Lip Piercing is of many types and trends keep changing with time. Before you get the right jewelry for your lip piercing, you need to understand the lip piercing styles and the jewelry you will be wearing. Here is an overview of the lip piercing types.
Types of Lip Piercing
Lip piercing is the perfect way to adore the lips; however, there are types of lip piercing that makes it difficult to choose, which is the right one for you. In order to make it simple, we have divided the lip piercing into three categories.
Single lip Piercing
There are different types of single lip piercing in order to make your lips more beautiful and attractive. Below mentioned are some of the types of single lip piercing.
1. Labret piercing
Labret piercing is one of the most common types of single lip piercing. In this type of lip piercing, there is a single piercing behind the bottom lip. Labret studs are usually placed at the center of the lower lip, but it is not connected to the lip itself. This piercing has got its name from the jewelry that is commonly used in such type of perforation – labret.
Healing Time – Standard healing time of the labret piercing is 3 to 6 weeks, and it also depends on the care.
Cost of Piercing – The cost of labret piercing begins from $50, and it also depends on the jewelry selection and the location of the shop.
Tips for Aftercare Piercing
- Maintain good practices of oral hygiene
- Don’t touch foreign objects like a finger, or scarves on your piercing
- Be careful while eating
- Be careful about what you apply on your face
2. Side labret piercing
Side labret piercing is an off-centered piercing of the bottom or upper lip. This type of piercing is done using 14G or 16G needles.
Healing Time – The healing time for side labret piercing is 1 to 3 months.
Cost of Piercing – The cost of side labret piercing is also $50, and it further varies according to the location of the shop and jewelry selection.
Tips for Aftercare Piercing – It is essential for you to remember that inside labret piercing, good oral hygiene is a must. Improper oral hygiene can result in infection.
- Avoid touching foreign objects
- Be careful while applying creams and lotions because if they get stuck in the piercing, it can cause infection
3. Vertical labret piercing
It is almost similar to the labret piercing, but there are certain differences. It is a vertical version of the conventional labret piercing. In this type of piercing, both ends of the jewelry are visible. This piercing is done vertically, and in this piercing, one end comes out from the center of the lip, and the other comes out from the standard labret piercing area.
Healing Time – It takes 8 to 10 weeks for the vertical labret piercing to heal.
Cost of Vertical Labret Piercing – The cost of vertical labret piercing varies between $30 to $100 depending on the jewelry choice.
Tips for Aftercare Piercing – It takes 8 to 10 weeks in the healing of the vertical labret piercing. Below mentioned are some of the aftercare piercing tips.
- Choose your food carefully. Although this piercing is not inside the mouth, spicy food can cause discomfort.
- Avoid kissing after vertical labret piercing
- Wear large jewelry during the process of healing
- Don’t use makeup around the piercing while healing
- Avoid contact with foreign substances except for aftercare products or saline solution
4. Monroe piercing
In Monroe piercing, usually, a single 16G is fitted on the right side or left side of the upper lip. The piercing is named after the beauty mark of late Marilyn Monroe.
Healing Time – Healing time for Monroe piercing is 6 weeks to 3 months.
Cost of Monroe Piercing – The cost of Monroe piercing varies between $50 – $80. Rather than finding cheaper alternatives, choose an experienced piercer.
Tips for Aftercare Piercing
- Avoid kissing
- Avoid cigarettes and alcohol
- Do not touch your piercing with a dirty hand
- Brush your teeth on a regular basis
5. Madonna piercing
It is similar to the Monroe piercing and is done on the left side. It is named after the beauty mark of the famous singer Madonna. The preferred jewelry for madonna piercing is horseshoe barbells, pushpin posts, or 16G labret studs. The aftercare tips for madonna piercing are similar to that of Monroe piercing.
Healing Time – The healing time of the madonna piercing can vary between 6 to 12 weeks.
6. Medusa piercing
Medusa piercing is a horizontal piercing and is also known as philtrum piercing. Medusa piercing is centered above the upper lip. The preferred jewelry options are threadless labret post or flat black barbell.
Healing Time – The healing time for medusa piercing is 6 to 12 weeks.
Cost of Medusa Piercing – The price of medusa piercing varies between $40 and $80. The piercing is needed to be located centrally, as it is located near many nerves. Choose your piercer wisely while getting medusa piercing.
Tips for Aftercare Piercing
- Avoid often touching your jewelry
- Try to keep the piercing dry
- Clean the piercing regularly using saline solution
7. Ashley piercing
It is one of the rare lip piercing that actually pierces the lip. In this piercing, the exit hole is kept inside the mouth, and the entrance part is kept outside the bottom lip. Jewelry options for Ashley piercing are 18G to 16G bent barbells or CBRs.
Healing Time – The healing time for Ashley piercing is 8 to 10 weeks.
Cost of Ashley Piercing – The cost of Ashley piercing ranges between $30 to $85.
Tips for Aftercare Piercing
Due to the unique position of the Ashley piercing, you need to be extra careful with aftercare.
- Don’t’ wear too tight jewelry in the piercing
- Don’t even accidentally bite your jewelry
- Don’t play with the jewelry
- Avoid using lipstick or any other makeup products on the lips
- Take care of the oral hygiene
8. Jestrum piercing
It is a vertical medusa piercing. In this type, the piercing enters above the center of the top lip and exits from the center of the upper lip making both sides of the piercing visible. Preferred jewelry options for Jestrum piercing are 14G to 18 G curved barbells or CBRS.
Healing Time – The estimated healing time of Jestrum piercing is 8 to 10 weeks.
Cost of Jestrum Piercing – The expected cost of Jestrum piercing is $30 – $60.
Tips for Aftercare Piercing
- Clean the infected area using saline solution 2-3 times a day
- Maintain good oral hygiene
- Choose your jewelry carefully
Bite piercings (Double lip piercings)
1. Snake bite piercing
Snake bite piercing includes two piercings, one on each side of the bottom lip. It is called snake bite piercing as the piercings are placed in a way that they mimic the place where the snake fangs would be, or how a snake bite would look like.
Healing Time – The estimated healing time is 1 to 3 months.
Cost of Snake bites Piercing – It is more expensive than other piercings. The cost ranges between $80 – $120.`
Tips for Aftercare Piercing
- Don’t play with the jewelry
- Wear right-sized jewelry
- Eat soft foods and specifically during the healing process
2. Angel bites piercing
It is similar to the snake bite piercing, the only difference is that it is placed on each side of the upper lip. The most common jewelry choice for angel bite piercing is 18G to 14G lip studs having simple gemstone or bead. The aftercare tips for this type of piercing is similar to that of snake bite piercing.
Healing Time – The average healing time for angel bite piercing is 4 to 12 weeks.
3. Dahlia piercing
It is done in pairs and is located at the corners of the mouth. The preferred jewelry choices for dahlia piercing are labret studs.
Healing Time – The healing time is 3 to 10 weeks, and it depends on the care.
Cost of Piercing – The dahlia piercing costs around $70 and the amount varied depending on the location.
Tips for Aftercare Piercing
- Be careful while chewing food
- Manage good oral hygiene
- Use a saline solution to rinse the mouth 2-3 times every day
4. Dolphin bites piercing
Dolphin bites piercing are centered on the lower lip, and these are similar to snake bite piercing. The preferred jewelry choices for dolphin bites piercing are 14G or 18G jewelry.
Healing Time – The healing time for dolphin bites piercing is 1 to 3 months.
Study shows that lower lip piercing is associated with higher plaque accumulation on adjacent teeth.
Cost of Piercing – The expected cost for dolphin bite piercing is $50 to $100. Choose an experienced piercer to get this type of piercing.
Tips for Aftercare Piercing
Below mentioned are some of the tips for aftercare piercing.
- Don’t move the jewelry
- Always clean the backside of the piercing
- Clean the pierced appropriately
- Take care of the oral hygiene
5. Cheek piercings
This is a type of facial piercings and is usually performed in a pair. The piercing is done to imitate the look of dimples or to make the already existing dimples more noticeable. The jewelry choice for this piercing is labret studs.
Healing Time – Cheek piercing can heal in around 8 to 12 weeks with proper care.
Cost of Cheek Piercing – The cost of cheek piercing varies between $30 – $100, as it is double piercing.
Tips for Aftercare Piercing
- Keep harmful chemicals away from your piercing in order to avoid infection
- Avoid playing with your jewelry
- Clean the inside and outside part of the piercing
- Manage good oral hygiene
6. Spider bites piercing
It is also known as viper bite piercing. In this type, both the piercings are placed on either the left or right side of the mouth, and not in the center. Labret studs are the best jewelry choice for the piercing. You can also opt for small CBRs or seamless hoops.
Healing Time – The time required for healing of spider bite piercing varies between 4 weeks to 3 months, depending on the care.
Cost of Spider Bites Piercing – The expected cost for spider bite piercing is $40 – $80.
Aftercare Tips
- Consume soft foods
- Cleanse your mouth using sea salt rinse
- Use milder toothpaste
- Do not get piercing on the side you sleep
7. Cyber bites piercing
It is a combination of Labret and Medusa piercing. In this one, piercing is placed above the upper lip, and the other is placed below the lower lip. Labret studs between 14G to 18G containing germs, or spikes are the best jewelry choice.
Healing Time – The healing time for cyber bites piercing is 6 weeks to 3 months.
Cost of Spider Bite Piercing – The expected price for this type of piercing is $50 – $80.
Aftercare Tips
- Choose your jewelry carefully
- Don’t twist your jewelry
- Clean the backside of your jewelry by gargling with sea salt solution
- Use mild toothpaste
Quadruple piercings
1. Shark bite piercing
It can be defined as a pair of cyber bite piercing that is placed on both sides of the mouth. In total, these are four piercings along the bottom lip. Two piercing are placed on the right side and the other two on the left side. You can opt for captive bead rings as a jewelry choice.
Healing Time – The healing period for shark bite piercing is more as more number of piercings are done at one time. The expected healing time is 8 to 12 weeks.
Cost of Shark Bite Piercing – The cost can vary between $80 to $5o as there is more number of piercings.
Aftercare Tips
- Eat soft foods for some time after getting the piercing
- Consume healthy foods to keep yourself healthy
- Avoid contact with foreign substances
- Avoid kissing for some days
- Use seal salt soak on the piercing 2-3 times a day
2. Canine bite piercing
It includes four piercings, with each piercing placed on both sides of the upper and lower lip. It is a combination of snakebite and angel bite piercings. The preferred jewelry choices for this piercing are captive bead rings or simple labret studs. Aftercare tips for canine bite piercing are similar to that of shark bite piercing.
Healing Time – Canine bite piercing takes 8 to 12 weeks to heal.
Cost of Canine Bite Piercing – The cost varies between $80 to $150
Select the type of Piercing and Jewelry as It Suit You
Your choice of lip ring jewelry is the main deciding factor for whether you get a puffy, pearly, or a set style. You also need to look at the material used in the lip ring jewelry to find out if it will hold up. This will help you find the best bangles, eye rings, and ring necklaces.
Some people prefer to have skin piercings as opposed to lips. But, if you have pierced lips and would like to use the same piercing for other areas, then go ahead. But, it’s not recommended to wear a pair of earrings while you have a piercing in another area of your body.
As with any piercing, you should get to know what jewelry will work for your piercing and your lifestyle. This will help you find the perfect piece of jewelry for you. You may find that it’s best to have two piercings and wear different types of jewelry in between them. Always choose the lip ring jewelry that will fit your body the best.
Pearly, set, and rotator piercings can all be worn at the same time, so be sure to take the time to consider this before you decide. These are some of the most common lip piercing types, but there are also others such as tragus, angular, linear, and analtern.
Ways to reduce Swelling of Lip piercing
Lip piercing needs extra care as there are high chances of infection if the piercing is not taken care of properly, bacteria in and around the mouth may increase the risk of infection to a much larger scale.
At times it is peculiar just after lip piercing as your jeweler can hit your teeth and gums directly, therefore to settle it or to make it habitual,you may need some time. Try to keep your mouth clean and dry so it is preferable to avoid crispy food mostly.
In lip piercing, swelling and bleeding is quite normal and here are some new and effective ways of reducing lip swelling:
- COLD COMPRESS AND ICE CUBES: The best and easy way to reduce swelling is applying cold compress using ice cubes. Put some ice cubes in cotton cloth or a paper towel and place it on the affected area. Do it till your swelling gets down and repeat it after every 10 to 15 minutes. Never use ice cubes on affected area directly as it can damage the lips tissue.
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- TURMERIC POWDER: Turmeric is highly known for its healing property. You can use turmeric powder to get rid of swollen lips. For this, you will need turmeric, cold water, and some fuller’s earth. Mix all of them well and make ointment, apply it on affected area and let it dry then wash it carefully with warm water. Repeat this twice a day for quicker and better results.
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- ALOE VERA GEL: If your pierced area is highly infected, then aloe Vera gel is best to opt. Aloe Vera is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. To use aloe Vera gel you can either buy ready-made gel or you can extract some juice from fresh aloe Vera and massage it gently on the affected area for two to three times a day.
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See more: Lip piercing aftercare… relief from every discomfort
- TEA TREE OIL AND ALOE VERA: Instead of directly using tea tree oil, you can mix tea tree oil and aloe Vera gel in 2:1 proportion and apply it on affected area, washing it off with cold water after it gets dry. You can use this mixture numbers of times in a day if your swelling does not reduce.
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- BAKING SODA: Baking soda is also a good option to reduce swelling. To use it, take about one tablespoon of baking soda and mix it with water till it turns out in the thick paste. Now apply it on affected area and let it stay until it dries then wash it with cold water. Use it till swelling subsides.
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- HONEY: Honey has antibacterial properties which lead to getting rid of swollen lips. It will keep your lips moisturize, prevent infection and reduce inflammation, swelling and pain. Dip a cotton ball in honey and apply it on affected area, leave it for about 20 minutes and rinse it with cold water. Repeat it 2 to 3 times a day.
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- BLACK TEA BAG: Black tea contains astringent quality and a compound known as tannins which can reduce swelling particularly in the soft tissues of the lips. For applying it, soak a black tea bag in warm water for about 10 minutes, remove the bag from water and let the water cool down. Gently rub it on lips for 10 minutes. Repeat it several times in a day for better results.
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- SALT: Salt contains natural disinfectant property which helps to kill germs that may cause infection in a cut. Add a tablespoon of salt in warm water and apply it on affected area with the help of a cotton ball. Initially, there will be a burning sensation, but this is very useful in lowering down the swelling. You can do this once or twice a day.
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- WARM COMPRESS: Similarly to cold compression, hot compression is another effective way to treat a swollen lip. It will improve the blood circulation in the lips and reduce the accumulation of blood in the swollen area, which will help in reducing swelling and inflammation. If you have heating pad, you can use that otherwise soak a clean cloth in warm water and wire out the excess water. Apply it over your lips for 10 minutes. Repeat it after every hour.
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See more: Eyebrow piercing
- WITCH HAZEL: Witch hazel can do wonders to reduce swelling. It can soothe the pain and clean the cut. Mix one tablespoon of witch hazel with one-half teaspoon of salt. Now take a cotton ball and apply it on affected areas and leave it for about 30 minutes then wash it off with cold water. Repeat it frequently to get the best results.
Source: http://bit.ly/1TBo86A
Aftercare Lip Piercing Tips
- Avoid eating, smoking and drinking within the first three hours of the piercing.
- Avert alcohol, tobacco, and drugs just before and after piercing and till the wound is completely healed.
- Wash your hands every time before touching your piercing.
- Use a new and soft-bristled toothbrush and keep it clean.
- Brush twice or thrice a day and try to keep your mouth clean and dry.
- Don’t share your cups, plates and other eating utensils.
- Always keep your mouth sanitized.
Related : Lip Piercing Care
Tips to Clean the Infected Lips
1) Wash your hands before cleaning your affected area. It will reduce the chances of re-infection.
2) Use an antibacterial mouthwash that is alcohol-free, clean the area around the piercing at least twice a day.
3) On the outside part of your mouth, you can use antibacterial soap or warm water to clean that part.
4) Keep your lip jewelry clean all the time it will reduce the healing time.
In the conclusion, we would like you to try these basic and effective tips to take care of your piercing. These tips should be followed by everyone who got pierced to reduce chances of infection. So take care of yourself and stay safe. Happy piercing!
