Is It Absolutely Necessary to Remove Piercings Before Rhinoplasty?

I would strongly suggest removing all nasal piercings prior to rhinoplasty. I would pose the question to you. Why would you want to risk having a less than perfect result with all of the expense and discomfort of having your nose fixed for a piercing that can be replaced if you choose to do so? Either wait for the piercing site to heal and have your rhinoplasty or have your nose repierced at a later date.

Piercings should be removed before surgery when cautery is being used, and cautery is necessary during a rhinoplasty. Cautery can cause a burn at the site where any metal is touching skin. Your piercing should be able to be removed after your anesthesia is induced, and replaced before you wake up. That way you are protected, and your piercing is removed for only a short time.

Hello,
Before any surgery, piercings must be removed in order to ensure the safety of the patient. It is very unlikely your surgeon will go through with the procedure if piercings are present. Thank you and best of luck to you.
Dr. Nassif

Any piercings in the nose should be removed prior to rhinoplasty for several reasons. The first is that it can become infected while undergoing the rhinoplasty. The second reason is if any type of cautery is used you can get a burn in that location. The third reason is it may obscure the anatomy during the surgical procedure making it difficult to perform the procedure in a symmetrical fashion. Depending on the extent of the rhinoplasty, it may be possible to repierce that same area two weeks after the procedure and the scar from the original piercing should be present and can be repierced in the same location. I hope this information helps.

Hi Lauren,
Not only should you remove your nasal cartilage piercing, but remove any other piercings that you might have on your body.
During surgery, if your surgeon uses electricaly cautery to control bleeding, you can be severely burned at the site of your piercings if they are in contact with your skin.
Good luck and be well.
Dr. P

The piercing absolutely needs to be removed. Its presence causes a multitude of problems at the time of the procedure: chronic inflammation, non-sterility, wound contamination, interference with the dissection and restructuring of skin and cartilage, interference with the tape and cast, etc., etc., etc.
Rhinoplasty is tricky enough as it is. Don't compromise the results with a piercing.
Hope this helps,
--DCP

It is important to remove the nasal piercing prior to undergoing elective cosmetic nasal surgery for fear of infection, staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria through the piercing into the nasal tissues. Removing the piercings really depends on whether or not any lower lateral cartilage tip surgery is being performed on the nose or just a hump removal. If no tip surgery is being performed it probably does not matter about the piercing. The piercing would need to be removed just for the day or two after the surgery.

Hi,
You do need to remove any metal from your body prior to surgery, as some of our instruments can potentially cause burns if there is metal on the skin. Your piercings can probably be replaced immediately after surgery, so they should not be out for more than 2 hours or so. If you really cannot remove them, I would advise waiting on your nose until you can.
Good luck,
/nsn

I never recommend having the nasal cartilage pierced. If patients request a rhinoplasty and have their nasal cartilage pierced, I insist that the pierce material (metal or otherwise), be removed prior to surgery and remain removed for at least several months. Again, I never recommend that the nose be pierced or repierced. Following a rhinoplasty, I advised people to refrain from repiercing their nose. I have seen disastrous complications from piercing of the nose including significant scarring, infection of the cartilage, skin and structural deformities.

Piercings should be removed before rhinoplasty. They will most likely get in the way of the surgical procedure and could be a source of infection.