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Why do you have to remove nail polish for an operation?

Answer:
When having surgery, the medical team will want to monitor your oxygen levels in your blood (usually in a non invasive way). This will be done by attaching a pulse oximetry machine to your finger or toe.

The machine is trying to measure how much haemoglobin is in your system. If you're wearing nail polish, it creates a barrier and an inaccurate reading.
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