Okay, this is a really odd question, but I have to ask...when you're getting surgery, do you have to take out piercings that aren't "in the way" (like nose piercings, etc.) I have a few piercings that are in cartilidge and I would worry that the holes might close, even if the jewelry is out for a short amount of time...

I appreciate any input :crying:

WEeeelllllll.........I've not asked my surgeon, but I have removed all of mine and replaced them with the plastic ones....

The one in my tongue as well, but I am going to remove that as I know they don't like anything in your mouth which shouldn't be in there! lol

If your piercings are in cartilidge then they won't ever close over - the hole may close up quite a bit, but you should always be able to restretch it back out again with taper pins - I even use these for my ear piercings as I rarely wear jewellery in them now.

If your hospital stay is only for a couple of nights then you should be fine. The norm is to take off anything metal - I think as if the worst happened and they need to shock you, they prefer to do so without anything metal on your skin....(unless someone knows otherwise).

Good luck - If its any different I'll post as soon as I'm back home!!

Kathy

I was thinking it would be best to put plastic retainers in...sounds like that is the concensus!

You will probably have to take them out. You can use large gauge fishing line for most piercings like eyebrow/nose or plastic ones if you want to spend the money.

All of my surgeries from knee, lapband, revision, c-section required removal of all of my piercings regardless of location.

All of my surgeries from knee, lapband, revision, c-section required removal of all of my piercings regardless of location.

I wonder if that's the same across the board no matter if you're in US or Mexico? I would think if a plastic retainer was put in it wouldn't bother any monitoring or possible electro-shock equipment...guess that'd be a questionf or the surgeon beforehand :thumbup1:

My experience was EVERYTHING had to come out, I dont' have other piercings but do have a 2nd earring hole with studs I never take out and had to take those out... and those are definitely not in the way of my tummy They said everything had to come off. I have the problem of the holes closing up easily but I brought them in my bag to the hospital and put them in as soon as I was coherent.

They asked me to take out my piercings but I refused. I have my nose and tragus pierced.

I had to remove my earings eyebrow rings and tongue ring and wedding band I was so naked lol

I wonder if that's the same across the board no matter if you're in US or Mexico? I would think if a plastic retainer was put in it wouldn't bother any monitoring or possible electro-shock equipment...guess that'd be a questionf or the surgeon beforehand

I'm not sure .I know that for tonuge piercing or mouth piercings most everyone I know has had to remove them completely. It's because of the trach tube, and the fear of it coming loose during surgery/intubation. I had a bad tooth that needed a root canal, and they almost made me have it done before surgery. But, I had my dentist talk to my surgeon, and the dentist ensured him that my tooth wasn't going to fall out.

I had my surgery at a military hospital, and they are strictly regulated. I had to take off my acrylic nails, toenail polish, and was not allowed to apply any type of deodorant/antiperspirant the morning of surgery.

Interesting! Thanks for the replies! I guess I would probably put in retainers and if I HAD to, take them out...The bellybutton one would definitely have to come out :thumbup:

I was interested so Googled it - here was one of the responses I found from a Doc:

In general, all metal jewelry should be removed prior to any surgery which uses electrocautery. There is always a risk of a burn if jewelry is not removed. A piercing that is 12 months old will generally not close up if left out for an hour or two. Alternately, some OR nurses are comfortable with taping a piece of jewelry with the caveat that there is always a small chance of a burn at the site of the piercing. My advice would be to simply remove the piercing.

Take 'em all out. They are potential sources of bacteria/infection. They can get lost. If you swell post-op, they can get stuck. Oral piercings can become potential airway obstructions so they WILL make you take those out. Nurses cannot wear artificial nails because study after study shows that they are filthy- major breeding grounds for bacteria. Nail polish less so, but not advisable, and colored nail polish interferes with pulse-oximetry (the probe they put on your finger tip to assess your oxygenation level). Bottom line, go in as naked as the day you were born, put all jewelry in a safe place (you can put it all back in afterward), and minimize the risks that can be minimized.