All pierced up: managing body piercing in perioperative practice.

Abstract

The practice of deliberate body piercing is an ancient art, one that has been carried out for thousands of years all over the world. It is performed as part of religious ceremonies, as a rite of passage, such as reaching sexual maturity, for cosmetic reasons, or to enhance sexual feelings (Langford 1996). This ancient art is now becoming more and more popular in Britain and a matter of individual choice, with many areas of the body being chosen for piercing. These areas include: eyebrow, ear, septum and side of nose, lip, cheek, tongue, nipple, naval, scrotum and genitalia. The site chosen for the body piercing could pose problems in the future if the individual has to undergo a surgical procedure or general anaesthetic.