During Surgery, can I wear any body piercing in surgery?

Question

Hi I am getting a breast reduction and a tummy tuck in a week. I'm excited but scared. I do have a question about surgery. Can I wear any body pericing in surgery? I don't have pericing on my breast and not in belly button either but I do in other area.. Do I have to take them out for surgery because I had to take them out during C-section.

R. Scott Yarish, MD · Answer

I always tell patients to remove all body piercings and jewelry from their body. This is because metal can draw heat and cause a burn. Hope this information helps.

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

All body piercings must be removed prior to surgery. Surgeons commonly electric scalpels to cut and stop bleeding and if you had s piercing left behind it may cause a significant burn in that location. Peter Aldea MD

Angeline Lim, MD · Answer

I advise my patients to remove all of their piercings, if possible.  During surgery an electrocautery device is used, and removing metal piercings helps lower the risk of injuries like burns and pressure sores.  It's generally not an issue to replace the piercings as soon as the procedure is over (depending of course, on the site of the surgery and where the piercings are).It's always a good idea to check with your surgeon and anesthesiologist beforehand about their policies on piercings.Hope this helps, and good luck with your procedures!

Lawrence Bundrick, MD (retired) · Answer

Yes, all body jewelry of any kind must be removed prior to any kind of surgery. Metal came become a heat sync in the body during surgery and could cause a burn if not removed.

During Surgery, can I wear any body piercing in surgery?

Answers (4)