All about Lip Piercings

Jan 19, 2018

Lip piercings, who doesn't know them? Lip piercings have a long history and are still a favorite with many people. And we understand that, because a ring or small ball around your lip also looks fantastic. In this blog post we will tell you everything about these cool piercings.

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 rods, in all kinds of colors and sizes. And thank goodness, because that makes having a lip piercing a lot easier!

What types of lip piercings are there?
A lip piercing generally refers to a piercing in your lower lip. The placement can vary, but a standard lip 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. For example, 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 often called a regular lip piercing or labret piercing. The piercing can of course also be placed on the sides of your lower lip, this piercing is then called an off-center lip piercing.

A piercing through the upper lip is often also possible. If your piercing is placed in the middle of your upper lip, it is often called a philtrum piercing or medusa piercing. An off-center piercing through your upper lip is often called a Monroe piercing or Madonna piercing, after the trademark birthmarks of the ladies from which these piercing names are derived.

And as if there weren't enough variations, lip piercings can of course also be placed in pairs. Two off-center lip piercings through the lower lip are often called snakebites, while two off-center lip piercings through the upper lip are called angelbites. Two centered piercings through the lower and upper lip are called cyberbites.

Last but not least, there are lip surface piercings or vertical lip piercings. These piercings are placed through the soft, colored tissue of your lips. This means that the jewelry does not come out on the inside of your mouth, but rests on the lips, on the outside of your mouth. However, these piercings are not entirely without risk. Your lips move almost continuously, which makes it easier for these piercings to migrate or grow out.

How is a lip piercing done?
A lip 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 also possible here. Some people find that a lip piercing done from the inside out is slightly less painful. But of course that can vary greatly from person to person. Before the piercing, the skin is cleaned and you will probably have to rinse your mouth. Then your piercer will carefully mark the spot and the piercing can begin!

Tips before you get 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.

Healing period of your lip piercing
Okay, your piercing is in. On to the healing! In general, your piercing will take six to nine weeks to heal. But it can certainly take longer and is nothing to worry about. Your first piece of jewelry is always a bit larger 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 the aftercare advice from your piercer and also make sure that you leave your lip piercing alone as much as possible, then everything will be fine in the end. You may not kiss, smoke or drink alcohol for the next few weeks. It may sound boring, but this will ensure that you avoid infections and irritations as much as possible. 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 it that much, but if it does become irritating, our Silicone Healing Discs can be a solution.

Silicone healing discs for lip piercings
Are you looking for nice piercing aftercare to clean your lip piercing? Then definitely check out the piercing aftercare from Easypiercing by Médical Bodyarts, these aftercare products are often used during the healing of all kinds of piercings.

Pay attention to your gums!
Although you probably won't have much trouble with them at first, you may eventually start to have problems with your gums. A labret rod also has a disc on the inside of your mouth, and in most cases this rests against your gums or even against your teeth. With a well-fitting piece of jewelry and good placement of your piercing, you can still enjoy your lip piercing for a very long time. To increase the chance of success, it is therefore very important that you leave your piercing alone as much as possible, so don't fiddle or play with your jewelry. Will you eventually start to have problems with your gums? Then 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 then be time to say goodbye to your piercing, better safe than sorry! Discuss your concerns with your piercer, who can determine together with you what the best next step is. 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 to be found in our collection of labret bars.

Which jewelry is suitable for a lip piercing?
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 piercings and piercing rings. You can choose between a standard labret bar, a labret bar with internal thread, threadless labret studs or a Bioplast labret bar. Rings can also be found in our shop in various types and sizes, including the well-known ball closure rings but also the super handy click rings or circular barbells.

Tips for changing your lip piercing jewelry yourself: pat the jewelry dry before changing it and wear nitrile gloves, so you have a better grip! Are you changing your jewelry in the bathroom? Then place a towel over the sink, so you can catch a slipping piece of jewelry more easily.