We are often asked if it is OK to have otoplasty performed if the patient has piercings. The answer would depend on where the piercings are. A normal earlobe piercing is fine, but a piercing on the helix of the ear cartilage would have to be removed because it is in the surgical field. A tragal piercing would just have to be removed for the procedure but can be put back in the next day. It has to be removed because an electrocautery device is used and if metal is in the skin nearby, it can cause burns. “Anytime plastic surgery is being performed, we have to minimize all possibility of risk,” says Dr. Andrew Miller, a plastic surgeon in Warren, NJ. If a piercing hole closes after surgery it can always be repierced safely. Therefore, it is highly recommended to remove all metal earrings. Consult with a board-certified Plastic Surgeon for any further questions before surgery.
Otoplasty and piercings
by Associates In Plastic Surgery
