Typically, a piercing can be replaced shortly after surgery. This will avoid closure of the piercing in the post-operative period. Alternatively, some patients will have a non-conductive spacer placed pre-op and this is left in place until healing is complete and then can be exchanged at a later date without concern for the loss of piercing tract.

As always, discuss your concerns with a board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Published on Jul 11, 2012

No reason not to put them right back in. It is a healed tract of skin and having it back in will not cause any problems. It has to come out during surgery for two reasons: infection prevention and prevention of burns from the electrical cautery unit used to control bleeding during surgery.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Most surgeons would recommend keeping the actual rings out for a period of days to weeks if the incision is in the IMF. One protection is the surgeon could put in a plastic "spacer" that is sterile at the time of surgery to keep the holes from sealing up. Or if your metal rings can be sterilized, they can be put in the autoclave on the day of surgery and reintroduced at the end of the operation. If the incision is periareolar, however, sterility is even more of an issue given proximity of the incision to the nipple piercings.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Certainly a nipple ring (and any other piercing) must be removed prior to surgery to avoid electrocautery skin burn from electrical current used during surgery. This is to help control bleeding that may concentrate at the piercing site, so leaving them in can cause a burn. Also a piercing may harbor infection, and you don't want to contaminate the surgical site directly or in your bloodstream.

Therefore, it is best to remove all them prior to surgery. After full initial healing, a nipple ring can be placed or replaced. If the piercing site is well formed (months or years old) it should not close.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Thank you for your question. In my experience, you can immediately replace your nipple rings right after surgery as long as the area has been properly cleaned and there is no evidence of infection.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Thank you for your question. In my experience, there is no need for patients to wait to put their nipple rings back in immediately following a breast augmentation if they were pierced in advance of their surgery. With that said, for patients who did not previously have nipple rings, I would advise them to wait a period no less than 4 weeks from the date of their breast augmentation to have new piercings performed out of concern for infection. Your board certified plastic surgeon is best qualified to determine when it is OK for you to reinsert your body jewelry following your breast augmentation. Each surgeon may have their own specific pre- and post-operative protocols and restrictions and for this reason I always advise patients to defer to their surgeon for the best recommendation. I hope you find this helpful and I wish you all of the best!

Published on Jul 11, 2012

As long as there will be no penetration of skin (and bleeding) it should be fine. It might be good to prep the nipple with alcohol and use an antibiotic ointment as a lubricant for the post.

Published on Jul 11, 2012