A patient presents with pain and redness around the piercing site. Upon inspection, there is erythema and some purulence coming from the piercing. The patient is afebrile and denies any other symptoms.

 

Piercing complications typically fall into two categories: infection or inability to remove. As infections lead to swelling, the edematous surrounding tissue may encase the piercing.

 

The more usual sites of piercing include ears, eyebrows, glabella, nasal septum, nostrils, lips, tongue, face, mouth (Fig. 150.1), chin, nipples (Fig. 150.2), navel, male and female genitalia, digits, and pocketing or flesh (skin) stapling. There may be a single piercing or multiple piercings. The prevalence of abnormal tooth wear or tooth chipping/cracking is greater for tongue piercing than lip piercing (see Chapter 50).