Piercings and surgery?

Hi all, I have to have surgery(non weight loss related) next Friday. My question is I have my nose pierced will I be allowed to keep a plastic retainer in for surgery?Thanks in advance for any replies.

I had to take everything (yes, I mean EVERYTHING) out before surgery...the nurse explained that it was because they don't want it to catch on anything, be aspirated, or be an obstruction if something goes wrong and they have to insert more tubes....it also harbors bacteria and is one more foreign object introduced into the sterile environment... don't sweat it, after the surgery (less than 3 hours) you will be back in your room and can insert it right away I made sure to bring some surgi-lube and alcohol wipes to get all my jewelry back in as soon as i got to my room...lol...my mom and husband brought it with them as soon as I was awake (I even showed a clueless nurse how all the jewelry works for removal)...lol ....the discomfort is definitely worth it in the end!!! xxxbecca

Thanks for asking this question. Now I know I have to take my labret ring out when I get my surgery. I knew I probably would, but I hadn't bothered to ask yet.

I had to take EVERYTHING out, all of them, even the below the waist ones. Once I was back in my room I put in retainers for my tongue and septum, but my labret never closes so I left that out til I got home. My labia piercings I had thought to let close anyway, but eventually put jewelry back in them too - they downsized from 6 gauge to 12, but that was okay with me, I can always stretch 'em back It's a safety issue, like Becca said. Inky

Interesting. I convinced the surgeon to let me leave in my genital jewelry, since I can't take it out and put it in myself. I said I'd have to have the piercer in there with me! It was the first time it had come up with my surgeon, though. I had to take out my nipple rings and earrings, though.

Hi all, My surgery got reschelduled.I had it yesterday and they were fine with letting me wear a plastic retainer in my nose no problem at all .I didn't put the back of it on and let them know if there was a problem they could just pull it out.Thanks for the replies.

I see your response down below so this is for comic relief only... First, know that my surgeon is as white-bread, straight, narrrow and introvereted as can be...I made him blush on several occassions. I had a navel ring that went awry sometime before surgery. During my first visit from the surgeon in my room he was checking everything out and explained that he used the "something" near my belly button as an entry - thus saving me another scar. I asked for a discount, since I brought my own hole and all. I didn't get one ;)

My doc made me take the metal barbells out of my nipples but he allowed me to replace them with tygon and put tagaderm over them. He was expecting this but he did tell me he had alot of explaining to do to the OR staff and the residents that were in there with him.

Ive also had to take EVERYTHING out for every surgery Ive had. Its a big loss. The only piercings that I saved this last time were my 2 lip piercings. Oh well, its exciting to get to have them done again.

I had to take my out for RNY, in Jan...I have yet to get it put back in... I need my lip repierced now...