What if you can take out a Dermal piercing before the general anesthesia?

Piercings can present a problem, of course, because the metal in them can lead to negative outcomes with the equipment that is used in surgery.  Specifically, cautery devices use electrical current and the metal can be a serious issue. You should speak with your surgeon in regards to your piercings and a strategy for surgery that takes them into account. I usually schedule pre-op appointments with my patients to speak to them about what will happen during surgery,   Your safety needs to be the top priority and that can only be achieve through good communication.  Thank you for your question and best wishes for your upcoming surgery and recovery.

The reason it is recommended to remove all metal piercings is that they can cause an arc when the surgeon uses electrocautery, resulting in a burn where the metal is. If the piercings are far from the surgical site, the risk is small, but still present. If you absolutely cannot remove them, typically the metal is covered with paper tape or other material to try to protect the area or minimize this risk.

Thank you for the question. The concern with body jewelry is that the metal can sometimes cause an arcing of the electrocautery current through the body and cause a burn around the metal. This is unlikely if the area is far from the surgical site, but it is still possible. If you cannot remove the jewelry, then you can cover it or protect it, and hope for the best. Just accept the small possibility of a burn. Or have the metal removed.Best of luck!