Ear piercing

This code identifies an encounter for the insertion of jewelry into the earlobe or other parts of the ear for cosmetic purposes. It signifies a non-medical procedure performed for aesthetic enhancement rather than for therapeutic or diagnostic reasons.

This code is appropriate for encounters where the primary reason for the visit is the act of ear piercing itself. It would be used for patients presenting specifically for this cosmetic service, typically in a non-hospital setting such as a piercing studio or a physician's office offering such services.

• This code is for the piercing procedure only; do not use for complications arising from a piercing.
• Always assign an external cause code (E-code) if the piercing was performed by an external agent (e.g., E908.4 for "Other injury by piercing instrument").
• This is a legacy ICD-9-CM code; ensure your facility's policies for ICD-9-CM usage are followed.