Do I Have to Remove my Tongue Piercing for Rhinoplasty?

Yes, you should plan on removing the piercing for surgery.  One issue is that it might complicate the cautery used in the rhinoplasty if any metal is present.   Not likely, but possible.  The second issue is that the pierce might become loose, and become lodged in your airway or your upper digestive tract.  Multiple serious problems could follow that including airway obstruction or the need for additional procedures to retrieve the piercing.  You may swallow the jewelry and therefore lose it.  Or the pressure of an endotracheal tube on the pierce during the nose procedure might cause further damage to your tongue.

Your pierce hole will not close up in a day.  So keep the jewelry out for the entire surgical day, as you don't need it back in when you are recovering from the effects of anesthesia as well. 

I read your concern. You will likely be intubated with an orotracheal tube for your Rhinoplasty Surgery, and your anesthesiologist will have to place an intubating-laryngoscope on your tongue to visualize your airway. This could cause your tongue pirrcing to dislodge, and if it ends up in your airway, this could be life-threatening.

You should remove it the morning of surgery, and replace it when you get home. The hole should not close within 24-72 hrs. or longer.

Good luck with your nose job.

Regards from NJ.

The anesthesiologist during your rhinoplasty may require you to remove the tongue piercing just prior to your surgery.  Typically, any metal ornament is removed to avoid the risk of electrical burn to the skin surrounding that object when using cautery to seal blood vessels.  Given that yours is plastic, this is not a major issue.  However, the anesthesiologist may require removal prior to your nose surgery to avoid it being dislodged during insertion of your breathing tube.  The hole should not close completely in the 3-4 hours for your anesthesia and post op care.   Good luck.