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Do I Have to Remove my Tongue Piercing for Rhinoplasty?

asked 11 months ago by MsMariana in London England
Latest answer by Ivan Thomas, MD
Question viewed 422 times
Tags: piercing, tongue

I have a tongue piercing which is plastic by the way and i am due to have open surgery on my nose due my nose going sidewards as i was born with a cleft lip. Tongue heal fast so I am worried that my tongue will heal before i can put in the tongue bar again.

13 answers to Do I Have to Remove my Tongue Piercing for Rhinoplasty?

+1

Removing Tongue Piercing for Rhinoplasty

If you can remove the tongue piercing, it should be removed prior to rhinoplasty. If the piercing comes loose when the patient is sedated or asleep, they could swallow or aspirate the plastic. It can be removed just before surgery and replaced at the conclusion of the operation.
Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

+1

Remove all Jewelery

Surgeons and anesthesiologists prefer to work with no jewelery or piercings as they can be an obstruction. In case of an emergency we do not want any foreign object in the way. You certainly do not want metal in the tongue next to the anesthesia tube while under anesthesia. I advise you to remove all jewelery and piercings right before surgery. The tongue will not heal in a day or two and you can reinsert your piercing after surgery.
Ivan Thomas, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tongue piercing in rhinoplasty can be replaced right after surgery

You should discuss this with your surgeon and anesthesiologist -- most will probably recommend removal to prevent accidental aspiration, although if the piercing is very secure, they might allow you to keep it during surgery. However, even if the piercing is removed, the hole will not close for at least several days if it has been present long enough to be lined with mucosa, and certainly will not close in the several hours you will be in surgery. Ask your surgeon or... more
James Nachbar, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tongue piercings may dislodge and should be removed before Rhinoplasty Surgery.

I read your concern. You will likely be intubated with an orotracheal tube for your Rhinoplasty Surgery, and your anesthesiologist will have to place an intubating-laryngoscope on your tongue to visualize your airway. This could cause your tongue pirrcing to dislodge, and if it ends up in your airway, this could be life-threatening. You should remove it the morning of surgery, and replace it when you get home. The hole should not close within 24-72 hrs. or longer. Good luck with your... more
Eric M. Joseph, MD

West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.ericmjoseph.com

+1

Piercings and surgery

Yes, you should plan on removing the piercing for surgery. One issue is that it might complicate the cautery used in the rhinoplasty if any metal is present. Not likely, but possible. The second issue is that the pierce might become loose, and become lodged in your airway or your upper digestive tract. Multiple serious problems could follow that including airway obstruction or the need for additional procedures to retrieve the piercing. You may swallow the... more
Kevin Robertson, MD

Madison Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Remove plastic tongue ring before Rhinoplasty

When performing Rhinoplasty or other plastic and cosmetic surgeries, we ask patients to remove all forms of metal...from their skin as this can cause spots burns when electrocautery is used in surgery. Plastic is not an issue. If there is a worry that you would swallow the ring somehow during anesthesia, the anesthesia provider should be able to remove the ring and then replace it at the end of the case. Speak with your Rhinoplasty surgeon and discuss the issue. more
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tongue piercing and surgery

The fact that it is plastic prevents the need for you to remove it during rhinoplasty surgery as only metal is a concern for the potential conduction of electricity that sometimes may be used in the operating room. However, it is the likely preference of the anesthesiologist to remove it. If the patient requests to leave in a tongue piercing, however, most physicians would allow it.
Shepherd G. Pryor, MD

Scottsdale Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.valleyfacialplasticsurgery.com

+1

Pierced Jewelry Removal During Rhinoplasty

The answer is yes, and this is one of those safety issues which leaves no room for debate. You will be either having a general anesthesia or you will be awake but sedated. In either case, you will not have the normal reflexes that would prevent a loose foreign body from falling into your windpipe and obstructing your airway. This is a potentially life threatening complication so needles to say one that is best to avoid.
Joseph Fata, M.D.

Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tongue piercing and rhinoplasty

There are a couple of reasons to remove a tongue ring for surgery. One reason is that is may become loose and go into the airway causing extreme difficulties. Additionally with the use of electrocautery and metal in the region may conduct the electrical charge and possibly cause burns. So i recommend all piercing be removed prior to surgery.
David Nicholas Csikai, MD

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Remove tongue piercing before rhinoplasty surgery.

Yes. You should be prepared to remove it since there is a risk of aspiration if it came out . Your surgeon can place a suture through the fistula (hole piercing) to keep it patent until you are able to reinsert the bar. If the device wasn't removed and was aspirated into the bronchus you would need another surgery (a bronchoscopy) to remove it.
Louise Ferland, MD

Richmond Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tongue piercing and surgery

Yes. A piece of suture material can be placed in the hole to keep it open while you are having surgery. Best, Talmage J. Raine MD FACS
Talmage J. Raine, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Do I Have to Remove my Plastic Tongue Piercing for Rhinoplasty?

There is always a risk that your piercing may be dislodged. As a result, I am sure both your surgeon and anesthesiologist would insist that you do not have anything in your airway which may end up down your throat. Removing it for the surgery is the safe way to go. Dr. Peter A Aldea
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tongue piercing and rhinoplasty - nose job

The anesthesiologist during your rhinoplasty may require you to remove the tongue piercing just prior to your surgery. Typically, any metal ornament is removed to avoid the risk of electrical burn to the skin surrounding that object when using cautery to seal blood vessels. Given that yours is plastic, this is not a major issue. However, the anesthesiologist may require removal prior to your nose surgery to avoid it being dislodged during insertion of your breathing tube.... more
Etai Funk, MD

Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.funkfacialplastics.com

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