Monroe Piercing [50 Ideas]: Pain Level, Healing Time, Cost, Experience

Monroe piercings are known for their glamorous roots. Reminiscent of beauty icons like Marilyn Monroe and Cindy Crawford, this chic piercing adds an extra level of beauty to anyone bold enough to wear it.

The guide below will cover all you need to know about monroe piercings including procedure, aftercare, healing and relative pain level. In addition, recommended aftercare products and piercing photos will give you perspective on how to make it your own.

What is a Monroe Piercing?

Monroe piercing is a puncture on the upper lip that is meant to look like a beauty mark. This piercing is usually located on the left side of the mouth to emulate icon Marilyn Monroe.

Monroe piercings are sometimes called Madonna piercings if they are located on the right side of the mouth. One piercing on each side is referred to as angel bites.

Should You get a Monroe Piercing?

Any piercing requires both risk and commitment. Learn more about the pros & cons of getting a monroe piercing below:

Pros

Monroe piercings are feminine and cute while accentuating the lip area.
These piercings can add emphasis to other facial piercings to form fun combinations. This includes one piercing on each side to form “angel bites.”

Cons

Monroe piercings may not be ideal for every setting. Make sure you are willing to keep your jewelry visible during the healing period. You can swap your jewelry out after healing for invisible studs, but that won’t be immediate.
Removing your monroe piercing may cause scarring. This can potentially be avoided by choosing a small jewelry size and taking thorough care of your piercing as it heals.

Monroe Piercing Procedure

Make sure to choose a reputable piercing shop for your monroe piercing. Once you arrive, your piercer will discuss the experience with you and determine the location of your piercing. They will set up their area so that everything is sterile before calling you back. The next step is cleaning the location and marking it with a surgical pen. Make sure you like the location before moving forward!

Your upper lip will then be secured with a clamp to ensure it stays in place, and your skin will be punctured with a hollow needle. The last step is inserting the jewelry through the needle and securing it in place. Voila, you have a new monroe piercing!

Watch the video below for more procedure details:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuUFn1NEirg

How Much does a Monroe Piercing Hurt?

4 out of 10

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Monroe piercing ranks at a 4/10 on the pain scale. This ranking ultimately depends on your relative pain threshold and how thick your lip is. While there are more nerve endings in the lip and mouth area, the procedure is over before you know it.

Try to distract yourself while your piercer is getting setup so that you’re not focused on the pain. Your piercing will most likely be swollen and tender for a few days after the piercing procedure. Starting proper aftercare techniques immediately after getting pierced will reduce the chance of possible side effects.

Read more about the top 10 most painful piercings.

Healing and Aftercare

Initial healing time for a monroe piercing takes around 6-10 weeks. It’s crucial during this time to maintain good oral health and clean your piercing often. Full healing time can take up to 6 months.

Healing can be sped up if you are taking care of both your general health and your piercing. Follow these aftercare tips to ensure your piercing stays happy and healthy:

Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing.
Maintain good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice per day and swish with non-alcoholic mouth wash after eating.
Chew and drink slowly. This helps your piercing to not move around as much.
Use extra care when brushing your teeth. Too much movement can irritate your healing piercing.
Clean your piercing twice per day by swishing with mouth wash and using saline solution on the outer area.

Saline solution can easily be made at home. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt with 8 oz of warm water and stir until the salt has dissolved. Pour some saline wash on a clean pad or towel and hold it on your piercing for a few minutes. This will help loosen any debris that may be stuck on the outside. Gently wipe these off while moving the jewelry as little as possible. Repeat once in the morning and once at night to make sure your piercing regularly stays clean.

Read more on proper aftercare techniques.

Recommended Aftercare Products

Sea salt

The best option for making saline solution at home. Effective cleaning will help your piercing heal quickly.

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Piercing aftercare spray

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

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What to Avoid During Healing

Any piercing will heal faster if you’re conscious of what to avoid. Steer clear of the habits below for a safe and happy recovery time:

Avoid touching or playing with your jewelry. This can irritate your piercing and cause complications.
Avoid oral contact with other objects or people. New bacteria can cause infections and other issues.
Do not remove your initial jewelry until the piercing is completely healed. Contact your piercer if you have concerns before then.
Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol or eating spicy foods. All of these can unnecessarily irritate a fresh piercing.
Do not swim in public pools or open bodies of water. This can introduce harmful bacteria to your piercing.
Avoid using cosmetics or beauty products around your piercing.
Do not clean your piercing more than twice per day.

How to Change Your Jewelry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU6IIBNmUnY

Removing Your Jewelry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKT1O4gmNgc

Monroe Piercing Risks

Plausible piercing risks should be considered before you ever step into a piercing shop. You may experience some of the following issues if something has gone awry:

Possible infection. Bacteria can enter your body through your new piercing. Maintaining oral hygiene and consistent aftercare should be a priority to avoid this issue.
Scarring. Scars or bumps may happen if the piercing is stretched with larger jewelry.
Gum erosion. This can happen after prolonged rubbing on the gum with improperly fitting jewelry. Talk to your piercer about this beforehand and choose the right initial jewelry to avoid problems.
Tooth erosion. Similar to gum erosion, the wrong jewelry may cause teeth to wear down over time. This can also be avoided by using properly fitting jewelry.

Best Jewelry for Monroe Piercings

The most common monroe jewelry type is a stud. It’s usually recommended to have a longer labret stud as your initial jewelry to allow for swelling space. This location does not allow for rings or barbells, but there are plenty of safe, colorful stud options to choose from that are made from titanium.