Frankenstein question

Perhaps strange musings while in the shower this morning.... and a weird question.....and one I will definitely ask my surgeon but thought I would see if anyone knew....

I am allergic to a bunch of stuff, including penicillan, latex and nickel. 

I had my bellybutton pierced and the ring was supposed to be surgical steel....but apparently that has a small percentage of nickel in it? My body forced it out actually and it left a nasty scar.

So my questions:
Does surgical steel actually have nickel in it or just the grade that is used for piercings is perhaps not premium quality??

What do they use to close up the new pouch? Is it staples and if so, are they made of surgical steel? Or is it sewn up? (YUCK!!-that makes me think of Frankenstein)

I know for sure that they do use staples to close the pouch.  I have seen the tool that they use.  I would be very surprised it the staples are not 100% pure grade surgical steel, but it is something to mention to your surgeon specifically since he/she is the one doing the surgery. 

I know every shop is different, and I can only speak for Stinger Tattoo... but we use surgical stainless steel for all of our piercings, and it is the same material as the tools used in hospitals. 

I also have a severe allergic reaction to metal.. but I know for myself I am just fine with surgical steel.  There is a very small amount of nickel in surgical steel.. but a very small amount. 

It is very common for the belly button piercing to reject... and its not usually because of the jewelry... its just your body pushing something out that it doesn't want there....

I'm sure you will be fine with whatever they put in you... possibly titanium?(no nickel.)

This is just my thoughts.....

Jen -

I seem to remember them saying that the staples are surgical steel.  Mention it to the surgeon and they can make sure that they use something appropriate for you.

Steph

tell your surgeon..I was the same as you..my fears were erased when discussing this issue with my doc...go and get a new allergy test done and show him the results if you are super allergic..but from my experience i have had no complications and my staples are surgical steel.

Cheers and let us know the surgeons suggestion and your allergy test results.

Terry45

 

i concur with the piercer who spoke up. Belly buttons are notoriously bad for healing up, especially if you've got some excess adipose (that's a fancy word for fat) tissue there.

That being said, still tell the surgeon about it. They do use staples to close off the stomach, and then hit it with some superglue. Have you seen the surgery video on youtube? It's pretty cool.