You hesitate to get a Madonna piercing? Getting your upper labret pierced could be a fun step, but before you jump in, here are the answers to all your questions about this piercing. Pain, care, cost… we take stock.
Located above the upper lip on the right side, this piercing refers to the famous American actress and singer Madonna, who until the 90s had a mole located there. If the Madonna piercing doesn’t ring a bell, you may have heard of it by its other name, “the upper right-shifted labret piercing”.
Did you know ? Although most piercings located in the lip area have a name referring to a person or animal, they all also have a name containing the word “labret” – ie attached to the lips (“labrum” in Latin). Among them, the Medusa piercing is also called “the upper labret piercing”, the Monroe piercing, “the upper labret piercing shifted to the left”, and the piercing Snakebite, “Two staggered and opposite labret piercings”.
Are you interested in this piercing? Here is everything you should know before getting a Madonna piercing:
Piercing Madonna or Monroe? Here is the difference:
The Madonna piercing is often confused with the Monroe piercing because they are both “labret” piercings. Like the Madonna piercing, the Monroe piercing is also located above the upper lip in reference to the mole of an American icon, Marilyn Monroe. On the other hand, while the Madonna piercing is located on the right, the Monroe is it, on the left side, imitating the mole of the star who is at the origin of it. If you get pierced on both sides above your upper lip, then in this case we are not talking about Monroe or Madonna piercing, but “Angel bites piercing” (which means “angel bites” in English).
Warning : For all piercings, including labret piercings, it is imperative to go to a professional to reduce the risk of infections and the possibility of damaging your mouth.
How is this piercing of the upper labret staggered?
Choose your jewel: Before even entering the piercing salon, you first choose a piece of jewelry. Piercings above the upper lip tend to swell during the first few days, so it is advisable to start with a long bar (8 to 10 mm long) with a piece of jewelry. A ring or bar that is too short can lead to inflammation and additional pain.
Clean and disinfect: To ensure successful post-piercing healing, cleaning of the area and its disinfection is essential. Before the piercer will place your piercing, they must disinfect the area of the piercing.
Mark the area: With a sterile marker, the professional fixes the piercing area above the lip to make sure you’re okay, and she adjusts if you’re not.
Drill : Once you agree on where to pierce, then comes the most exciting moment: the piercing itself. Using hollow pliers and a needle, the piercer then places the sterilized jewel that you had chosen before. You will finally be able to admire your beautiful Madonna piercing.
Relieve: If your skin swells and becomes irritated in the days following the piercing, don’t panic. The best trick to alleviating the pain is the cold: apply a cool compress to the area to relieve the pain.
Jewelry to get you started
Madonna piercing, is it painful?
As with all piercings, the pain varies from person to person. On the other hand, although this area does not contain any cartilage tissue – which makes many ear piercings painful (especially the tragus and “conch” piercing) – it is still full of nerve endings and therefore remains sensitive and susceptible to pain. . Do not worry because the professionals make sure that the pain of the procedure passes quickly. However, be prepared for discomfort to appear in the hours that follow. As we mentioned earlier, the cold from an ice cube slipped into a glove or a wet compress is believed to soothe the pain.
Don’t give in to the fear of pain, as the staggered upper labret piercing remains a piercing touted by many celebrities.
To read also on auFeminin: The names of body piercing to know to be knowledgeable on the subject.
The possible risks associated with piercing
All piercings have an element of risk, between pain and inflammation. The risks are particularly high when you play sports or change your clothes, because the piercing can move or be accidentally torn from your skin.
Swelling: The area of the Madonna piercing is delicate so it is likely that you will notice swelling in the days following the piercing. In order to avoid this problem, do not hesitate to seek advice from your doctor. It is also important to make sure that the bar of your jewelry is not too short (8 to 10mm in length is preferable).
Damage to enamel and gums: The greatest risk associated with Madonna piercing concerns the gums and the enamel because this labret piercing risks causing friction on the gums and wear of the enamel. For this reason, it is advisable to choose a body piercing jewelry made of flexible polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as it is by far softer than a metal piercing.
How much does a Madonna piercing cost?
The price of this upper lip piercing varies by region and studio. Normally, it usually takes between 40 and 80 euros. This price includes the piercing, the first jewelry and the care products. Be sure to check with the studio before your appointment.
Healing and care
Typically, the upper labret piercing takes four to eight weeks to heal. In order to avoid inflammation and to ensure effective healing, we give you some advice:
Post-piercing care must be done outside as well as inside the mouth to ensure effective healing. Here are our tips for avoiding irritation:
- Clean the pierced area with an alcohol-free disinfectant spray two to three times a day for at least the first two weeks.
- Rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash or lukewarm chamomile tea twice a day for at least a week to prevent an infection from starting inside and spreading.
- Avoid the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and lacto-fermented foods (pickles, cheese, yogurt, kefir …) and fruit for two weeks after your piercing, as they may cause irritation.
- Also avoid intensive sports, especially aquatic sports for the first two weeks with your new piercing, to limit the risk of infection.
- Avoid touching your piercing as this may prolong healing time.
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Changing your piercing for the first time: what is the right jewelry?
Once your skin is well healed, you can change your first piece of jewelry for a more sophisticated or fancy one, but not just any one.
As a general rule, a special labret rod is preferable for Madonna piercing. This jewel is composed of a flat clasp located inside the mouth, and a rod that connects it to the jewel, the only visible part of the piercing, the color, shape and pattern of which is yours to choose. to choose !
It is important that the plate that acts as a clasp inside the mouth is made from a flexible material, such as PTFE, in order to protect your gums. In addition, the stem of the jewelry should be approximately 1.2-1.6mm thick and 8-10mm long.
Juliette Barlier
Web editor for AuFeminin since January 2021, Juliette comes directly from California and writes on subjects related to culture, astrology, and plants from an angle …