Skip to content
Home > When can I change my lip piercing? 

When can I change my lip piercing? 

    When can I change my lip piercing? 

    Oral piercings, especially lip piercing, are not a new thing. This part of body piercing has existed since the Mayans. Today, many people pierce their lips as a way of expressing an edginess that reflects their personalities. And while you might be loving your new look, you will need to change your lip piercing a few weeks after getting it. Ideally, visit your piercer to be refitted with a new and shorter stud once the swelling has subsided.

    But, once your piercing is fully healed, you can replace your first lip stud with any jewelry that will not harm your oral health. The healing process can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 13weeks, depending on the type of lip piercing you choose and how you care for it.

    Can I change my lip piercing after Two weeks? 

    You may be asking yourself, can I change my lip piercing after two weeks? Yes, you will need to change it after 2-4 weeks because the initial studs used are larger to accommodate any swelling after the process. But, as soon as the lip swelling ends,  replace the stud with a shorter one.

    The piercer should use threaded jewelry so that they or you can use the threaded end of the pin to switch the two pieces without losing connection.

    Can I change my lip piercing for the first time after having it?

    Although changing your piercings for the first time can be an easy task, be sure the hole is healed before changing your jewelry to a smaller one that will not hurt your teeth.

    Items needed:

    • Mirror
    • Bright light
    • Anti-bacterial soap
    • Unused paper towel
    • Cotton swab
    • Bottle of sterile saline solution
    • Antiseptic Mouth wash

    Here is how you change your piercing with ease for the first time:

    1. Wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap and rinse off with plenty of water to prevent any infection when changing the piercing. Use paper towels to dry your hands.
    2. Position yourself in front of a mirror in a well-lit area where you have a clear sight of the lip piercing.
    3. Soak a piece of cotton with the sterile saline solution. Gently pull the stud from your lip with one hand and rub the cotton around its stem. It will loosen the stud from the skin and remove any debris.
    4. Reach inside your mouth with your other hand and grasp the back part of the lip stud using two fingers. If you find any difficulties performing this step, buy a pair of forceps designed to hold piercings and repeat the procedure again
    5. While holding the back part of the lip stud, grasp the front side of the lip piercing (outside your mouth) and turn it ant-clockwise until it unscrews from the stem. Pull the stem out from inside your mouth using your other hand and place the two pieces separately.
    6. Pour more saline solution into the cotton and clean the hole outside your lip to disinfect it. Rinse your mouth with antiseptic to clean the inner part of the hole.
    7. Insert a new lip stud in your mouth using one hand. Use the other hand to tighten the back part of the stem in a clockwise motion. If you chose a lip ring instead, guide its stem from outside your mouth through the hole. Then adjust the rare end of the lip ring inside your mouth.
    8. Clean the old stud with antibacterial soap and clean water. Then dry it using a paper towel and store it somewhere safe, preferably in a small zip-lock bag (plastic).

    Conclusion

    Many people having their lips pierced for first-time report/experience problems such as scars, red lip bumps, excessive swelling, and minor infections. Luckily, most of these issues are avoided with careful lip piercing aftercare.

    Like any other oral piercing, healed lip piercings can shrink minutes or days after being a hole for many years. It varies from individual to individual. If you want to maintain your piercing, always keep a piece of jewelry in and do not leave it empty.

    Bonus tips

    • Wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap before touching lip piercing. That will keep it free from infections caused by germs transferred from your hands to the piercing.
    • If you cannot change your first stud, seek help from a piercing specialist who can perform the procedure.
    • Always sterilize the new lip jewelry before inserting it. You could wash them with antibacterial soap and water or with any other recommended jewelry sterilizer.
    • Keep an eye on your piercing for any signs of infection. Common infections include white discharge, redness, or extreme pain. If you notice any of the mentioned signs, contact your piercer for further help. Do not take the lip piercing off in case infection occurs unless advised to do so by an expert piercer.