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How much does a lip piercing hurt?

    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.