Piercing has become part of our mainstream culture, so it is no surprise that many people are considering body piercings. Facial piercings specifically lip and cheek piercings are enjoying a soaring popularity surge. There are several different types of lip and cheek piercings, including the Medusa, the Monroe, the Lip Frenulum, Lip plate, and Labret. Before getting adorned in any of these locations though, it will behoove you to read on and learn more about the risks associated with each piercing.
The Medusa is still a relatively uncommon piercing, but many piercing parlors have noticed that more and more people are asking for this piercing. Located directly under the septum of the nose, in the center above the top tip, a Medusa piercing is eye catching indeed. Very similar to a labret piercing, the ball rests in the dip on the top lip. There will be swelling after the piercing, and for some people the pain is minimal, while for others the pain is intense. There are a lot of nerve endings located around the lips, and while most skilled professional piercers will not hit a nerve, there is always that slight risk that must be considered before committing to the piercing.
The Monroe also goes by two other names: The Madonna and The Crawford. Named after the three iconic women with famous moles near their mouth (Marilyn Monroe had a mole on the left side, Madonna has one of the right, and Cindy Crawford has a mole very close to the upper lip) the piercing location you choose will determine the exact name of your piercing (left cheek = Monroe; right cheek = Madonna). These piercings heal rather quickly, but for a couple days to a week after the piercing there may be significant swelling. After 8-12 weeks, you can replace the jewelry (which will be too big…the initial jewelry must accommodate swelling, so as the swelling goes down, the jewelry will be too large) with something a bit more snug. This piercing is very popular, and looks very beautiful if proper aftercare is strictly followed.
The Lip Frenulum is another rare piercing, and not everyone has the correct anatomy to have this procedure done. An upper lip frenulum piercing is often called a “smiley” because when the wearer smiles, the captive bead can be seen; a lower lip frenulum piercing is called a “frowny” for the same reason. These piercings are simple procedures for a professional piercer, but it is important to remember that teeth and gum damage can definitely happen over time with these piercings.
The Lip plate is very rare in America, but common in parts of Africa and the Amazon. This look has a devoted following in many body modification circles, and the practice is indeed very ancient – but not for everyone. Lip plates consist of piercing the lower lip and over time stretching (properly referred to as “gauging”) the hole to accommodate lip plugs. Lip plugs are circular discs usually made of light wood or clay. Once you have committed to the Lip plate, your lip will be stretched to a point where only surgical operations can eliminate the gaping hole in your lip. This is not a piercing to be cavalier about – only do this if you have done all the research you possibly can, and are willing to stick with it for the long haul. While most piercings heal with no visible effects, this particular piercing will not. For all intents and purposes, this is a permanent piercing.
The labret is the most common sort of lip piercing. Many people have multiple labret piercings! It can accommodate rings or studs, and takes about 6-8 weeks to heal. Most people after the allotted healing time get a special piece of jewelry that has a labret backing, to help prevent tooth and gum aggravation. There are many types of “bites” – informal terms to describe various piercing placements (ex: Snakebites = two labret piercings on opposite sides of the lower lips); there is great potential for uniqueness and individuality. Horizontal lip piercings are extremely rare, and most piercers will not perform this type of piercing.
As with other oral piercings, infection can happen with lip and cheek piercings. There is a lot of bacteria located in and around the mouth, so careful cleaning will help prevent infection. As always, only get pierced in professional setting and with completely sterilized tools to minimize your chance of serious health consequences. Eating spicy foods, consuming alcohol, and smoking should not happen during the first 6-8 weeks of your new piercing – all of these will hinder your bodies healing efforts. Your piercer will give you a complete rundown of what to expect during healing, how to cope with problems that may arise, and the best aftercare habits. Assuming you have a decent amount of common sense, your new lip and cheek piercing will be healed in no time!
