Yes, the 90's are back! And labret piercings are hot again! Or, maybe you've always been a loyal wearer of this beautiful piercing? How are labret piercings done and how does the healing process go? Read more about it in this blog post!
What is a labret piercing?
A labret piercing generally refers to a piercing in your lower lip in which a labret bar is worn. The placement can vary, but a standard labret piercing is always placed just outside the colored tissue of the lips and not through it. The piercing is placed in such a way that it is affected as little as possible by the movement of your mouth. If you wear a labret bar, part of the piercing jewelry rests on the outside of your mouth while the flat part is on the inside of your mouth. The most well-known is probably the lip piercing that is placed in the middle of your lip, which is why it is often called a regular lip piercing or labret piercing. The piercing can of course also be placed to the sides of your lower lip, this piercing is then called an off-center lip piercing.
History of labret piercings
The word labret comes from the Latin word ‘labrum’, which means ‘lip’. Lip piercings have a long history and are still a favorite with many people. And we understand that, because a small ball under your lip also looks fantastic. Throughout the centuries, people have provided themselves with lip piercings. The piercing jewelry of the past was made of horn, bone or other natural materials. Nowadays you can choose from a whole range of comfortable piercing rings and labret bars, in all kinds of colors and sizes. In addition, we now also have the great advantage of super sharp and clean piercing needles, which all contributes to a successful labret piercing. Also read our other blog about lip piercings, about which other types and placements are possible!
How is a labret piercing done?
A labret piercing can be done with or without a piercing clamp, both methods are fine. You can also choose to pierce from the inside out, or from the outside in. Both methods are possible here too. Some people find that a lip piercing that is done from the inside out is slightly less painful. But of course that can vary greatly from person to person. Before piercing, the skin is cleaned and you will probably have to rinse your mouth. Then the piercer will carefully mark the spot and the piercing can begin!
Tips before getting pierced: make sure you eat and drink enough beforehand. Then brush your teeth well, so that your mouth is also nice and clean on the inside. Also check out our series of aftercare for labret piercings!
Healing period of your labret piercing
Labret piercings have a fairly quick healing time. In general, your piercing takes six to nine weeks to heal. But longer is certainly also possible and is nothing to worry about. Your first labret stud is always a bit longer so that you can keep your piercing clean and the swelling can be absorbed. Your piercer will explain when you can come back for a smaller piece of jewelry. Sometimes you only change to a smaller piece of jewelry once, sometimes you need to change jewelry several times to get to the final size.
The first few days after the piercing, your piercing can be very sensitive and your lip will become thicker. The area around the piercing can also feel a bit bruised. Follow your piercer's aftercare advice and make sure you leave your lip piercing alone as much as possible, then everything will be fine in the end. You should not kiss, smoke or drink alcohol for the next few weeks. This will ensure that you are spared as much as possible from infections and irritations. Also, leave your piercing alone as much as possible and try not to bite or play with it.
The tissue on the inside of your mouth is very soft. If you wear a labret bar, the light pressure of the disc can cause a small dent in the tissue over time. This is completely normal, usually you won't notice much of this, but if this does become irritating, our Silicone Healing Discs can be a solution. For the care of the outside of your labret piercings, the aftercare of Otzi (formerly Easypiercing) is suitable.
Receding gums due to your labret piercing
Although you probably won't have much trouble with it at first, it can happen that you eventually start having problems with your gums. A labret bar has a disc on the inside of your mouth, and in most cases this rests against your gums or even against your teeth. This usually goes well, especially if your labret piercing was done by a good piercer and the placement of the piercing was carefully taken care of. A well-fitting piece of jewelry is of course also very important.
To enjoy your labret piercing for as long as possible, it is best to make sure that you leave your piercing alone as much as possible. So don't fiddle or play with your jewelry. Do you eventually start having problems with your gums? Keep a close eye on it and, if necessary, have your dentist or dental hygienist take a look. With prolonged irritation, your gums can recede and your piercing can cause considerable damage to your oral tissue and teeth. It may be time to say goodbye to your piercing, better safe than sorry! Discuss your concerns with your piercer, who can determine the best next step together with you.
In any case, always choose a well-fitting piece of jewelry and, if possible, wear a labret bar with the smallest possible disc on the inside. There are various labrets with small discs in our collection of labret bars. Labret studs from Bioplast can also help prevent receding gums.
Bioplast labrets for lip piercings
Above we already briefly discussed labret studs from Bioplast. But what kind of material is that, and what advantage does it have for your lip piercings? To start with, Bioplast is a hypoallergenic, flexible plastic and suitable for all kinds of piercings. Because Bioplast is a lot softer than metal, for example, they can sometimes be a solution for, for example, gum irritation with lip piercings. Bioplast is also very easy to clean, because wound fluid and scabs are less likely to stick to the jewelry. You can combine Bioplast labrets and barbells with our screw-on accessories or our push-fit accessories. Bioplast with thread is easy to cut to size, and you can make a new thread on your jewelry yourself by first screwing a metal ball on it. If you choose push-fit jewelry from Bioplast, you only have to push the accessory or ball into place. Our Bioplast are ideal for your lip piercings of course, but they can also be worn in other piercings.
Buy labret piercing jewelry at All Over Piercings!
The most common sizes for lip piercings are 1.2 mm and 1.6 mm. Other sizes may also be possible, your piercer can best advise you on this. The length or diameter you ultimately need depends entirely on the anatomy of your mouth. The final length or diameter can therefore best be determined after your piercing has healed. In our shop you will find an extensive range of labret studs suitable for labret piercings. We have among others:
Threadless labret rods and many different threadless balls and discs
Labret studs with internal thread
Bioplast labret studs
