It turns out that whenever an autopsy is conducted, something is always removed from a body...

Death can be a scary thought but sadly it's something that we'll all face at some point... though perhaps it's best not to dwell on that.

But there is often a morbid sense of curiosity when it comes to shuffling off our mortal coil, and there are various views as to what happens to us when we pass.

One thing that is for sure, is our body is left behind and even then we have a choice in what we want to do with it.

It's best not to spend too much time dwelling on death. Credit: DarrenMower/Getty

If you are interested in what happens, Gerald Ledford, an autopsy technician, shed light on the mysteries of his unique profession.

Ledford has amassed a staggering 1.4 million followers on TikTok where he unveils the secrets behind his job as people have many questions.

Recently, one of his curious followers posed a burning question: What happens to piercings during an autopsy?

They expressed their desire to keep all their piercings intact even in death.

He debunked a common misconception, stating, "The only one that I take out is your tongue ring." Explaining the necessity behind this action, he highlighted the importance of ensuring no interference with forensic procedures.

He also noted in another video that the reason this piercing is the only one that won't remain is because he will remove the tongue... and it actually happens in all autopsies.

"I remove your tongue during an autopsy – we need to make sure you didn’t bite down on it, make sure you don’t have drugs in the back of your throat," he explained.

"So if you have a tongue ring, that one comes out, but nipples, nose, ears, eyebrows, private parts..."

Thankfully, other piercings, from nipples to eyebrows and anywhere else you can imagine, typically remain untouched.

Ledford’s informative video gained huge attention, accumulating over 215,000 likes and 2.5 million views, sparking a flurry of shocked reactions from viewers.

Many were taken aback by the revelation about tongue removal, with some expressing disbelief that this practice is standard procedure.

"You will be putting it back, I have it twice and I’m not going through the swelling pain for nothing even in death," one person joked.

A second added: "All of my husbands piercings had to come out before he could be cremated. I kept them."

A third person said: "Do we cut all tounges? Where do they go? Are there a tongue pile somewhere?"

A fourth person said: "All of us freaking out at the thought of our tongues being removed…after we are dead!"

All piercings besides the tongue are left in! Credit: Zave Smith/Getty

In another revealing video, Ledford delved into the unpredictable nature of his job, shedding light on the fluctuating workload of an autopsy technician.

Some days there will be multiple autopsies, while other days there will be none at all.

Recalling his busiest day, he shared: "The most I’ve autopsied in one day was eight – I did eight on a Monday afternoon."

So your piercings are safe, as long as they aren't on your tongue!

Featured image credit: Zave Smith/Getty

It turns out that whenever an autopsy is conducted, something is always removed from a body...

Death can be a scary thought but sadly it's something that we'll all face at some point... though perhaps it's best not to dwell on that.

But there is often a morbid sense of curiosity when it comes to shuffling off our mortal coil, and there are various views as to what happens to us when we pass.

One thing that is for sure, is our body is left behind and even then we have a choice in what we want to do with it.

It's best not to spend too much time dwelling on death. Credit: DarrenMower/Getty

If you are interested in what happens, Gerald Ledford, an autopsy technician, shed light on the mysteries of his unique profession.

Ledford has amassed a staggering 1.4 million followers on TikTok where he unveils the secrets behind his job as people have many questions.

Recently, one of his curious followers posed a burning question: What happens to piercings during an autopsy?

They expressed their desire to keep all their piercings intact even in death.

He debunked a common misconception, stating, "The only one that I take out is your tongue ring." Explaining the necessity behind this action, he highlighted the importance of ensuring no interference with forensic procedures.

He also noted in another video that the reason this piercing is the only one that won't remain is because he will remove the tongue... and it actually happens in all autopsies.

"I remove your tongue during an autopsy – we need to make sure you didn’t bite down on it, make sure you don’t have drugs in the back of your throat," he explained.

"So if you have a tongue ring, that one comes out, but nipples, nose, ears, eyebrows, private parts..."

Thankfully, other piercings, from nipples to eyebrows and anywhere else you can imagine, typically remain untouched.

Ledford’s informative video gained huge attention, accumulating over 215,000 likes and 2.5 million views, sparking a flurry of shocked reactions from viewers.

Many were taken aback by the revelation about tongue removal, with some expressing disbelief that this practice is standard procedure.

"You will be putting it back, I have it twice and I’m not going through the swelling pain for nothing even in death," one person joked.

A second added: "All of my husbands piercings had to come out before he could be cremated. I kept them."

A third person said: "Do we cut all tounges? Where do they go? Are there a tongue pile somewhere?"

A fourth person said: "All of us freaking out at the thought of our tongues being removed…after we are dead!"

All piercings besides the tongue are left in! Credit: Zave Smith/Getty

In another revealing video, Ledford delved into the unpredictable nature of his job, shedding light on the fluctuating workload of an autopsy technician.

Some days there will be multiple autopsies, while other days there will be none at all.

Recalling his busiest day, he shared: "The most I’ve autopsied in one day was eight – I did eight on a Monday afternoon."

So your piercings are safe, as long as they aren't on your tongue!

Featured image credit: Zave Smith/Getty