What Are the Different Lip Piercings Called?
Lip piercings come in a whole vocabulary of names, from the single labret and the central medusa to paired looks such as snake bites and angel bites. This guide explains every lip piercing name by where it sits around the mouth, with the pain, healing time and jewellery for each so you can pick the look that suits you.Lip Piercing Names Explained
Lip piercing names describe the position around the mouth rather than the lip itself and most sit in the soft skin just outside the lip line rather than through the lip. A labret is a single stud centred below the lower lip. A medusa, also called a philtrum, sits in the dip of the upper lip directly below the septum. Off centre studs on the upper lip are named after film stars, so a monroe sits to one side like a beauty spot while a madonna sits on the other. Once you learn that the names are really a map of the mouth the whole set becomes easy to follow.
Paired piercings are grouped under playful bite names. Snake bites are two studs spaced apart on the lower lip, spider bites are two close together on one side and angel bites are the upper lip pair. Vertical placements such as the vertical labret and the jestrum pass through the lip so a ball shows above and below. Knowing these names lets you ask for an exact look and lets your piercer advise what your lip and gums can carry safely.
Every Lip Piercing by Placement
The cards below name each lip piercing and describe where it sits. Single placements are the easiest starting point. Paired bites double the jewellery and the aftercare. Vertical placements pass through the lip for a ball above and below.
How Much Does a Lip Piercing Hurt?
Most lip piercings sit in the gentle to moderate band because the tissue around the mouth is soft and the needle passes quickly. A single labret is one of the easier piercings to sit through. Paired bites are done one after another so the sensation repeats rather than intensifies. Vertical placements through the lip feel a little sharper. The chart below rates each lip placement out of ten.
How Long Does a Lip Piercing Take to Heal?
Lip piercings heal fairly quickly because the mouth has a rich blood supply. A single labret or medusa often settles in six to eight weeks, while paired and vertical placements take a little longer because there is more tissue involved. The chart below shows the typical healing time in weeks so you know when a change of jewellery is safe.
The Complete Lip Piercing Chart
This table brings every lip placement together so you can compare position, pain, healing and jewellery in one view before you book.
| Piercing | Placement | Pain (out of 10) | Healing time | Typical jewellery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labret | Below lower lip, centre | 3 | 6 to 8 weeks | Flat back stud |
| Vertical labret | Through lower lip | 4 | 8 to 12 weeks | Curved barbell |
| Medusa | Upper lip philtrum | 4 | 6 to 8 weeks | Flat back stud |
| Monroe or madonna | Upper lip, off centre | 4 | 8 to 12 weeks | Flat back stud |
| Snake bites | Lower lip, paired | 6 | 8 to 12 weeks | Two flat back studs |
| Angel bites | Upper lip, paired | 6 | 8 to 12 weeks | Two flat back studs |
| Jestrum | Vertical upper lip | 6 | 10 to 12 weeks | Curved barbell |
| Smiley | Upper lip frenulum | 7 | 4 to 8 weeks | Small ring |
What Jewellery Suits a Lip Piercing?
The flat back labret stud is the standard for almost every lip piercing because the smooth disc sits comfortably against the inside of the lip and is kinder to the teeth and gums than a ring. Fresh piercings are fitted a little longer to allow for swelling, then downsized to a shorter post once that swelling settles so the jewellery does not knock against the teeth. Rings can be introduced on some placements once healing is complete, though many people keep a discreet stud for daily wear.
Material and fit protect your smile. OSCO London fits implant grade titanium as standard because it is light and well tolerated and a correctly sized post is the single best way to avoid the gum and enamel wear that badly fitted lip jewellery can cause. Your piercer will size every piece at your appointment and book you in for a downsize once the initial swelling has gone.
Working out how much each mouth placement stings? See the full Piercing Pain Chart by Type or browse every chart on the Piercing Charts hub.
Book your lip piercing at OSCO London
Every piercing is just £10. Expert placement, a free downsize appointment, implant grade titanium as standard and honest advice to protect your teeth and gums.
OSCO London is a professional piercing studio in Northwood, London where every piercing is priced at £10. To choose your lip placement in person and have your anatomy assessed by an experienced piercer, visit the OSCO London homepage and book an appointment before you decide.
How to Care for a New Lip Piercing
Lip piercings need care on two sides because one part sits against the skin and the other sits inside the mouth. Clean the outside twice a day with a sterile saline solution and pat dry with clean kitchen paper. Rinse the inside with an alcohol free mouthwash or plain water after eating, drinking anything other than water and smoking. Avoid spicy and salty foods in the first days, take smaller bites while you adjust to the jewellery and keep the post in place throughout healing.
The most important step for a lip piercing is the downsize. Fresh jewellery is fitted long to allow for swelling, so once that swelling settles book in to swap it for a shorter post. Leaving a long post in place lets the ball knock against the teeth and gums, which is the main risk of any lip piercing. Avoid kissing and sharing drinks while healing and see your piercer if you notice persistent swelling or the jewellery pressing into the tissue.
This lip guide sits within the OSCO London Piercing Charts collection. Once your lip is planned you can complete the look with the Face Piercing Names and Chart, the Nose Piercing Names and Placement chart and the Ear Piercing Chart and Names.
Lip Piercing Questions
A labret is a single stud centred below the lower lip, while a medusa sits in the philtrum dip of the upper lip directly below the septum. They pair beautifully as a top and bottom set and use the same flat back stud jewellery.
Snake bites are two studs spaced apart on the lower lip and angel bites are the matching pair on the upper lip. Both are done as two separate piercings in one session and read as a symmetrical set either side of centre.
A badly fitted or oversized stud can wear the enamel and gums over time. The risk is greatly reduced by a correctly sized flat back post and by attending your downsize appointment once the initial swelling settles, which is why fit matters so much.
A single labret or medusa usually heals in six to eight weeks thanks to the rich blood supply around the mouth. Paired and vertical placements take a little longer at around eight to twelve weeks, as shown in the healing chart above.