Piercing Retainers for Surgery, MRI & Medical Procedures
Helping You Prepare Your Piercings for an Upcoming Medical Procedure
If you have an upcoming surgery, MRI, diagnostic procedure, hospital stay, or ongoing treatment, your healthcare provider may ask you to remove metal jewelry from your piercings.
Even well-established piercings can begin to shrink or close after jewelry is removed. At Painstaking Art Tattoo & Piercing, we can help you prepare your existing piercings by professionally removing your jewelry and temporarily replacing it with appropriately fitted nonmetal piercing retainers, when permitted by your healthcare provider.
Important Note
Painstaking Art is a professional tattoo and body piercing studio, not a healthcare provider or medical facility. Our services are limited to body piercing and jewelry services. We do not provide medical advice or determine whether any jewelry or retainer is appropriate for a particular medical procedure. That determination should always be made by your physician, medical facility, or other healthcare provider.
Our professional piercing staff can assess your existing piercings for proper jewelry fit and sizing, carefully remove your jewelry, select and install appropriately fitted nonmetal retainers, and assist you with returning to your regular jewelry after your healthcare provider has cleared you to do so.
We Take Care of Your Original Jewelry
Your original jewelry is ultrasonically cleaned, individually packaged, and labeled so it can remain organized for future reinstallation.
Retainer Options for Your Needs
For shorter-term needs, we offer a standard nonmetal piercing retainer that can generally be worn for up to three months. For clients who expect to wear retainers for a longer period — or when glass is preferred by the client or requested by their healthcare provider — we can special order appropriately sized glass retainers.
Because glass retainers are ordered specifically for each client, we recommend contacting us approximately two weeks before your desired installation appointment.
Our goal is to make managing your piercings before and after a medical procedure as simple and organized as possible while leaving all medical decisions where they belong — with you and your healthcare team.
Important: Requirements concerning body jewelry vary by procedure, provider, and medical facility. Always confirm with your healthcare provider whether a retainer is permitted and whether they have specific requirements regarding material, style, or removal.
What Is a Piercing Retainer?
A piercing retainer is a jewelry alternative designed to temporarily occupy an existing piercing when a person’s regular jewelry needs to be removed.
Nonmetal piercing retainers may be an option when preparing for:
- MRI or other diagnostic imaging
- Surgery or outpatient procedures
- Hospital stays
- Chemotherapy or other longer-term treatments
- Other procedures for which a healthcare provider or facility has requested removal of metal body jewelry
A piercing retainer is not a medical device, and the installation of a retainer is not a medical service. Painstaking Art does not determine whether a retainer can remain in place during your procedure.
Before scheduling your installation, please confirm your healthcare provider’s requirements. Some providers or facilities may require all jewelry and retainers to be completely removed regardless of material.
Standard Nonmetal Piercing Retainers
For shorter-term needs, we offer a standard nonmetal piercing retainer option.
These retainers are intended as a temporary alternative to your regular body jewelry and can generally be worn for up to three months.
Our piercing staff will assess your existing piercing for jewelry sizing and fit and select an appropriately sized retainer for installation.
Please remember that the ability to wear a nonmetal retainer during a medical procedure is determined by your healthcare provider or facility — not by Painstaking Art.
Glass Retainers for Longer-Term Needs
For clients who anticipate needing retainers for an extended period, or when glass is preferred by the client or requested by a healthcare provider, we can special order glass retainers in appropriate sizes and available color options.
Because glass retainers are specially ordered for each client, please contact us approximately two weeks before your desired installation appointment whenever possible.
This gives our piercing staff time to confirm sizing, review available options with you, place the order, and receive your retainers before they are needed.
Do I Need a Consultation for Glass Retainers?
If you already know the exact gauge, length or diameter, and style required for each piercing, a separate consultation may not be necessary.
However, we highly recommend an in-person consultation before ordering glass retainers.
During your consultation, our piercing staff can:
- Assess your existing piercings for jewelry fit and sizing
- Confirm gauge and appropriate dimensions
- Determine the appropriate jewelry style for the piercing
- Discuss available glass color options
- Discuss when you need your retainers installed
The consultation relates specifically to your piercings and jewelry. Questions concerning what materials may remain in place during your procedure or treatment should be directed to your healthcare provider.
How the Process Works
- Check With Your Healthcare Provider
Before selecting a retainer, ask your physician, surgeon, imaging center, hospital, or other healthcare provider whether a nonmetal retainer may remain in your piercing. If they have specific requirements regarding material or removal, please share those instructions with our piercing staff. - Contact Us Before Your Procedure
Once you know your provider’s requirements, contact Painstaking Art. If you are interested in glass retainers, we recommend reaching out at least two weeks before your desired installation date. - Consultation, If Needed
Our piercing staff can assess your piercings for jewelry fit, confirm sizing, discuss available retainer options, and determine which of our available retainers best meets the requirements you have received from your healthcare provider. - Professional Jewelry Removal & Retainer Installation
Before your appointment or treatment, our piercing staff will carefully remove your existing body jewelry and install appropriately fitted nonmetal piercing retainers. - Your Original Jewelry Is Cleaned & Packaged
After removal, your original jewelry will be ultrasonically cleaned, individually packaged, and labeled so you can keep it organized until you’re ready to wear it again. Labeling your jewelry also makes it easier to identify which piece belongs to each piercing when you return for reinstallation. - Follow Your Healthcare Provider’s Instructions
Always inform your healthcare provider that retainers are present and follow their instructions regarding whether they must be removed. Your physician or medical facility has final authority regarding what may remain in place during your procedure or treatment. - Return to Your Regular Jewelry
Once your healthcare provider has cleared you to return to your regular body jewelry, bring your labeled jewelry back to Painstaking Art. Our piercing staff can remove your retainers and assist with professionally reinstalling your original jewelry.
Don’t Wait Until the Day of Your Procedure
Piercings can begin shrinking after jewelry is removed — even piercings that have been established for years.
If you’ve been instructed to remove your body jewelry, planning ahead gives you more options and allows our piercing staff to properly size and prepare your retainers before they’re needed.
Whenever possible, contact us before removing your jewelry yourself.
For special-order glass retainers, we recommend contacting us approximately two weeks in advance.
Information for Healthcare Providers
Painstaking Art welcomes clients referred by physicians, surgeons, imaging centers, oncology practices, hospitals, dental professionals, and other healthcare providers who need assistance with the professional removal and temporary replacement of existing body jewelry.
Painstaking Art Tattoo & Piercing is not a healthcare provider and does not provide medical advice.
Our role is limited to our area of professional expertise: body piercings and body jewelry. We can assess an existing piercing for jewelry fit and sizing, professionally remove body jewelry, provide and install appropriately fitted piercing retainers, and assist with jewelry reinstallation.
We rely on the patient’s healthcare provider or medical facility to determine whether a retainer is permitted during a particular procedure or treatment and whether there are specific requirements concerning jewelry material or removal.
Healthcare providers are welcome to provide their patients with specific instructions regarding material, removal, or other procedural requirements, which the patient can share with our piercing staff.
Professional Piercing Care in Houston
Painstaking Art Tattoo & Piercing provides professional body piercing and jewelry services in Houston with an emphasis on proper jewelry selection, anatomy, sterilization, and responsible piercing practices.
Whether you’re preparing for a single procedure or need to temporarily transition your jewelry during a longer course of treatment, our piercing staff can help you manage your existing piercings before and after your medical care.
Have an upcoming procedure? Check with your healthcare provider about their body jewelry requirements, then contact Painstaking Art to discuss your piercing retainer options.
