Vertical labret: features, photos, reviews and consequences

Piercing (English piercing - “puncture”) is the process of creating holes in various places on the body for wearing all kinds of jewelry. Modern people do it for the purpose of the need for self-expression, to attract attention, as a method of creating a unique image. The method of piercing the upper or lower lip - labret piercing - has gained popularity among young people.

What it is

This is a rather rare, but very original type of piercing, which is not particularly in demand among fans of body modifications due to an impressive list of potential complications and fairly high pain. An undeniable advantage of such a labret is the fact that the puncture site is almost completely devoid of large blood vessels. With this operation, the likelihood of severe bleeding and facial expression disorders is excluded.

Vertical lip labret is carried out from bottom to top, exactly in the center and perpendicularly. At the moment the puncture is performed, the needle is inserted into the base of the lower lip and passes through its entire thickness strictly at the upper point in the middle. True, in this case both ends of the decoration will be visible. No less popular is another method of piercing, in which the exit hole is placed inside the mouth - where the metal decor will not touch the teeth and damage them. In this case, only one tip of the decoration remains visible.

Types of lip piercings

The art of body holes came to European countries during the Middle Ages. For the first time, researchers encountered such an unusual approach to decorating themselves while studying African countries.

There are the following types of lip piercings:

• Monroe
  – perhaps one of the most beautiful and stylish lip piercing options. Performed on the right side of the face, similar to Marilyn's birthmark. This is a kind of imitation of the mole of a 50s diva. In rarer versions, it is done on both sides, while maintaining complete symmetry;

  
  Monroe lip piercing

  
  Monroe lip piercing

  
  Monroe puncture

• Madonna
  . This piercing is similar to the Monroe, but it is usually done on the other side. In some sources it is also called Crawford. In theory, it can also be performed on both sides of the mouth, but this is rarely resorted to;

  
  Madonna lip piercing

  
  Piercing Madonna

  
  Piercing Madonna

• Smile
  , aka puncture of the upper frenulum. A virtually painless procedure to perform. But that's where its advantages end. The main disadvantages of this piercing are the inconvenience of operation and mechanical damage to the teeth. Despite this, tissue is most often pierced at home in this place;

  
  Piercing smiley

  
  Puncture smiley

• When piercing jellyfish
  The center of the nasolabial cavity is pierced. For a classic style, special earrings with a flat clip are used. In the early 2000s, vertical and horizontal jellyfish became widespread. In them, the puncture is made in a straight line in the chosen direction and a barbell or banana earring is used as an earring;

  
  Filtrum jellyfish

  
  Lip piercing jellyfish

  
  Jellyfish puncture

• Lowbrett
  – piercing under the lip. It can be horizontal or vertical and belongs to the flat style. Unlike a regular labrette, the earring is located almost not on the chin;

  
  Lowbrett piercing

  
  High lip Lowbrett piercing

  Read also:  How to provide first aid to a child who has a broken lip from the inside?
• Ashley
  - a beautiful, but very painful and difficult to heal type of body art. It is done exactly in the middle of the lower lip. One of the rare types of piercings that can be performed on both the external and internal sides. Another feature is that after removing the jewelry, unsightly large scars remain;

  
  Ashley Piercing

  
  Ashley lip piercing

  
  Ashley's piercing

• Estrum
  characterized by a horizontal arrangement of the earring. Doing it is not only painful, but also dangerous. If the depth of the puncture is chosen incorrectly, the jewelry is rejected by the body, or, conversely, it takes too long to heal and is removed on its own;

  
  Estrum

• Labrette
  – piercing of the lower lip. For the safety of the oral cavity, it is done below the gum level, which minimizes damage to the teeth. It is recommended to use bananas as decoration, although rings, half rings and eyebrow spikes are also suitable.

  
  Classic labrette

  
  Medusa and lower labret

But the names of female types of lip piercings do not end there. Body art masters often create compositions from individual punctures, creating so-called bites. For example, spider, dog, cyber, snake and shark bites are made. Micro bananas, rings and half rings are used as decoration.

Bite in lip piercing

One of the most interesting body arts in the world is considered to be the dahlia bite - here the earrings are located in the corners of the mouth. Particular importance is attached to the shape of bananas. They can be spherical, spiky and others

Features of the vertical labret of the lower lip

Most often, girls prefer to do this type of piercing, since it looks inappropriate and very ridiculous on men’s lips. The main advantage of this piercing lies in the visual increase in lip volume. The shiny details of the decoration visually make them more magnificent, sensual, expressive, and plump.

It is very important to install the earring in such a way that its clasp does not touch the teeth or does so as rarely as possible. After all, due to friction with metal, tooth enamel gradually begins to deteriorate, as a result of which, instead of beautiful lips, the girl becomes the owner of caries.

A vertical labret is not suitable for those who wear braces to change their bite and straighten their teeth. The products will greatly interfere with each other and constantly cling, causing discomfort.

How to pierce your lip at home

The number of masters performing piercings (not ears, but other parts of the body) was not so large 10 years ago, so most people who wanted to stand out tried to pierce themselves. However, a home procedure without professional supervision is painful and unsafe. This is done with special tools like this:

1. Disinfect the instrument, jewelry and puncture area with medical alcohol.
2. Remove excess moisture from the puncture area with clean gauze.
3. Puncture the muscle tissue from the inside.
4. With new force, push the tool further so that the tip comes out.
5. Place the decoration along the tool mark into the hole created.

Lip piercing at home is easy to do, but keep in mind that you may hit the wrong spot, which will cause too long healing, scarring, and inflammation. Additionally, you should remember about the sterility of the instruments and their correct choice: no sewing needles - only a special medical catheter. The movements should be smooth, ideally the procedure should be carried out by a stranger - a mother, a friend.

Features of the procedure

This puncture is quite painful, and not everyone is ready to endure such sensations for the sake of beauty.

The procedure itself is not particularly difficult. But those who decide to decorate their lips with such a piercing should remember that any violation of the integrity of the skin requires compliance with strict sanitary standards. So you shouldn’t get down to business at home; it’s better to go to a specialized office or tattoo parlor with a good reputation. In this case, it is advisable to take into account reviews, the skill level of the master, the cost of the service in the establishment and the ability to choose an earring.

A competent specialist will tell you during a preliminary consultation about the features of the procedure, help you choose the appropriate jewelry material, clarify the absence of any contraindications, and only after that will set a date for the puncture.

How to do a lip piercing step by step

You can do lip piercing in two ways – with a gun or a needle. All masters recommend using a needle. This is due to the fact that when working with a gun, skin particles fall under the working plates, thereby contributing to blood poisoning during further procedures. Reviews claim that even a professional needle can be replaced by a simple pharmaceutical catheter. What you want to work with – decide for yourself.

Piercing smiley

How to pierce the frenulum of the upper lip or smiley:

1. When piercing the navel, ear, nose or other parts of the body, these manipulations are not necessary. But when piercing this area, the most important thing is to reduce salivation. To do this, before starting the procedure, large glands (they are located under the tongue and near the jaws) need to be covered with cotton wool. In dental offices, special tampons are used for this purpose - they can be bought at the pharmacy;
2. The future puncture site should be washed with hydrogen peroxide or Chlorhexidine. After this, the upper lip is pulled upward so that thin places can be reached;
3. This piercing is very easy to perform at home due to its painlessness. To pierce a smiley, you need to find a white area on the bridle and point the needle there. If the bridle is large enough, then you can experiment with the height of the earring. With a lower setting it will be noticeable during a conversation, with a higher setting it will be practically invisible;
4. Afterwards, the tampons are simply removed from the glands and the mouth is rinsed with Miramistin. There is no blood, so further use of cotton balls is not advisable.

To pierce any other area of ​​the lip or perioral space, you will need special clips. They are needed not only for fixation, but also to prevent a beautiful piercing from moving to the side, breaking the symmetry. You can buy these in any specialized stores.

Lip piercing process

If doing a real lip piercing is scary, then you can temporarily get a fake piercing. This is a deception or a fake “puncture”. Such artificial decor will decorate the image for a while and will be able to show the hidden “informal” side of the personality without external damage.

How does the process work?

How exactly is the puncture performed? The vertical labret is made in several stages:

1. Together with the master, you choose a piece of jewelry from the salon’s assortment or bring it with you.
2. The specialist will advise you regarding certain prohibitions and rules for caring for the puncture after the procedure.
3. The instruments and earring are placed in an autoclave for sterilization.
4. After all the necessary devices have been processed, the intended puncture site is lubricated with an antiseptic inside and outside.
5. Markings are made to maintain aesthetics and geometry.
6. Using surgical punches, the lip is slightly pinched and pulled back.
7. Using a sharp needle, the master makes a neat puncture, immediately after which he inserts the jewelry and secures it.
8. The puncture is disinfected.

Keep in mind that the process must use a sterile needle, the packaging of which will be opened in your presence. In addition, the technician must wear rubber gloves at all times.

The manipulation itself lasts less than a minute.

Puncture procedure

So, how to do a lip piercing? After selecting the jewelry, you need to mark the puncture. In the case of side lip piercings (Monroe and Madonna), the piercing can be done almost along the entire perimeter, the main thing is that you like the place. But the upper lip piercing and the lower lip piercing (Medusa and vertical labret) are performed strictly in the center.

First, the master disinfects the puncture site and makes a point, then holds the skin with a clamp and performs a through puncture, after which he carefully inserts the labret using a taper and screws the screw on. A lip piercing is done fairly quickly, so it is considered a not particularly painful piercing.

Contraindications

Vertical labret is a piercing that is a minimally invasive procedure. It has a number of limitations for use in people with certain pathologies and characteristics. The main prohibition applies to those who suffer from skin diseases and herpes on the lips. Such surgical interventions cannot be performed during exacerbations of colds, infectious and viral diseases.

In what cases is it prohibited to perform a vertical labret, as well as other punctures:

• Defects of blood vessels. Due to problems with blood, healing of the injury takes quite a long time and is often accompanied by various complications.
• Pregnancy period. The contraindication is not categorical, but such an intervention is undesirable for the body of a woman carrying a child.
• Weakened immunity. In this case, rejection of the earring is possible.
• Insulin-dependent form of diabetes mellitus.
• Stomatitis, caries, periodontal disease and other pathologies of the oral cavity.
• Malignant tumors in the body.
• Chronic defects that lead to deviations in the functioning of internal organs.
• Psychological disorders, epileptic seizures and traumatic brain injuries.

Objectively assess the state of your health and do not try to hide existing problems from the specialist. After all, the procedure, the duration of healing of the resulting wound, and the development of all kinds of complications, for example, inflammation or rejection of jewelry, largely depend on this.

Possible complications and contraindications

Labret (statistically, about 30% of cases, unlike Monroe piercing) provokes the development of complications of varying severity:

• metal parts of the decorative element in contact with teeth lead to abrasion, cracks, chips of the enamel, and often injure the oral mucosa if accidentally touched;
• for some diseases (diabetes mellitus, bleeding disorders), the healing process will be long, and keloid scars may appear;
• the oral cavity is populated by pathogenic microorganisms that cause the development of fungal and bacterial infections;
• Individual intolerance to nickel can provoke an allergic reaction to jewelry;
• unprofessional selection of the length of the rod is fraught with ingrowth of labrets;
• any invasive procedures with non-sterile instruments carry the risk of contracting hepatitis, HIV, and other infections;
• any puncture leaves a scar for the rest of your life.

To avoid complications, trust an experienced professional, follow the recommendations for care after the piercing procedure, and avoid accidental injuries. Remove metal jewelry in uncomfortable temperatures - when visiting a bathhouse, sauna, or being in the cold. Then, as a result, you will receive a lot of positive emotions from making your dreams come true.

The article has been verified by the editors

How to care for a piercing

If you become the owner of a vertical labret, you should remember that the wound requires special care. After all, the oral cavity is the place where numerous bacteria and food debris accumulate. So experts recommend paying special attention to mouth rinses using special antiseptic and regenerating compounds.

Don't forget about other care rules.

• To speed up the healing process, be sure to treat the mucous membrane with Stomatitis, Miramistin or other antiseptic medical solutions. This should be done in the mornings, evenings and after every meal.
• Jewelry can accumulate ichor, dirt, blood and grease. That is why during the first few weeks you should systematically clean the earring using a cotton swab generously soaked in Chlorhexidine.
• On the first day after the procedure, it is necessary to avoid contact with running water. Then, for a few more days, it is advisable to lubricate the wound with a rich cream or ointment, for example, “Rescuer,” to prevent contamination.
• It is strictly forbidden to paint the injured area of ​​skin or apply cosmetics to it.
• The area near the wound may remain swollen and red for the first few days - this is normal. To eliminate the swelling that appears, you can use compresses with Miramistin.

What is a labret piercing?

Translated from Latin, Labret means “lips.”
This word can mean any piercing made in the mouth area, but experts prefer to give this name to only one type of piercing, made in the middle under the lower lip. Association with the decoration used for this place - a labret (looks like a bar with balls on the edges). At the client's request, the master can leave only one ball visible or both. This type of piercing was popular in ancient times. The holes were made during religious ceremonies. It has become especially widespread among males. An earring in a hole testified to belonging to a certain social level or tribe, and it was also made to demonstrate to others one’s greatness, courage, and willpower.

The wound healing time is 1-2 months. At first, a person may experience serious problems with eating and speaking, as swelling is observed. It is recommended to adhere to a diet for several days - you should not eat spicy, hot, sour, cold, or hard foods, and alcohol should be completely avoided.

Lip piercing with a labret earring is done in such a place that the metal touches the teeth as little as possible and injures them. Despite this, there are still a number of risks. A fistula may occur through which saliva will leak.

The oral cavity contains a large number of bacteria, so there is a high risk of inflammation and suppuration. In the ears and bodies, unlike the mouth, the risk is much lower. It is important to ensure proper wound care at home throughout the healing period.

Choosing a decoration for a vertical labret in the lower lip

This type of piercing is good because you can use various decorative elements for it. The range of products is very wide. Different materials are used to produce jewelry, but it is best to give preference to an earring made of special medical alloys, precious metals (silver, gold) or bioplastic - a type of silicone that is very comfortable to wear in winter.

The labret itself is a kind of rod onto which a threaded ball is screwed. The length of the decorative element can vary from 5 to 20 mm, and the diameter of the rod can be 1-1.5 mm.

Manufacturing materials

It is recommended to use bioplastic products as the first decoration that will remain after the procedure until the wound has completely healed: this is the most non-allergenic material, similar to silicone. The shape is a tube with a ball at the end; the length of the rod should be slightly larger than the thickness of the puncture area, since this place will swell. The only drawback of bioplastic is the high price, but the reliability of the material makes up for it. Afterwards, you can use almost any jewelry, except those made of medical steel (contain nickel). Desirable:

• Gold - purity from 585 and higher, if there is no allergy.
• Silver.
• Hypoallergenic plastic (if it reacts to any precious metals).
• Niobium.
• Surgical titanium.
• Zircon.
• Teflon.

Consequences

According to statistics, in approximately 30% of cases such piercing leads to the development of various complications.

The most common consequence is infection and inflammation. If an infection has entered a fresh wound, then the client should increase the number of antiseptic treatments and systematically apply compresses. If severe swelling or suppuration occurs, you should consult a doctor.

The main cause of inflammation is often improper care and unsuitable material of the product. A person may encounter similar problems due to an earring that is too small or heavy.

Piercing contraindications

Studies carried out already in the 21st century showed that 30% of people who had piercings, especially on the face, experienced complications, some of which (about 1% of all cases) required hospitalization. For this reason, doctors advise paying close attention to medical contraindications so that the craving for beauty does not become fatal. It is not advisable to resort to this procedure:

1. During activation of herpes.
2. Diabetics.
3. If you have skin diseases.
4. Persons with poor blood clotting.
5. When the body is fighting a cold or any viral/bacterial infection.
6. Pregnant women (relative contraindication, should be discussed with your doctor).
7. For congenital blood diseases.