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Ear Piercing Complications: Comparing Cartilage and Soft Tissue Piercings in a Large Survey Cohort
John P Ziegler1, Nitin A Pagedar1, McKay Moline2
1Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
The Laryngoscope
|April 18, 2026
Summary
Cartilage ear piercings have higher complication and removal rates than lobule piercings. Patients should receive thorough counseling on risks before auricular cartilage piercing.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology and Piercing Safety
- Public Health and Injury Prevention
Background:
- Ear piercing is a common cosmetic procedure.
- Complications can arise from various piercing sites, necessitating comparative safety data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare complication and removal rates between cartilage and lobule ear piercings.
- To inform patient counseling and consent processes.
Main Methods:
- Anonymous electronic survey of 3270 individuals with 9016 ear piercings.
- Multivariate logistic regression to analyze complication and removal rates by piercing site.
Main Results:
- Cartilage piercings had higher complication rates (40.2%) than lobule piercings (25.4%).
- Infection rates were also higher in cartilage piercings (30.3% vs. 23.8%).
- Cartilage site and complications independently predicted piercing removal.
Conclusions:
- Cartilage piercings present significantly higher risks of complications and removal compared to lobule piercings.
- Informed consent and counseling are crucial, particularly for auricular cartilage piercings.
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