No matter what piercing is currently tickling your fancy, if you're considering one you'll need to do some leg work in the research department. Whether it's as simple as earring piercings or something more complex like the nipple piercings or decorative dermal piercings, each should be carefully considered within the context of its own risks. And lip piercings are no different, if anything given its focal point nature on the face, you'll want to get to know the ins and outs of this piercing before you commit to the look. If it's currently one that's on your radar, read on to find out everything there is to know about lip piercings.
What Is A Lip Piercing?
A lip piercing is a broad umbrella term for piercings located anywhere around the lip area, whether it's your upper or lower lip or centre. It's a popular option because of the various styles of piercings you can opt for, which all depend on your personal choice. The sheer amount of style options sees different piercing placement: the labret, beneath the centre of the bottom lip; the vertical labret, sits outside the middle of the bottom lip; the Medusa, just above your cupid's bow; as well as side-lip piercings and the Monroe, which is found at the corner of the upper lip.
What Happens During A Lip Piercing?
Much like any piercing appointment, you'll first be marked up with a pen that is safe to be used on skin. Then, a professional piercer will pierce the area with a surgical clamp and hollow needle. Finally, your choice of jewellery is added to finish off the procedure, this could be a stud, hoop, or ring.
Pain, Heal Time And Aftercare
It can be a painful procedure, but this will vary person to person – things like biology, anatomical variables, area of the lips, method, speed, and the quality of materials will all play into this. For the most part, you'll be pleased to know experts regard this as a fairly low-intensity procedure.
Lip piercings are located in a rather sensitive area which usually comes into contact with hands, so be extra cautious not to touch, bump or bite, this will only increase the risk of infection and slow the healing process. The healing time for a lip piercing is generally two to four months, but can take up to six months to fully heal in some cases.
To care for the piercing, you'll need a sterile saline solution. This simple mix of sea salt and distilled water can be used to rinse piercings and remove crust. While some people make their own concoction, it's advised to buy the solution as the quality of the sterilisation is key. We love the easy, peasy spray on solutions, like Stericlens' Sterile Saline Spray, £9.64.
How Much Do Lip Piercings Cost?
This will depend on the location of your piercing studio, but in London you can expect this procedure to cost around £45.