Labret Piercing [60 Ideas]: Pain Level, Healing Time, Cost, Experience

Looking to add some sparkle to your bright smile? A labret piercing will highlight your lips and give you a new look!

This handy guide will inform you of all you need to know about price, procedure, pain level and healing time of a labret piercing.

40+ labret photos are included to help you get idea of how a this piercing would look on you. In addition, quality care products that speed up the healing are recommended so you’ll be set for easy piercing aftercare.

What is a Labret Piercing?

A labret piercing is a single puncture below the center of the bottom lip. This piercing gets its name from the jewelry commonly used for this kind of perforation.

Although the standard labret piercing procedure is relatively simple, there are some unique variations:

Side labret piercing. This popular modification is located on one or both sides of the bottom lip. “Snake bites” refers to piercings on either side of the lip, while “spider bites” refers to two piercings on one side of the lip.
Off-center labret piercing. This piercing is perfect for anyone who loves asymmetry, since it’s meant to be slightly askew from a normal, centered labret.
Vertical labret. This piercing uses a curved barbell instead of a labret stud, and the piercing exits through the top of the lip instead of the back. This leaves both sides of the curved barbell visible.
Horizontal labret piercing. This piercing is similar to the vertical labret since both jewelry ends are visible. The difference is that the barbell runs horizontally across the middle of the lip.
Inverse vertical labret or ashley piercing. This piercing requires the same procedure as a normal labret, but it is located entirely on top of the lower lip. The inverse vertical labret piercing has only one visible jewelry end in the middle of the lip.
Lowbret or chin piercing. This variation is a single puncture located where the lip tissue meets the gum line. Lowbrets are entirely surrounded by skin and are ideal for anyone considering stretching their labret piercing.

Should You Go for It?

Pros

The labret is one of the most popular body piercings due to the amount of variations possible. The placement and amount of punctures are all up to you! Labret piercings are ideal for all genders and there’s always a unique way to make it your own.
Labret piercings easily highlight the shape of your lips. Jewelry options are plentiful whether you’re in the mood for rings, circular barbells or studs.

Cons

As with any piercing, there is an inherent risk of infection when getting pierced. However, this can be reduced by choosing an experience piercer and high-quality jewelry you can trust. Ensure you’re willing to spend the time cleaning and healing your piercing before you get it done.
Oral piercings require some temporary changes during the initial healing. Be aware that you may have to alter what you’re eating and drinking during the first few weeks.
Some common mouth motions can cause issues. You may find some normal habits like eating apples or drinking from a cup to be newly frustrating since your piercing will be moved around in new ways.

Procedure

The normal labret piercing procedure is quite simple. You’ll let your piercer know what you want pierced, fill out some paperwork and wait for them to prepare.

Before the procedure, you should make sure that your piercer is wearing gloves and all instruments are properly sterilized. Your piercer will mark the labret location with a surgical pen. Make sure you are happy with your placement before moving on.

When you’re ready, your piercer will clamp and puncture your bottom lip from the inside to the outside of your lip. The jewelry will be inserted immediately afterwards. You will be given guidelines for aftercare before leaving the shop. Feel free to ask any questions at this time.

The videos below will help you see what exactly to expect from a labret piercing procedure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBp5nLGVe04&t=24s

How Much Does a Labret Piercing Hurt?

4 of 10

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Labret piercing pain gets a 4 out of 10 on the pain scale. However, this rating can vary depending on the piercing type performed or the amount of punctures.

Punctures on the actual lip rank higher because lip tissue is more sensitive and thicker than normal skin.

Talk to your piercer beforehand if you have concerns. You may consider taking an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen prior to your piercing appointment.

Read more about painful body piercings ranked.

Healing and Aftercare

The initial healing period for labret piercings usually takes anywhere from 3 to 5 weeks, while complete labret healing time takes around 3 months.

The relative healing time depends on your general health and how quickly you heal, as well as the complexity of the labret piercing you had done.

For faster healing time, stick to these simple aftercare rules:

Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing.
Brush your teeth regularly and swish with non-alcoholic mouthwash after eating.
Change your pillowcase regularly to avoid picking up bacteria while you sleep.
Clean your piercing twice per day to ensure it stays happy and healthy while healing.

Recommended Aftercare Products

Sea salt

This sea salt mixture is essential for making your own saline solution.

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Piercing aftercare spray

Saline spray is a great option for anyone on-the-go. Throw it in your bag and clean your piercing anywhere!

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How to Clean Your Labret Piercing

Keep both the inside and outside of your mouth clean. Brush your teeth twice per day, and swish with a non-alcoholic mouthwash after eating.

For the outside, prepare your own saline solution or buy some from your piercing shop. You can make a saline solution yourself by mixing 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt into an 8oz glass of warm water. Apply some of the saline soak on a clean pad or towel and hold it on your piercing for a few minutes. This will loosen up any debris and help to clean it. Gently remove any debris and clean around the outside with the pad.

Read more about saline solutions for new piercings.

What to Avoid During Healing

Avoid the following while your new labret piercing is healing:

Playing with the jewelry, or removing the jewelry before your piercing is healed. This can cause your piercing to close or get infected.
Consuming alcohol, spicy or acidic foods, and hot drinks.
Kissing and any further oral contact.
Applying beauty products to the surrounding area.
Sharing your food or drink with others.
Swimming in public swimming pools or natural bodies of water.

Risks

Getting pierced carries possible risks no matter what, but oral piercings have their own set of potential issues:

Rejection and migration. Your body could reject the jewelry or migrate within the skin. Attention to jewelry size and material reduce the risk of these issues and piercing bumps. Always make sure with your piercer that you’re getting high-quality and safe jewelry for your piercing.
Damaged teeth and gums. Lip piercings run a higher risk of moving around and knocking into teeth or rubbing gums. Make sure to keep up with your oral health and dentist visits as a precaution.
Infection. Lip soreness and swelling are normal during the first few days after your piercing procedure. However, talk to your piercer or doctor immediately if these issues do not subside, or you experience redness, bleeding or excessive pain.

Male Labret Piercing Photos