’re not going near the genitalia. The wires in bras can have a negative effect on some equipment and may result in a burn caused by the wire in the bra. Some machines in theatre need to be earthed using a sticky pad that goes on your thigh.
Bra wires can cause misfires.
paper pants are horrendous and you sound like a packet of crisps walking down the corridor.
cheap cotton pants in black can hide any prep stains and are easily washed. Black cotton vest with no metal in the straps are great too!!
I work mainly in ENT and get infuriated when nose, ear and throat patients have been stripped of their underwear. A lot of old school nurses still believe in practice that was in full force in their training days. Nylon underwear are frowned upon and from what I understand it’s due to the static electricity they can cause! Still not found any evidence of this, just old posts on the internet with no medical evidence to provide a reason.
so pop to primark and buy their cheapest pants and you’ll be fine.
if you needed a catheter in an emergency situation, we do a “Pantectomy” (Pants off while your asleeps)! -ectomy is a medical term for removal.

I had a day surgery on my neck a couple of years ago and wore cotton pants and a soft sleep bra, both were ok'd by the nurses. Neither had any metal.

This thread is 2 years old so I think OP will have had it done by now. Though possibly not with NHS waitlists as they are!

Hi sorry for adding to an old post, but I was researching something for the hospital I work at. I saw the post and thought I’d add some facts and help others that come across this thread. It’s one of the first posts to come up when you google the question.