Clear plastic retainer in piercing during surgery?!?!

Has anyone had any experience with using a clear plastic retainer in their piercing during surgery? When I met with the anesthesiologist for my pre-admission testing, she said all my piercings would need to come out because of the metal (I have my nose, tongue, and tragus pierced).

I am not so worried about my nose or tongue piercings because I have had them for quite awhile, and have had to take them out for a few hours at a time before...but my tragus is relatively new, plus it is cartilage, so it takes longer to fully heal. I dont know if it would start closing up during the surgery. I did get a plastic retainer for it, and have it in now for my surgery on Tuesday, but I dont know if they will allow this...I guess I will have to ask that morning.

What was your experience?

I used to scrub in the OR, so here are my thoughts.

The reason they ask you to take out the piercings is because they are metal. They use a device during surgery that could cause burns at any part of your skin that is in contact with metal. I would think a plastic retainer should be fine, but it would be a good idea to ask the anesthesiologist to be sure. You can probably just call them and not have to see them again.

Good luck!

I had 5 plastic retainers in during my surgery, one in my tongue webbing, my tragus, rook, nostril and septum. So I don't see why you wouldn't be able to.

I had retainers in my tragus, industrial and rook piercing for my surgery and it was fine :) 


Good luck to you on Tuesday!

Good question!!!! 

I was wondering about that too... my nose closes up quickly and I've had it pierced for over 6 years!!! 

Good to know

I have the back of my neck pierced and they didn't make me take it out or anything. *shrugs*

Ok,  I didn't even KNOW I had a rook, industrial OR tragus to pierce!!!!