MRI and piercings

[FeegleFrenzy]

I’ve had a phone call this afternoon telling me to come for an mri tomorrow. Just remembered I have a nose piercing in.

i seem to remember it’s titanium…..I’ve tested it with a magnet just now and the magnet isn’t attracted to it at all. Is it ok to wear it? I can’t get it out…..other option is emergency dash to a piercing shop first thing I guess.

I’m not sure they’d risk it op just incase. Sorry. They’re really cautious over it so I can imagine they’d make you remove it.

Can you call them back? Very strict guidelines re: presence of metals near/around/ inside MRI

They were shut by the time I thought of it. Guess I better be safe and head into town first thing, thanks.

They will make you take it out. I had to take out all of mine and one I really struggled to get out. They wouldn’t allow me in the MRI with it in

When you say 'risk it' your risking having it pulled out through your face if there is a magnetic component in there.

Are you having an mri of your head? Otherwise they can often work round it, it’s not as dramatic as it’s made out to be in films!

I was asked to remove mine.

Just take it out. When I had an MRI I had to take our nose piercing and ear cartilage piercings.

For what it’s worth a nose piercing should always be easy to get out. A corkscrew or L-bend style is best, they can just be twisted out. It should be fairly loose so you can clean inside and out. What kind of piercing do you have?

Spine and pelvis.

It’s a hinged ring. I’ve tried pulling and pulling it and it won’t open.

If it’s a ring, would (very clean) wire cutters be an option? My DH had to do this for my helix piercing which wouldn’t budge.

I left mine in. Physically couldn't get it out, stupid weird ring. The nurse was nice enough, told me the risks and said if I felt it getting at all hot, I should yell to them as quickly as possible. Nothing happened. It didn't get pulled from my face. It didn't get hot or burn me. I had the mri and left with no issues.

Will ask dh if he has any wire cutters. He offered a hacksaw earlier but I declined! 😁

My husband is a radiographer in MRI. He says he personally would work round it but some practitioners wouldn't.

Thanks everyone, I’ll get it out before the appt!

other issue, aside from the worst-case-scenario-facial-rearrangement it could cause, is that depending on what's being imaged it might cause a whole load of interference on the scan.

I had one in my ear cartilige that i couldnt get out, he just scanned it to make sure it wasnt the wrong metal, think mine was solid silver and they said ok then. Its to make sure it doesnt mess with the magnets but also so it doesnt obscure the scan so mine was fine to leave in

And the poster in the cubicle where I got changed said (among other things) you must tell the radiographer if you have micro bladed brows, why is that does anyone know?

Metal filaments in the microblading stuff apparently.

I had titanium microdermals which don’t come out and I had an mri. They hummed and hawed, then shrugged and said if they get hot or painful hit the emergency button. I didn’t have a problem.

Oh that is interesting. I dont even know what micro bladed brows are to be honest!

I couldn't get my earrings out and they said it was fine (pelvis and back)
Said my eyebrows and tattoos might get warm (they didn't)

When my daughter had an MRI I flippantly said oh I can never have an MRI due to screws in my leg. The nurse said as long as they know it's fine, they can move the magnet, make sure it's not in that area. I was surprised with this! I don't know whether it applies to external metal but internal not a problem apparently!