Do nipple piercings need to be removed for Gynecomastia surgery (lipo)?

Question

I'll be getting Gynecomastia removal surgery with just liposuction, no excision. Can plastic retainers be placed in piercings or is it usually not allowed?

Johanna D'Agostino, MD · Answer

I would recommend removing everything. Foreign bodies (piercings / plastic retainers) can be a source of bacteria and infection. After surgery, based on intervention and incisions, your surgeon will let you know the best time to place them back.

George Bitar, MD · Answer

Yes, I would remove the piercing. This helps reduce the risk of infection, as any foreign object in the area can increase infection risk. It also decrease the risk of burns in the event you do need cautery. Cautery is generally not needed for liposuction only. However, it's better to be safe and anticipate all options during surgery.

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @Alex023140 thank you for your question. In general, it is important to remember that this depends more on the recommendation provided by the specialist who will perform surgery, since not all surgical techniques are the same. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS.

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Plastic retainers can be placed as metal piercings increases the risk of burns.  However, this would need to be discussed with your surgeon, as some prefer to have them removed altogether.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Most surgeons prefer that all jewelry and piercings be removed before surgery as they may have bacteria on them, could fall off during surgery, or could become hard to remove if the surgery if the tissue swells.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Alex023140,
every plastic surgeon has his own preoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Ashley Thorburn, MD · Answer

It’s crucial to follow your surgeon’s advice, but generally, nipple piercings may need to be removed for gynecomastia surgery to ensure a smooth procedure and proper healing. Discuss this with your surgeon to get guidance based on your situation.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Most operating rooms will ask patients to remove all forms of jewelry and removable piercings.

I don’t think placing temporary plastic products are any different than the primary piercing or ring.

If they are not removable then the procedure could be done with them in place depending how the surgeon feels about it.

In the end it’s up to each individual surgeon and or operating room rules or policies.

Typically we remove piercings and have patients put them in immediately after surgery.

Personally I don’t think it makes much difference if you leave piercings in place but most operating rooms have certain standards or protocols about this.

Your best option is to talk to your provider if you have one. If you have not then I suggest scheduling a few in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons to get a quality assessment and better understanding of surgical options.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

David E. Berman, MD (retired) · Answer

Most of the men that I treat for gynecomastia, are extremely self conscious about their breast fullness. I do not believe that liposuction alone is adequate to remove the tissue since some of the fullness is from both glandular and fibrous tissue and these will not change with liposuction alone.

you should be able to remove your nipple piercings immediately before surgery and replace them in the recovery room. It is not absolutely necessary to remove them but it should be easy enough to do what i suggest in the sentence before.

david berman md, frcsc

Do nipple piercings need to be removed for Gynecomastia surgery (lipo)?

Answers (9)

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