Vertical Lip Piercings

• Jewelry Options: Initial jewelry for vertical lip piercings is usually a 14 or 16 gauge curved barbell. This allows for the natural curvature of the lip.
• Healing Time: The initial healing period for a vertical lip piercing is typically 2 to 4 months.
• Procedure: Vertical lip piercings are placed vertically through the center of the lower lip, without entering the mouth. This placement avoids contact with teeth and gums, reducing the risk of oral damage.

Proper aftercare is essential for a smooth healing process and to prevent complications. Here are some key tips:

• Clean Regularly: Gently clean the piercing once a day with a saline solution or a piercing aftercare product recommended by your piercer.
• Avoid Irritants: Keep the area free from makeup, hair products, and other potential irritants. Avoid touching the piercing with dirty hands.
• Be Mindful: Avoid touching or playing with the jewelry to reduce the risk of infection and irritation.
• For detailed aftercare instructions, please click HERE.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Common Concerns:
  • Swelling: The swelling of all lip piercings is often rapid and significant—often immediately after the piercing. Ice and ibuprofen are good solutions for immediate swelling relief.
  • Eating: A vertical lip piercing can definitely make eating more delicate for the first few days, but it won’t force you to change too much of your diet during healing. Simply eat what is easiest.
  • Kissing and Oral Sex: Ideally, you should wait until you are healed to do anything involving fluids. You have an open wound in your mouth, so anything in your partner’s saliva or body fluids can more easily be passed to you, and your partner can also be exposed to your blood. Any oral sex during healing should be fluid-safe.
  • Hiding the Piercing: Unfortunately, there is no way to hide this piercing during healing. Afterward, there are several options, including clear quartz glass retainers and flat, matte finish titanium post ends anodized the color of different skin tones.
• How Soon Can I Change My Jewelry?:
  • The initial jewelry should be left in for at least 6 months to ensure proper healing. However, downsizing may be possible at around 6 weeks, depending on how well the piercing is healing. Always consult with your piercer before making any changes to your jewelry to avoid complications.
• Does it hurt?:
  • A little, but it’s about the same as other piercings. Oral tissue is very soft and easy to go through (compared to, say, navels or ear cartilage) so many say their lip and/or labret piercings were some of their easiest to sit through.​
• Will it scar if/when I take it out?:
  • This depends on how your body scars. Faces don’t tend to scar too severely, so on most people an abandoned piercing hole doesn’t look any worse than an old chicken pox or pimple scar—or an ear piercing with the jewelry removed. But again, this depends on your body.
• Can I damage my teeth?:
  • With vertical lip piercings, the jewelry doesn't enter the mouth, so the risk of tooth damage is significantly lower compared to traditional lip piercings. However, be mindful of not biting down on the jewelry.