Contra-Indications: When should piercing not be done?

• Anticoagulant Therapy
  Anticoagulant therapy markedly increases the risks of piercing. Furthermore the reason for being on anticoagulants is often a contraindication to piercing in its own right. Consult your physician.

• Aspirin Therapy
  Aspirin usage reduces the stickiness of the platelets. It is platelets that stick together in wounds to form a clot and so stop bleeding. Aspirin usage does not preclude piercing but be aware that there is more likely to be excessive bleeding during and after the procedure.

• Asthma
  In a person with asthma, or severe lung problems, care should be taken to weigh up the risk of aspiration from tongue piercing. If an asthmatic person aspirates a ball from the jewelry then:
  • The presence of the jewelry in the lung
  • or the bronchoscopy required to remove it
  may trigger a potentially fatal asthma attack.

  The risk can be considerably reduced by the use of a specifically designed tongue barbell.

• Breast Implants
  The presence of breast implants may increase the risk infection complicating nipple piercing. Implants placed behind the chest muscle probably carry little risk whereas those in front of the muscle will have a relatively higher risk. Consult your cosmetic surgeon before piercing.

• Chemotherapy
  Chemotherapy reduces your healing ability and increases your risk of infection. Defer piercing.

• Corticosteroids:
  If you are on oral (not inhaled) corticosteroids, such as prednisone, your risk of infection is higher. Consult your physician.

• Ginseng:
  Be aware that Ginseng is a potent anti-coagulant and will increase bleeding associated with piercing. It is advisable to stop this medication a week prior to piercing.

• Heart Valve Disease
  If you have a  faulty heart valve, you are at risk of infecting your heart from piercing. Don't do it! The infection in the heart, known as bacterial endocarditis, is life threatening. The risk is high because all piercings are at risk of infection until fully healed.
  Ear piercing has resulted in this condition.

• Immunosuppression
  If you are on immunosuppressive drugs you should consult your physician before having any piercing done. Healing times are likely to be abnormally slow, the risk of infection much higher than normal.

• Infants
  Ear lobe piercing is commonly requested of piercers by parents. When is an infant or child old enough?

  A recent policy statement by Australian doctors dealt with the issue of circumcision in infants, another form of body modification for aesthetic reasons. The policy recommends that such operations be deferred until the child is old enough to have an anaesthetic and appropriate pain relief. The issues of pain and pain relief should be discussed with your piercer.

• Keloids
  If you are a person with a tendency to keloid scarring, then be warned that piercing is very likely to be complicated by further keloid formation.

• Rheumatic Fever
  Rheumatic fever may or may not leave a person with damage to the valves of the heart. Echocardiogram is the most reliable method to determine if there is damage to the heart. Ask your physician.
  • If there is no damage, piercing will carry no additional risk compared to a normal person.
  • If you have a damaged valve do NOT have any piercings, including your ears, for you may end up with infective endocarditis which can be fatal.

• Skin Infections
  You should not be pierced when you have a skin infection elsewhere on the body. The infection could spread to your new piercing and cause an infection there. Treat the skin infection first.

• Smoking
  Smoking reduces your immunity and impedes healing. For major surgery, such as open heart surgery and major cosmetic surgery such as breast reduction and facelifts, surgeons will often insist that the patient stops smoking. While it would seem unreasonable to refuse to pierce persons if they are unwilling to stop smoking, perhaps piercing could be seen as an opportunity to give up smoking.

• Surgery
  It is common for surgeons to demand that patients remove all jewelry prior to surgery. If you anticipate surgery in the near future check with your surgeon.