Most lip piercings don’t actually go through the lip. They sit around it, in the soft tissue above, below, or beside the lip line, which is exactly why they heal in weeks rather than months. The catch isn’t the healing, it’s the long game, because every piece of jewelry inside your mouth spends years resting against teeth and gum. This overview maps every placement, lines them up side by side, and links to the full guide for each, so you know what you’re booking and what it could cost your enamel.
⚡ Quick answer
Most lip piercings don’t go through the lip — they sit around it in the soft tissue above, below, or beside the lip line, which is why they heal in weeks rather than months.
Every Lip Piercing Type at a Glance
The full set sits in one table below. Pain numbers are averages pulled from reported experience rather than a promise, since your tolerance, your anatomy, and how fast your piercer moves all shift the figure. Healing times assume you keep up the oral aftercare, which for lip piercings means rinsing far more often than you’d expect.
| Placement | Location | Pain (1–10) | Healing Time | Typical Starting Jewelry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labret | Center, below the bottom lip | 3–4 | 6–8 weeks initial; 3–6 months full | 16g–14g (1.2–1.6mm) flat back labret |
| Vertical Labret | Up through the bottom lip, both ends visible | 4–6 | 6–8 weeks initial; 3–6 months full | 16g–14g (1.2–1.6mm) curved barbell |
| Medusa (Philtrum) | Center of the dip above the top lip | 4–5 | 8–12 weeks initial; up to 6 months full | 16g–14g (1.2–1.6mm) flat back labret |
| Monroe | Off-center above the top lip (usually left) | 4–5 | 8–12 weeks | 16g–14g (1.2–1.6mm) flat back labret |
| Madonna | Off-center above the top lip (right side) | 4–5 | 8–12 weeks | 16g–14g (1.2–1.6mm) flat back labret |
| Snake Bites | Two, symmetrical below the bottom lip | 3–4 each | 6–8 weeks initial; 3–6 months full | 16g–14g (1.2–1.6mm) flat back labrets (pair) |
| Spider Bites | Two, close together on one side of the lower lip | 3–4 each | 6–8 weeks | 16g–14g (1.2–1.6mm) flat back labrets (pair) |
| Angel Bites | Two, symmetrical above the top lip | 4–5 each | 8–12 weeks | 16g–14g (1.2–1.6mm) flat back labrets (pair) |
| Dahlia | Two, at the outer corners of the mouth | 4–5 each | 8–12 weeks | 16g–14g (1.2–1.6mm) flat back labrets (pair) |
| Ashley | Single, through the center of the bottom lip into the mouth | 5–6 | 8–12 weeks initial; 3–6+ months full | 16g–14g (1.2–1.6mm) flat back labret |
Labret Piercing
The labret is the original lip piercing and still the most popular, a single point dead center below the bottom lip, with a flat disc resting inside the mouth and a stud showing on the outside. It rates 3–4 out of 10 because the tissue there is soft and quick to pass through, and the surface settles fast at around 6–8 weeks, but full healing takes 3–6 months, so don’t change or downsize jewelry on your own until a piercer confirms it’s healed. Starting jewelry is a 16g or 14g (1.2–1.6mm) flat back labret in implant-grade titanium, fitted long to allow for the swelling that hits in the first few days.
The flat back is doing real work here. A disc against the gum is far kinder to your teeth than a ball, and it’s the reason piercers default to it over a ring. Read the full breakdown in our labret piercing guide.
Vertical Labret Piercing
The vertical labret is the one that actually passes through the lip. The needle enters at the top edge of the bottom lip and exits below it, so both ends of a curved barbell sit on the outside and nothing touches your teeth. That last part is the surprise: of all the lip piercings, this is the gentlest on your enamel, precisely because no jewelry sits inside the mouth. Pain runs 4–6 out of 10 since lip tissue carries more nerve endings; the surface settles in about 6–8 weeks, but full healing runs 3–6 months, so leave the jewelry alone until a piercer confirms it’s done.
It takes a 16g or 14g (1.2–1.6mm) curved barbell, with the bottom bead nestling against the lip and the top one peeking just over the lip line. Full details live in our vertical labret guide.
Medusa (Philtrum) Piercing
The medusa, properly called a philtrum piercing, sits dead center in the philtrum, the vertical groove between your nose and the bow of your top lip. It rates 4–5 out of 10, with the surface settling in 8–12 weeks but full healing taking up to 6 months, slower than a labret because the area moves constantly when you talk and eat, which is a reason not to change jewelry early. A flat back labret stud is standard, 16g or 14g (1.2–1.6mm), with a decorative end usually a small ball or gem sitting in the dip.
Centering is everything with a medusa, since a millimeter off and it reads crooked under the nose, so this is a placement where piercer skill shows. Our medusa piercing guide covers placement, swelling, and downsizing in full.
Monroe Piercing
The monroe sits above the upper lip but off to one side, typically the left, placed where Marilyn Monroe’s famous beauty mark was. It rates 4–5 out of 10 and heals in 8–12 weeks, behaving much like a medusa but offset rather than central. The jewelry is a flat back labret, 16g or 14g (1.2–1.6mm), often finished with a small gem or ball to mimic a freckle.
Because it sits closer to the upper teeth and gum, fit matters here as much as anywhere, since too long a bar and the disc rubs the gumline. See our monroe piercing guide for placement and jewelry detail.
Madonna Piercing
The madonna is the monroe’s mirror image, the same placement above the upper lip but on the right side instead of the left, named for Madonna’s beauty spot. Pain, healing, and jewelry are identical: 4–5 out of 10, 8–12 weeks, and a 16g or 14g (1.2–1.6mm) flat back labret with a gem or ball end. The only thing that changes is which side of your face it lands on.
Some people get a monroe and a madonna together, one on each side, which turns the look into a balanced pair framing the upper lip. The placement principles are the same as the monroe, so our monroe piercing guide covers both sides.
Snake Bites Piercing
Snake bites are two separate labret piercings placed symmetrically below the bottom lip, one to the left of center and one to the right, evoking a snake’s fangs. Each one rates 3–4 out of 10 and follows the same timeline as a single labret, with the surface settling in 6–8 weeks but full healing taking 3–6 months, so hold off on changing jewelry until then. You’re just doing two at once. Both start with flat back labrets, 16g or 14g (1.2–1.6mm), and a good piercer measures carefully so the pair sits perfectly even.
Two healing wounds means twice the rinsing and twice the swelling, so the aftercare load is heavier than a single piercing even though each spot is easy. Our snake bites guide covers spacing, symmetry, and the paired-healing routine.
Spider Bites Piercing
Spider bites, sometimes called viper bites, are two piercings placed close together on one side of the lower lip, rather than mirrored across it like snake bites. Each rates 3–4 out of 10 and heals in 6–8 weeks, and both use flat back labrets at 16g or 14g (1.2–1.6mm). The tight clustering is the whole point: two studs sitting almost side by side for a denser, asymmetric look.
Placement is delicate because the two holes sit so near each other, since too close and the healing tissue between them gets irritated. The technique mirrors snake bites, so our paired lower-lip guide applies to spider bites too.
Angel Bites Piercing
Angel bites are the upper-lip answer to snake bites, two piercings placed symmetrically above the top lip, one on each side, framing the philtrum like a monroe and madonna combined. Each rates 4–5 out of 10 and heals in 8–12 weeks, using flat back labret studs at 16g or 14g (1.2–1.6mm). The result is a balanced pair sitting high on the upper lip.
Since each piercing follows the same rules as a monroe or madonna, the placement and aftercare carry straight over from those guides, so start with our monroe piercing guide for the upper-lip basics.
Dahlia Piercing
The dahlia is the rarest entry here, two piercings placed right at the outer corners of the mouth, one on each side, named after the Black Dahlia. Each rates 4–5 out of 10 and heals in 8–12 weeks, with flat back labrets at 16g or 14g (1.2–1.6mm). Because the corners of the mouth flex constantly and the area is prone to irritation, dahlias have a reputation for being fussier to heal than the more common placements.
This is a less-stocked piercing, so jewelry choice matters: small, low-profile discs reduce the chance of the studs catching as you talk and eat. We don’t have a standalone dahlia guide yet, so the labret aftercare in our labret piercing guide applies to each side.
Ashley Piercing
The ashley, also called an inverse vertical labret, is a single piercing through the center of the bottom lip, where the visible end sits on the front of the lip and the flat back rests inside the mouth against the teeth. It rates 5–6 out of 10, the highest of the common lip piercings, because it passes through the full thickness of the lip. The surface settles in 8–12 weeks, but full healing of the inner channel takes 3–6+ months, one of the slower lip piercings to heal, so don’t change the jewelry early, and expect irritation from constant lip movement.
It uses a flat back labret, 16g or 14g (1.2–1.6mm), and the inside placement makes correct length and a smooth flat disc non-negotiable for protecting your teeth. Our ashley piercing guide goes deep on the placement and its specific risks.
How to Choose the Right Lip Piercing
Start with what the look is doing for your face. Central placements like the medusa and labret draw a line straight down the middle and read as deliberate; offset ones like the monroe and madonna add an accent without dominating; paired bites make a bolder, more obvious statement. Hold a small dot to your face in the mirror at each spot before you commit, since it tells you more than any photo of someone else.
Next, think about your daily life, because this is where people get caught out. A medusa or monroe sits in plain view and won’t hide for work the way an ear piercing can; a labret tucks under the lip and is easier to keep low-key. Anyone who plays a wind instrument, does contact sport, or has dental work planned should raise it with the piercer first.
The table below sorts the placements by what they ask of you, so you can match a piercing to your tolerance for visibility, aftercare, and risk.
| If you want… | Best placement | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The lowest tooth risk | Vertical labret | No jewelry inside the mouth — both ends sit outside |
| The easiest first lip piercing | Labret | Lowest pain, fastest healing, easiest to conceal |
| A subtle facial accent | Monroe or madonna | Reads as a beauty mark; small gem ends keep it understated |
| A bold symmetrical look | Snake bites or angel bites | Paired placement frames the lip; higher aftercare load |
| A central statement | Medusa | Sits dead center under the nose; placement-sensitive |
Pain is honestly the smallest factor in the decision. Even the ashley’s 5–6 is over in a couple of seconds. The real commitment is the rinsing routine and protecting your teeth for years afterward, which is the risk every lip piercing shares.
The Teeth and Gum Risk Every Lip Piercing Shares
This is the part that gets skipped and shouldn’t. Any piece of jewelry sitting inside your mouth spends years pressing against teeth and gum, and over time that contact can chip enamel, wear flat spots into the backs of your teeth, and push the gumline into receding. It isn’t dramatic or sudden, it’s slow, cumulative damage that a lot of people don’t notice until a dentist points it out. Healthdirect lists chipped teeth and gum damage among the recognised risks of mouth and lip piercings.
Three things keep the risk low, and they’re worth treating as rules rather than suggestions. First, the disc against your gum should be flat, not a ball, since a sphere concentrates pressure on a single point. Second, the bar must be the correct length once swelling settles, so there’s no excess metal rattling against your teeth. Third, the material matters: titanium is standard, but PTFE or bioplast flat backs are softer still and a smart choice if you grind your teeth or want the gentlest possible contact.
| Risk | What causes it | How to reduce it |
|---|---|---|
| Enamel wear / chipping | Hard ball or disc tapping teeth | Flat back disc; PTFE or bioplast for softer contact |
| Gum recession | Jewelry constantly pressing the gumline | Correct bar length after downsizing; regular dental checks |
| Cracked teeth | Biting down on jewelry, playing with it | Stop fidgeting; avoid clicking it against teeth |
Tell your dentist you have a lip piercing and let them check the contact area at your routine appointments. Catching gum recession early is the difference between a small adjustment and a serious problem. A switch to PTFE jewelry, compared in our bioplast vs metal guide, is often all it takes to stop the damage where it stands.
Oral Aftercare Basics
Lip piercings heal in two places at once, the outer skin and the inner mouth, so aftercare runs on two tracks. Outside, treat it like any piercing: sterile saline, twice a day, clean hands only. Inside, the mouth needs rinsing far more often than you’d expect, because every meal and drink deposits bacteria and food particles right on the wound. The needle-only, sterile standards of the Association of Professional Piercers apply to every placement here, so never accept a piercing gun on a lip.
- Spray sterile saline on the outside twice a day. Use 0.9% sodium chloride wound wash (NeilMed is the common brand), morning and night. Pat dry with a clean paper towel, never cotton.
- Rinse the inside after everything you eat or drink. Use plain sterile saline or an alcohol-free mouthwash diluted with water. Swish gently for around 30 seconds, then spit.
- Eat soft, cool foods for the first week. Swelling makes biting awkward; yogurt, smoothies, and lukewarm soup are easiest while the area settles.
- Manage swelling in the first few days. Sip cold water or suck small ice chips, and sleep with your head slightly elevated. This is why the starting bar is fitted long.
- Leave the jewelry alone. No twisting, no clicking it against your teeth, no checking it with your tongue. Motion is what turns a clean heal into an irritated one.
These reliably set a lip piercing back, so avoid all of them while it heals:
- Alcohol, smoking, and vaping, which dry the mouth and slow healing dramatically
- Spicy, acidic, salty, or very hot food and drink in the first couple of weeks
- Alcohol-based mouthwash, which is too harsh for an open wound; dilute or go alcohol-free
- Kissing and oral contact until the piercing is fully healed
- Playing with the jewelry against your teeth and gums
- Changing or downsizing jewelry yourself before a piercer confirms the swelling is gone
The downsize is the step people forget. The starting bar is deliberately long to make room for swelling, and once that subsides, usually around 3–4 weeks, you go back to have it shortened. Skip it and you’ve got excess metal knocking against your teeth, which is precisely the damage you’re trying to avoid. For the full routine across every piercing type, see our piercing aftercare guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of lip piercings?
The main lip piercing types are the labret, vertical labret, medusa (philtrum), monroe, madonna, snake bites, spider bites, angel bites, dahlia, and ashley. Most sit around the lip rather than through it — the labret below the bottom lip, the medusa in the dip above the top lip, the monroe and madonna off to one side. Only the vertical labret, dahlia, and ashley actually pass through lip tissue itself.
Which lip piercing hurts the least?
A standard labret hurts the least, usually rating 3–4 out of 10. The needle passes through soft tissue just below the lip with relatively few nerve endings, and the whole thing is over in about two seconds. Piercings that go through the lip itself, like the vertical labret and dahlia, sit a notch higher at 4–6 because lip tissue is richer in nerves.
How long do lip piercings take to heal?
Most lip piercings heal in 6–10 weeks, which is fast compared to cartilage piercings. The mouth has an excellent blood supply and saliva carries natural antibacterial enzymes, so soft-tissue lip piercings close the surface quickly. Full internal healing typically takes 3–6 months — don’t downsize or change jewelry on your own before a piercer confirms the swelling is gone.
Do lip piercings damage your teeth and gums?
They can, and this is the single biggest long-term risk of any lip piercing. A metal disc or ball resting against your teeth and gums can wear down enamel and cause the gum to recede over years of contact. The fix is a flat back labret in titanium, PTFE, or bioplast, fitted to the correct length so there is no excess bar pressing into your mouth, plus regular dental checks.
What is the difference between a medusa and a monroe piercing?
A medusa sits dead center in the philtrum, the dip directly below the septum and above the top lip. A monroe sits off to one side, above the upper lip where Marilyn Monroe’s beauty mark was — usually on the left. Both use a flat back labret stud and heal in similar timeframes; the only real difference is placement, centered versus offset.
What are snake bites, spider bites and angel bites?
These are all paired lip piercings. Snake bites are two piercings spaced symmetrically below the bottom lip, one on each side. Spider bites are two piercings placed close together on one side of the lower lip. Angel bites are two piercings above the top lip, mirroring snake bites on the opposite lip. All three are simply two labret-style piercings done together, so each heals like a single labret.
What jewelry is used for a fresh lip piercing?
Almost every fresh lip piercing starts with a flat back labret stud, typically 16g or 14g (1.2–1.6mm), in implant-grade titanium. The flat disc sits inside the mouth against the gum, which is gentler on teeth than a ball, and the bar is fitted long to allow for swelling. Rings are avoided initially because they move more and slow healing; they come later once a piercer downsizes you.
Can you eat and drink normally with a new lip piercing?
Eating is awkward for the first week or two while the area is swollen, so soft, cool foods are easiest at first. Avoid alcohol, spicy or acidic food, and very hot drinks early on because they irritate the fresh wound. Rinse with sterile saline or alcohol-free mouthwash after anything you eat or drink to keep food particles away from the piercing.
Final Thoughts
A lip piercing is a fast heal but a slow responsibility. The placement you choose sets the look, the pain, and whether jewelry sits inside your mouth at all, but whatever you pick, the surface settles in weeks while the real commitment, protecting your teeth and gums, runs for as long as you wear it. A flat back disc, a properly downsized bar, and an honest conversation with your dentist are what keep that commitment manageable.
Use the full guides linked above to go deep on any placement before you book. Each one breaks down the exact pain, healing, jewelry, and aftercare for that spot, everything this overview only had room to summarise.