How to quickly reduce swelling after getting a tongue piercing
Nov 15, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Liwen
Introduction
After getting a tongue piercing, if the tongue swells, it is important to seek prompt medical attention at an oral specialty hospital. A tongue stud is a foreign object that may trigger an immune response in the tongue or lead to secondary bacterial infection due to unhygienic piercing conditions. Treatment should be initiated as soon as possible and may include incision and drainage. During this period, avoid touching the piercing with hands to prevent bacterial contamination.
Swelling of the tongue after getting a tongue piercing requires prompt medical attention at an oral specialty hospital. A tongue stud is a foreign body that may trigger an immune response in the tongue, or lead to secondary bacterial infection due to inadequate hygiene during the piercing procedure. Treatment should be initiated as soon as possible, and incision and drainage is an effective approach. The procedure is as follows:
1. Perform routine disinfection before surgery, wear gloves, and lay sterile drapes.
2. Position the patient in a seated posture and administer anesthesia.
3. The doctor uses a needle for aspiration to locate the abscess cavity, then leaves the needle in place as a marker for the incision site.
4. Use a sharp scalpel to puncture the center of the abscess cavity and extend the incision in both directions.
5. After incision, insert fingers into the cavity to gently separate any septa, creating a single cavity to facilitate pus drainage. Adequate anesthesia is required for deep abscesses.
6. Insert iodoform gauze into the wound, leaving one end outside the incision.
Note: During this period, avoid touching the tongue stud with hands to prevent bacterial contamination.
