Upper Lip
Lips are quite a common piercing, mostly because they are easy to have done and heal very quickly. They nearly always require a downsize once healed as the initial jewellery needs extra length to allow for a swelling.
Upper lips can be done centred (philtrum) or on the sides (monroe) and are generally trickier to line up, but heal just as fast as lower lips. Monroe piercings can even be done in pairs for a unique look.
Pain level: Low
Healing: 6-12 Weeks
Initial Jewellery: Straight barbell
Downsize Jewellery: 6-8 weeks
Lower Lip
Lips are quite a common piercing, mostly because they are easy to have done and heal very quickly. They nearly always require a downsize once healed as the initial jewellery needs extra length to allow for a swelling.
They are often done in pairs, either symmetrically or asymmetrically to give a unique look! Although rings can be worn in them, a straight bar is much better for healing. Care has to be taken during the healing to avoid aggravation.
-mediumvel: Low
Healing: 6-12 Weeks
Initial Jewellery: Straight barbell
Downsize Jewellery: 6-8 weeks
Time before a ring: 3-4 months
Large Lips
Lip piercings are often stretched and can also be pierced larger initially. Swelling does increase with the size of the piercing and properly fit jewellery is crucial to a comfortable healing period.
Custom jewellery is normally required for larger sizes to minimise gum erosion. Large gauge lip jewellery is easy to change frequently to match your style or outfit.
Pain level: Medium
Healing: 12-18 Weeks
Initial Jewellery: Teflon or glass T-back
Downsize Jewellery: 10-12 weeks
Time before stretching: 2-3 months
Tongue
Tongue piercings are a very easy piercing to get and heal quite fast due to the vascular nature of the tongue, however that is also why talking and eating can be a little cumbersome at first because of swelling. They can be done either centrally or in multiples either through the center or sides.
An intermittent downsize is suggested after 2-3 weeks once the swelling has subsided, and then a final downsize after 6-8 weeks is important so you don’t bite the jewellery.
Stock up on soft foods for the first couple weeks and try to keep talking to a minimum.it doesn’t have to be painful.
Pain level: Low
Healing: 6-12 Weeks
Initial Jewellery: Straight barbell
Downsize Jewellery: 2-3 weeks and again 6-8 weeks
Vertical and surface
Vertical lip piercings are a fun alternative to a standard lip piercing which won’t rub on your teeth or gums. You need to be careful not to play with them during healing or they can get cranky and sometimes migrate.
They will require a downsize during healing as a longer bar is required initially for swelling. Usually a flat top (plain disc or stone) is used for the healing, however balls can be worn on top once healed.
Pain level: Medium
Healing: 6-8 weeks
Initial Jewellery: Curved barbells with flat top
Webbing
Webbing piercings are a very general term for a number of piercings, including the tongue web (the skin under the tongue) as well as the smiley (the webbing inside the top lip).
They offer a quick and relatively painless piercing which normally heals very fast. They can be prone to scar tissue if aggravated or played with during healing and are very anatomical, meaning some people do not have the supportive tissue to allow it to stay long term. Come in for a consult if you are thinking about getting one of these done.
Although migration and rejection is a realistic expectation of any webbing piercing, if placed correctly on the right anatomy, the risk can be minimized.
Pain level: Very Low
Healing: 6-12 Weeks
Initial Jewellery: Ring for Smiley, Barbell for tongue web
Downsize Jewellery: 4-6 weeks
Cheeks
Cheek piercings can be very difficult to heal as they pass through very mobile tissue in your face. They are usually done at a higher gauge (thicker posts) to promote faster healing and increased comfort.
Healing can take up to a couple years due to the thickness of the tissue and hypertropic scar tissue/fluid build-ups/problematic healing are common during the first year.
Dermal Anchor piercings can be done in the same location and are MUCH faster to heal and leave less scar tissue if removed, however not considered as permanent.
Pain level: Medium
Healing: 6-24 Months
Initial Jewellery: Labret-style barbells (8g+)
