Lip Or Labret Piercing

A labret is a form of body piercing. Tak literally, it is any type of adornmt that is attached to the lip (labrum). However, the term usually refers to a piercing that is below the bottom lip, above the chin. It is sometimes referred to as a tongue pillar or a soul patch piercing.

The traditional pronunciation of labret in anthropology is /ˈ l eɪ b r ə t / LAY -brət. It derives from the Latin labrum lip and the diminutive suffix -et. However, many in the body-piercing industry give it the pseudo-Frch pronunciation /l ɒ ˈ b r eɪ / lo-BRAY , though the Frch word is in fact borrowed from the glish.

access to labrets. After 3, 000 BP, a divergce in labret wear in north and south coasts. In the north from 1500 - 3500 BP, more labrets worn by males. After 1500 BP, labrets worn by females. In the south, betwe 2000 - 3500 BP, worn by males and females, but from 2000 BP on, labrets gerally disappear and are replaced by cranial deformation by free males and females of whatever class (e.g. elite or commoner). So, for 4, 000 years on the northwest coast, it was important to distinguish certain individuals in a very direct manner; either by cranial deformation or by labret wear. Gder and geographical region may also be idtified by these methods.[3]

Vertical Labret Piercing: How It Works, If It Hurts, And Aftercare

The wearing of labrets was widely observed among Tlingit wom of high status at the time of European and American arrivals in Southeast Alaska. The Russian term for the Tlingit, Koloshi, derived from an Alutiiq word for labret.

Based on analysis of the history and social context of the labret (lip plug) on the Northwest Coast of British Columbia over the last 5, 000 years, Marina LaSalle asserts that while simple correlations of the labret with 'status' and 'gder' are not wrong, nonetheless they betray the complexity of body ornamtation which, though manifested materially, is highly contextual and that the labret is a symbol and expression of social idtity that continues to hold significant meaning for the descdants of this heritage.

In contemporary styles, there are several differt labret variations based on precisely where the piercing is positioned on the lower lip. These include a vertical labret (pierced with a curved barbell through the top of the lower lip rather than in front of the lip tissue), snake bites (dual piercings close together reminisct of fangs), spiderbites (dual piercings very close together on the same side of the face), and a lowbret, which is placed as low as possible toward the chin.

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The initial piercing is usually done at 1.2, 1.6 or 2.0 mm diameter. After initial healing, the piercing can be (gradually) further stretched. Some people choose to stretch to sizes over 10 mm, and the jewelry worn at these larger sizes is usually a round or oval 'labret plug'.When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site.

Isabelle has been contributing to since 2020. She has worked in digital media for over five years and is an expert on a range of topics, including tattoos, piercings, and culture. Her work can be seen across the web on Backstage Magazine, Merry Jane, Vulture, and more.

If you’re someone who loves to show off their piercings front and center, a vertical labret piercing may be just the body modification for you. Placed directly on your lips, there’s no hiding one of these. However, this makes it a great choice for those who want colorful, personalized jewelry or those who just love piercings.

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A labret piercing is pierced through the skin, from the outside of the mouth to the inside just below the bottom lip. And, although it shares half a name, a vertical labret is a completely different piercing entirely. A vertical labret, by contrast, is pierced through the bottom lip and is completely on the outside of the mouth.

For those considering a vertical labret piercing, it’s important to talk to your piercer about whether your lips can support the piercing, whether it matches with your face shape, and how exactly to care for the healing piercing. If you’re interested in getting a vertical labret piercing, read on for a complete guide to everything you need to know.

A vertical labret piercing is a bar pierced vertically through the center of bottom lip. It’s a twist on the basic labret, which is pierced through the skin below the lip and has only the jewelry visible. With a vertical labret, however, the piercing is completely outside of the mouth and both ends of the jewelry are visible.

Pierced Female Lips With Vertical Labret Piercing Or Lip

“Like all piercings, these should always be performed with a needle by a professional, ” says Tierney. “The specific technique may vary from piercer to piercer with what they find comfortable to execute a straight piercing.”

And while there is some variation, a typical vertical labret piercing process involves marking the skin, holding the lip in place with a pair of slotted sterile forceps, and piercing the lip in a downward motion with a needle in the appropriate gauge.

It’s important to note, however, that vertical labret piercings don’t work for everyone. If you’re considering the piercing, do your research and talk to your potential piercer. Being open and honest about how your face is shaped or any alterations you may have had done (anything from plastic surgery to other facial piercings) can help to ensure that your vertical labret piercing looks exactly as it’s supposed to.

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“This is a piercing that depends very heavily on anatomy; it is not one that everyone is going to be able to support, ” says Tierney. “Never take it personally if your piercer says your anatomy will not support a particular piercing—they are just looking out for you and want the best results for you.”

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly how much a piercing will hurt, considering it’s so dependent on personal pain tolerance and your piercer’s process. St Peter says you can expect a sharp pinch, but that the pain will quickly subside.

“Pain is relative; piercings are always going to have some degree of pain but everyone is going to respond and experience that pain differently, ” agrees Tierney. “Never put off a piercing you want out of fear of it hurting! They are always super fast and never as bad as we make ourselves believe.”

Labret Piercing 101

Healing times for vertical labret piercings vary based on how you care for it and your own body. At a minimum, says St Peter, your new piercing will require 6 to 8 weeks. Tierney agrees, noting that she likes to suggest “around four to six months as a minimum”—just so you can be sure your new piercing is definitely healed.

However, because vertical labret piercings don’t touch the inside of your mouth at all, there’s less healing time than, say, a normal labret piercing, according to Gabriela Soza, MD, a board-eligible dermatologist at Sadick Dermatology.

“The piercing also stays relatively cleaner during healing since you don’t have to worry about the bacteria in your saliva, and the piercing heals slightly quicker, ” says Soza. “In response to injury or trauma, lips heal quite well given the vasculature of the tissue.”

Female Lips With Lip Ring Piercing Stock Photo

The price of a vertical labret piercing isn’t as simple as a one-time payment; instead, it’s a piercing that involves a process. After the actual piercing—which will vary in price depending on where your studio is located and the piercer themself—you also have to pay for the jewelry used in the initial appointment. Something else that many people may not know is that vertical labret piercings require a lot of jewelry downsizing during the healing process, meaning you may have to pay for jewelry a few more times over the course of six to eight weeks or so. Be sure to talk to your piercer about the process they envision and just how much they expect that to cost.

“I charge $40 including the jewelry, but you can find shops charging anywhere from $30 to $100 for this piercing, ” says St Peter.

Aftercare for a vertical labret is pretty typical for piercings: clean the area with a sterile saline solution two to three times a day for the entire healing process. Unfortunately, while the actual direct care seems simple, there is a lot of protocol that has to be stuck to during aftercare to ensure nothing happens to your fresh piercing.

Lip Piercings: Cost, Placement, Aftercare, And More

The first main precaution is to avoid touching the jewelry as much as possible (it’s okay to touch it while you clean it). If you’re someone