Piercings and metal detectors?

I have my nipples pierced and I was just wondering if they would go off at airport security? I'm going with my family and they don't know about them so I'm really nervous about this, will it be alright? They are kind of spikey jewellery aswell

No, the metal content is below the threshold for the metal detectors setting. You may not go through a metal detector as the body scanner are more common now at many airports.

No - body piercing jewellery doesn't set off metal detectors

Better to keep them at home

Very few airports use metal detectors any more, and even if they did, those are unlikely to be a problem. Pants have metal zippers and rivets that do not cause any problems.

You are more likely to go through a body image scanner. That will probably not alert because of those, but we can't tell you what will actually happen. All machines are not necessarily set for the same sensitivity for detecting anomalies.

It depends on how much metal and whether it's ferromagnetic - the whole point being to detect iron and steel in knives and guns. Set the sensitivity too high and it's useless because it'll beep at everyone's jeans zip. So it has to be set to detect steel items bigger than that. Steel nipple piercings should be too small to be noticed.

If they're not steel, then definitely not as they're not ferromagnetic. For example, my mother has two replacement hips and that amounts to a large lump of titanium in each leg, and as this is not a ferromagnetic metal, metal detectors can't see them.

If the airport is using a body scanner, that uses a whole different technology so you have nothing to worry about.

In 99.999 % of the time you pass a security point they will not set off an alarm.
if they do the ADULTS actually working there have seen them before.
Worry more about your liquid contents in your carry on bag.

Considering that I don't know what it looks like (and I will NOT ask for a photo), I will give you my best educated answer.

Should you be directed through the metal detector:

Most nipple piercings do not have enough metal to trip off the metal detector. That being said please make sure you are divested of as much metal as possible. (i.e. Pocket change, keys, BIC ligher be sent through the x-ray.)

Should you be directed through the body scanner:

Most nipple piercings do not alarm on the body scanner. However should that area alarm you will simply get a pat down which takes a few minutes to perform. (Keep in mind that TSA is wants to keep explosives and weapons off of commercial air carriers.)

Don't be nervous take it in stride. Should your family ask, tell them the bra underwire alarmed.

No

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