Do you require patients to remove facial piercings out during breast surgery? (photos)

During surgery, all metal should be removed. The cautery (cutting instrument) uses electricity which can heat up and burn you.  

Great question! A simple answer is Yes. During #breastreduction surgery, #cautery is used. The metal in piercings can attract a #current, so we ask that all #piercings be removed. Best wishes!

To prevent the arcing and burning of skin caused by the use of electrical cautery during surgery, most people recommend removing the piercings if possible.  However, for those piercings that are not easily removed, or require surgical removal, taping of the piercing is often performed to prevent contact with the skin.  This may not eliminate the risk of burns, but should greatly reduce the risk. 

Ideally metal piercings should be removed as they risk burns with the electro cautery. They can be replaced with plastic piercings which do not conduct electricity.Tongue or intra oral piercings also run the risk of becoming displaced and ending up in the lungs so should be removed.

The simple answer to your question is YES because a cautery is used at the tie of surgery and the current could be attracted to any metal in the piercings causing a burn.  If they are plastic or replaced with plastic it would be no problem.Dr. Corbin