The evidence finds no difference in SSIs among patients who have had hair removed prior to surgery and those who have not. If it is necessary to remove hair then clipping results in fewer SSIs than shaving using a razor. There is insufficient evidence regarding depilatory cream compared with shaving using a razor. There is no difference in SSIs when patients are shaved or clipped one day before surgery or on the day of surgery.

Preparing patients for surgery has traditionally included the routine removal of body hair from the intended surgical wound site. However, there are studies which claim that preoperative hair removal is deleterious to patients, perhaps by causing surgical site infections (SSIs), and should not be carried out. The objective of this review was to determine if routine preoperative hair removal results in fewer SSIs than not removing hair. Eleven randomised controlled trials were included in this review. There is insufficient evidence to state whether removing hair impacts on surgical site infection or when is the best time to remove hair. However, if it is necessary to remove hair then both clipping and depilatory creams results in fewer SSIs than shaving using a razor.