We can use Fun, edgy and glamorous to describe lip piercing trends. But then, if you do not have this type of piercing, it might be a terrifying thought to walk into a piercing shop and get your lip pierced. Hence the question; how much does a lip piercing hurt?
Most lip piercings have low levels of pain. They are similar to a lobe piercing as the tissue on the lip area is quite fleshy. The fleshiness of the lip makes it easy to pierce, although it is highly dependent on the piercer. Furthermore, the skin around the lips is not less sensitive, thus reducing any pain.
Yet, note that you might experience some levels of discomfort after a lip piercing. The area around the piercing swells up a bit; so, you should adjust to eating and talking for the first few days. With the swelling, you will not experience too much pain, but rather, you’ll have some throbbing and other discomforts.
Medusa, Madonna, Side labret, and labret are among the least painful piercings. Lip piercings, like Ashley piercing, are more painful because the lip is more sensitive than the surrounding area. However, you should find the entire process to be pain-free.
Basically, concerning piercing pain, everyone’s body is different. Whether it is a lip piercing, nipple piercing, eyebrow piercing, or navel piercing, the pain varies depending on the person. And also, lip Piercing shops and piercers differ from place to place. Thus, piercing experiences cannot be the same for everyone.
Below is a list containing the types of lip piercings, their positioning, pain level, and healing duration. Hopefully, with this data, you can pick a lip piercing of your choice!
Name | Description | Level of Pain | Healing duration |
Monroe | Pierced above the upper lip on the left side of your face. | 3/10 | 6-12 weeks |
Madonna | Pierced above the upper lip on the right side of your face. | 3/10 | 8-12 weeks |
Medusa/ Philtrum | Single piercing above the lip. The lip ring sits below the septum of your nose. | 4/10 | 3-6 weeks |
Labret | It can be any piercing above your chin, at the center of the lower lip. | 5/10 | 6-8 weeks |
Vertical Labret
|
Two piercings both punctured below and the top part of the lower lip. | 6/10 | 8-12 weeks |
Ashley Piercing | The piercing resembles the Horizontal. It is punctured at the center of your bottom lip. | 6/10 | 10-14 weeks |
Jestrum | Single puncture at the center of the upper lip. | 5/10 | 3-6 weeks |
Dahlia | Double piercing, similar to vertical labret but on the upper lip. | 7/10 | 12-20 weeks |
Snake Bites | Double punctures on both sides of the lower lip. | 5/10 | 6-8 weeks |
Spider Bites | Double piercing on both sides of the bottom lip. Resembles the dolphin bites. | 4/10 | 4-12 weeks |
Cyber bites | Two types of piercing-medusa and labret piercings. | 5/10 | 6-12 weeks |
Angel bites | Double lip piercing on both sides of your upper lip | 7/10 | 3 months |
Side Effects and precautionary measures
Always choose a practitioner who makes use of sterile, new disposable needles and gloves. Additionally, check their licensing and regulatory requirements.
You might face the following side effects with a lip piercing:
Scarring
Piercings not consistently filled with jewelry or the ones rejected may build up thick tissue and scar.
Rejection
Rejection occurs when your body detects the piercing as a foreign object by trying to push it out of the skin. Eventually, the body breaks the skin open to eliminate the piercing, leaving scarring behind. The process increases the risk of infection in the area.
Infection
Compared to other types of piercing, mouth and lip piercings have the highest risks of infections. This is because of the oral bacteria in the mouth, which can easily access the pierced after you drink, eat or touch your mouth.
Tooth or gum damage
Tooth damage occurs when there is friction between the jewelry and your gums or the enamel of your teeth. Visit your piercer immediately you start to notice such.
Nerve disruption
There exists a connection between facial piercings and nerves disruption in your face. Nerve disruption makes you have back pains together with the misalignment of your eyes.
Swelling
Typical signs of a lip piercing on the first few days include pain and swelling. If they persist for weeks, you should seek medical attention. It would be best to look out for other symptoms like abnormal discharge, intense pain, and bleeding.
Piercings to avoid if you’re concerned about pain
If pain is a piercing factor for you, then you should avoid all ear cartilage piercings. Even though these piercings are classy and super cute, the delicate nature of cartilage makes the piercing quite painful.
You will also hear strange noises when piercing your cartilage because of the proximity to the ear canal. For instance, people with Daith piercings have reported hearing a disconcerting crunch sound as the needle pushes through the thick flap of cartilage located above the ear canal. Such can be uncomfortable to some.
Conclusion
In summary, lip piercing is a distinct and common type of piercing. In other words, it can be a fun additional piercing to other piercings you have, or a somewhat subtle piercing to enjoy all on its own.
Finally, always ensure that you follow aftercare guidelines carefully because lip piercings are highly susceptible to bacteria introduced through the mouth.
Fast Facts
PLACEMENT: Most lip piercings are punctured on the side of the upper lip, centered on the indent beneath the nostrils and under the bottom lip.
Pricing: $30-$40 excluding the jewelry cost
PAIN LEVEL: 4/10
HEALING TIME: 3-6 months
AFTERCARE: Exercise good mouth hygiene by brushing your teeth twice daily. Rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash 3-5 times a day, and avoid alcohol and tobacco consumption.