The short version
Most people with tattoos and piercings have scans and surgery without any trouble. Still, body art raises a few questions in medical settings, and the safest approach is simple: mention your tattoos and piercings to the people caring for you and follow their instructions. This article explains why those questions come up. It is general information, not medical advice, and your care team knows your situation best.
Tattoos and MRI scans
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, uses a strong magnetic field. Some tattoo pigments have historically contained metal-based compounds, and that is the root of most worry. Reports of problems are generally described as uncommon, and when they occur they are often mild, such as a sensation of tingling or warmth in the tattooed area. Rarely, people have reported more notable irritation.
Another point is that metal in or on the body can sometimes blur the image near that spot. Large or dense tattoos near the area being scanned are one example that may be mentioned to the imaging team.
What is typically useful:
- Tell the staff about every tattoo, including old, large or dark ones, before the scan.
- Report any warmth, burning or tingling during the scan right away. Imaging staff usually give you a way to signal them.
- Follow their instructions, which may include cooling or padding over the area.
Newer or very recent tattoos, or tattoos with unknown inks, are worth mentioning in particular, since the pigment content may be uncertain.
Other scans
Other types of imaging, such as X-rays, CT scans and ultrasound, work on different principles and are usually not thought to interact with tattoos in the same way. Sometimes tattoos can make it harder for staff to see skin changes, or can sit near the area they need to examine, so it is still worth mentioning them.
Piercings and jewelry
Metal jewelry is a more common issue than tattoos. For MRI, metal jewelry is usually removed because of the magnetic field. For other scans and for surgery, staff may ask you to remove piercings because metal can show on images, get in the way of equipment, or conduct electricity during certain surgical techniques that use electrical current.
Oral and facial piercings can also matter if you will be under general anesthesia, since staff manage the airway and mouth. Piercings that sit on or near the abdomen, chest or genital area may need to come out too.
A few practical notes:
- Ask in advance what you should remove, rather than waiting until the day.
- Some people use clear retainers made of nonmetal material to keep a piercing from closing. Staff will still decide what is acceptable for the procedure.
- Piercings that are fresh or still healing may close quickly when jewelry is out, so ask what the options are.
Surgery and tattoos
Surgeons and nurses see tattoos regularly. A few questions occasionally arise:
- Incisions. If a planned incision crosses a tattoo, a surgeon may discuss options. Medical needs come first, and an incision usually follows what the operation requires. Scarring through a tattoo can change how it looks.
- Skin preparation. Staff clean and mark skin before procedures. Cleaning is generally fine on healed tattoos, but a fresh one is a different matter and should be reported.
- Dressings and tape. Some people with healing or sensitive skin react to adhesives. Mention any skin sensitivity.
- Skin color checks. Dense tattoos can make it harder to judge skin color, which clinicians sometimes use as a sign of circulation. They are used to adapting.
Epidurals and needles through tattoos
People often ask whether a needle can go through a tattoo, such as for a spinal or epidural injection. In the past this raised some theoretical concern about carrying pigment deeper, but it is generally understood that the clinician can choose how to proceed. If you have a tattoo on your lower back, tell the anesthesia team, who will decide the safest approach. Do not cancel or delay needed care over a tattoo.
Fresh body art and planned surgery
If you have an operation or procedure planned, ask your care team about timing before getting any new tattoo or piercing. A fresh wound can raise the infection risk, and a new tattoo or piercing can complicate skin preparation. Many clinicians recommend avoiding new body art shortly before surgery, and a conversation about timing is cheap and easy.
Telling the team
You do not need to feel embarrassed. A short list of tattoo locations and piercings, with approximate ages of the work, is usually plenty. If you have had any reactions to ink or jewelry, say so. Clinicians would rather know than guess.
Worth remembering
Body art rarely prevents medical care. A little honesty up front lets the team plan around it, and their instructions should come before anything you have read online, including here.