<p>There is a tradition at my school wherein on the night before the seniors' last day of school, the entire graduating class (i go to a small school so this is only about 60 kids) goes clubbing and visits a tattoo/piercing parlor. I really want to get my nose pierced but I am worried that it'll effect my ability to get internships/eventually get a job/be taken seriously. I plan to major in neuroscience then go to medical school and practice psychiatry. Do you all think having a nose piercing would have an effect on my future? Also I don't know if it would result in scarring if I eventually took it out. I am a black female btw. </p>
<p>Given that you will have to interview for medical school and meet patients face to face as a psychiatrist, having visible piercings or tattoos that are not easily concealed by normal clothing may be an issue with more conservative medical school interviewers, employers (hospitals or medical practices), or patients. Lots of people won’t care, but your intended career path must run a gauntlet of numerous gatekeepers, and such a career means being continuously marketable, so you would be betting on all of the gatekeepers not caring.</p>
<p>can’t you just take it out though? there will be a little scar but it’ll be barely noticeable.</p>
<p>Thank you both. I would probably take it off after graduating college anyway. I’m not sure.</p>
<p>You will probably get tired of it long before then and wonder how you were so immature as to do something like that just to be part of the crowd. </p>
<p>Do you think it’ll matter in the long run? I genuinely want to wear a stud during college. I know looking back it’ll seem stupid but in this moment I want it. I probably sound stupid to all adults. But.</p>
<p>Do you have any idea what the infection rate is for those things? I don’t but that is what comes to my mind whenever I see one. Ick. </p>
<p>I think if you’re wise enough to be thinking about the long run, you’re wise enough to just say no. You can always change your mind when you’re older, but I doubt you will.</p>
<p>Do some research on the scarring and taking it out after college. Unfortunately, there will most likely be discrimination towards visible tattoos and piercings in the workplace. In the professional world, it’s better to be safe, but in your personal life, and if you take it off before interviewing, I don’t see a problem. </p>
<p>I’ve chanced across a few people with tattoo sleeves working in research labs. </p>
<p>I am not sure about peoples perceptions but you cannot be denied admission purely on the basis of your body piercings and tattoos. There may be certain exceptions to the rule like if your nose piercing can do more harm then good to your patients, etc. otherwise you cannot be denied a job either based on your body piercings and tattoos.
Hope it helped. </p>
<p>kathleentown, perhaps you can’t be denied a job based on piercings or tattoos, but a hiring manager would just point to other factors.</p>
<p>Yes, you can take them out with a barely noticeable scar. There’s a chance of some minor complications, but many respectable, perfectly viable people wear nose rings at different times in their life. Do what you want (not what your peers want, what you want). </p>
<p>@teslll, what are the complications you’re referring to? any and all possible scenarios and issues are appeciated</p>
<p>I had a nose piercing (a stud) once and had to remove it due to keloid on the inside of my nostril. (I’m also a black female). If you don’t keloid scar you should be fine. I would say go for it and enjoy your time in college (you can’t tell I ever had one, I’m thinking of trying it again after retirement). Good luck.</p>
<p>@cmgrayson are there ways to prevent keloids or is just a matter of chance? thank you</p>
<p>Not really (it’s the rubbing of the earring on skin and the skin keeps trying to heal and black skin being prone to keloiding). I get them in some places but not others - my gall bladder scar at the top of my tummy keloided but think it was due to rubbing against my bra (TMI I know). I don’t get them on my ears though and I have pierced ears but my navel did. Use a real gold earring to prevent the nickel irritation. I think that nose ring though was my first keloid. </p>
<p>The keloid went away after I removed the earring though - you might not though if you haven’t ever keloided or if you’re lighter.</p>
<p>Okay I will remember to do that if i decide to get the piercing. Still unsure but we will see. Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>Like everyone said, you can just remove it. But even then, as long as you’re dressed professionally (and act like it, too), I don’t see why it should be a problem. I’m of Pakistani background and so practically all the women I know wear nose rings and it’s never been a problem for them career wise.</p>
<p>I don’t understand the logic of doing something just because everyone else is. And I am pretty sure that people with nose piercings are not a “protected class” in employment law, so employers can and will take that into account.</p>
<p>@socaldad2, i never said i was doing it because of everyone else. Not everyone gets their nose pierced, most get ears or belly button.</p>