Occasionally Dr. Nikko gets questions from prospective breast augmentation patients about what to do about their nipple piercings both before and after surgery. Generally, the answer is to remove all jewelry and piercings before surgery to not only protect one’s valuables but to also avoid any interference from these items during breast surgery. Body piercings, including the nipples, can cause some concern for breast augmentation, and the main concern is keeping the body and skin sterile to avoid any risk of infection both during and after surgery. Therefore, remove the piercing and thoroughly cleanse the area with a topical wash such as Hibiclense the morning before surgery at Dr. Nikko’s office. Some patients have asked us if they may wear plastic spacers so that the piercing does not close up. We advise that patients should NOT use plastic spacers because plastic can harbor bacteria and other germs which could lead to infection. Once the incisions are healing well, patients may consider either using spacers, reinserting their piercing (if swelling is reduced), or simply having the nipples re-pierced.