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Vertical Labret Piercing - Show Off Your Piercing

If you like to show off your piercings in the spotlight, a vertical labret piercing might be the perfect way to change your body. If you put one of these rights on your lips, you can't hide it. But this makes it a great choice for people who love piercings or want colorful, personalized jewelry.

Author:Daniel James
Reviewer:Karan Emery
Oct 13, 2022
337 Shares
336.6K Views
If you want a different look that isn't as common as other lip piercings, you should think about getting a vertical labretpiercing. The name of this piercing might make it sound like it's just a different kind of labret piercing, but it's actually a whole different piercing.
For a vertical lip piercing, also called a vertical labret, jewelry is put through the middle of the lower lip. Before you get a lip piercing, you should know that the tissue around your mouth is sensitive and full of nerve endings, so it may hurt more than any other piercing. You should never get pierced by someone who is not a trained professional.

What Is A Vertical Labret Piercing?

A  woman wearing a cardigan with vertical labret piercing
A woman wearing a cardigan with vertical labret piercing
A vertical labret piercing is a bar that goes through the middle of the bottom lip in a vertical direction. It's a different take on the basic labret, which is made by piercing the skin below the lip and leaving only the jewelry show. With a vertical labret, on the other hand, the piercing is outside of the mouth and you can see both ends of the jewelry.
The labret piercing is a single hole in the skin right below the lip. The vertical labret piercing, on the other hand, is made up of two holes that go through the lip and come out where a labret piercing would be.
The vertical labret piercing is probably the most interesting because it never touches the inside of the mouth. This means that your jewelry won't rub against your teeth and gums like it would with other lip piercings, and it will stay cleaner while it heals since the bacteria in your saliva won't be a problem.
Even though there are some differences, a typical vertical labret piercing involves marking the skin, holding the lip in place with a pair of sterile forceps with slots, and piercing the lip with a needle of the right gauge in a downward motion.
If you have problems with your teeth, like receding gums or worn enamel, this could be the lip piercing for you. The vertical labret piercing is also great for people who want to stand out with a beautiful style.
But keep in mind that vertical labret piercings don't work for everyone. If you're thinking about getting pierced, do your research and talk to the person who might do it. Being open and honest about the shape of your face and any changes you may have had, like plastic surgery or other facial piercings, can help make sure that your vertical labret piercing looks just the way it should.

Vertical Labret Piercing Procedure

Getting My Vertical Labret Piercing + Questions Answered By My Piercer!

Make sure you go to a professional piercer who is licensed and who works in a shop that the local health department checks regularly. Check online for reviews of the shop to make sure it is a good one. This is pierced quickly. Here are the steps in general:
  • Your piercer will use water and a solution to kill germs to clean your lower lip.
  • You will use an antibacterial mouthwash to make sure your mouth is free of bacteria that could make you sick and get into the pierced area.
  • The piercer will mark with a pen where the piercing will be done on the inside and outside of the lip.
  • They will use a special tool to hold your lower lip in place and gently pull it outward so they can see better inside your mouth.
  • A needle will be pushed through the areas that have been marked from top to bottom. This will be done quickly and firmly, but gently so as not to hurt.
  • They will slowly and carefully take out the needle.
  • Your piercer will put jewelry into your new piercing, like a bent barbell. They will also put any beads on the end of the barbell to keep it in place.

Pain And Healing Time

The vertical labret piercing hurts a little more than other types of lip piercings because it has two holes that go straight through the sensitive lip skin. Compared to other types of piercings, this one is usually in the middle of the pain scale. If you tend to be more sensitive to pain, find an experienced piercer who can help you with breathing exercises and make the piercing process easier.
As with most piercings, there will be some swelling, light bleeding, and pain. But if you have more than one of these symptoms, it could mean that something is wrong and you should see a doctor. The vertical labret takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal, which isn't too long. The healing process is always different, so you should talk to your piercer before stopping aftercare.
Since none of the jewelry or piercing goes inside the mouth, aftercare for the vertical labret is usually easier than for other types of lip piercing. So, you don't have to worry as much about biting on the jewelry, avoiding it when you brush your teeth or cleaning the inside of your mouth after meals.
Since the vertical labret is right on your lip, you do have to pay attention to some different things while your piercing heals.

Aftercare

My Vertical Labret Piercing - Pain, Healing Process & My Experience

Your vertical labret piercing needs to be cleaned twice or three times a day with a saline solution for piercing aftercare, just like any other piercing. The only things that should be in this solution are salt and water.
Some aftercare for piercings include things like tea tree oil. These extras, especially tea tree oil, can hurt new piercings and make them heal more slowly.
If you tend to bite or play with your lips, the vertical labret piercing might feel a little painful for the first few weeks. With any piercing, you shouldn't touch or twist the new jewelry until the piercing has completely healed.
This means you'll have to be extra careful not to lick your lips or play with your jewelry by accident. Here are some tips to help you get better faster:
  • Be smart about what you eat.Even though the piercing doesn't go into your mouth, you'll still have to be careful about what you eat. For example, the oils from chilies and other spicy foods can easily get into a lip piercing and make it hurt. After you eat, you need to make sure that no food is stuck in or near your new piercing.
  • No kissing or oral play during healing.This is a common piece of advice for all oral piercings, but it's especially important for the vertical labret because it's right on the lip. Not only does kissing spread bacteria to the piercing, but it can also irritate the skin around the piercing, which can cause damage to the piercing site. When the piercing has healed completely, kissing won't be a problem.
  • Don't use lip balm or lipstick while you're healing. Outside of saline solution or other aftercare products, you shouldn't put anything else on or near the piercing. Chapstick and makeup can get stuck in the piercing and lead to an infection.
  • Make sure the jewelry you wear during healing is large enough.During the healing process, swelling can happen at any time, but it's most likely to happen in the first few days. Your jewelry needs to be able to fit around this growth, or it could get stuck in the skin.

Side Effects Of A Vertical Labret Piercing

The vertical labret piercing can cause a number of side effects, just like any other piercing. Most of these can be avoided with good care after the piercing, but accidents happen, and trauma to the piercing site can cause them.
Even if everything is done right, there may still be side effects. The good news is that most of these will go away with treatment, and they rarely have long-term effects.

Piercing Infections

Piercing infections are one of the most talked about side effects of piercings, but they don't happen very often. Most of the time, they show up because people don't clean well enough. If you keep your vertical labret piercing clean and use good hygiene, it's unlikely that it will get infected.
Signs of an infection include green or yellow discharge, swelling (especially a week or more after the piercing), bleeding, and a feverish feeling around the piercing site. If any of these signs show up, you should see a doctor right away.

Piercing Bumps

Piercing bumps can be caused by poor aftercare, trauma, or irritation. There are three main kinds of piercing bumps: pustules, which look like pimples, hypertrophic scarring, which is caused by a buildup of collagen, and irritation bumps (rash-like bumps).
To avoid these side effects, make sure to keep the piercing dry, take good care of it afterward, keep the jewelry as still as possible, and try to avoid snags and tears. If a bump comes up around your piercing, talk to your piercer about how to treat it. If you take care of them, they will usually go away.
A note about keloids: Keloids are often included in lists of common bumps that can show up after piercings. This is not true. Keloids are caused by a genetic disorder that only affects about 10% of the people in the world.
They are very big, dark growths that show up after any kind of injury and can only be taken off by surgery. If you or anyone in your family has never had a keloid before, the piercing bump you are worried about is almost certainly not a keloid.

Piercing Rejection

Piercing rejection can be caused by trauma or by the piercing not being done deep enough. It happens because your body pushes the jewelry out because it thinks it doesn't belong there. Red, flaky skin around the piercing site, jewelry that moves around a lot, and a growing piercing hole are all signs of rejection.
Even though piercing rejection can happen at any time, it happens more often when someone is healing. If you think your piercing isn't taking, have your piercer look at it. If it's rejecting, they'll probably tell you to take the jewelry out so the piercing can heal. Once the piercing has healed, you can try it again.

How To Change Out A Vertical Labret Piercing?

If you get a vertical labret piercing and decide you don't like the jewelry you got it done with, you can change it out at home. Do not try to do this until the piercing is completely healed, because you could easily irritate it, get an infection, or see your piercing site close up while the jewelry is out of it.
Once you're sure it's healed, change your piercing by taking the ball off one end (preferably the top) and threading the new jewelry right behind the old one. Never leave your piercing hole empty. You can also go to a piercer to get it changed out if you don't understand the process or aren't ready to do it yourself. This is usually done for a small fee.

What Type Of Jewelry Is Used For A Vertical Labret Piercing?

Comprehensive Guide to Vertical Labret Piercings

You may know what a standard barbell looks like because you can see the whole thing in a modification like an industrial piercing, but the same jewelry is used in a vertical labret. A barbell is a metal bar with a small bead on each end, one of which is fixed and the other of which can be moved. When you get a vertical labret piercing, a slightly curved barbell is used so that it fits better with the shape of your lips.
  • Implant-grade stainless steel: This type of jewelry is usually used for vertical labret piercings because it is high quality and easy to change.
  • Titanium: Titanium is a great alternative to surgical steel because it doesn't have nickel in it. You get all the good things about surgical steel without any of the bad things.
  • Gold: Whether you choose yellow, rose, or white gold for your jewelry, it must be at least 14 karat and no more than 18 karat to make sure it's solid enough not to hold bacteria.

Who Shouldn’t Get A Vertical Lip Piercing?

Not everyone wants to get their lips pierced vertically. A lot of the most popular ones aren't good for people who
  • Are pregnant
  • Have weak immune systems
  • Are prone to keloid scars
  • Have either infectious or allergic dermatitis (eczema)
  • Have skin that breaks out in welts when pressed (dermographism)
  • Play sports

People Also Ask

Is A Vertical Labret A Good Piercing?

Vertical Labret and lip piercings at this angle are less likely to hurt your teeth, gums, or jawbones because the jewelry is more outside of your mouth.

How Long Does A Vertical Labret Piercing Last?

A vertical lip piercing will take about 6 to 8 weeks to heal. Depending on how you take care of it, the time it takes to heal may be shorter or longer. When it comes to piercing problems, avoiding them is the most important thing.

Can You Kiss With A Labret Piercing?

Don't even think about it until the piercing has healed. Healing from a tongue piercing can take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the person. Healing from a lip piercing usually takes between 6 and 8 weeks. Labret and Monroe piercings heal completely in 2 to 6 months.

How Long After A Lip Piercing Can You Give Oral?

Don't worry; you can give your partner love pecks while your lip, cheek, or oral piercing is healing, but you should avoid open-mouth kissing until your piercing is fully healed. Most oral piercings heal in 6 to 8 weeks, but some people have to wait longer for cheek and lip piercings.

Conclusion

Vertical labrets are so cute, and even though you can't wear as much jewelry with them as you can with a traditional labret, they are safer for your teeth and gums. People who want a lip piercing but don't want to risk their teeth and gums often choose these.
It can be a fun addition to other piercings on the face, or it can be a nice piercing on its own. Make sure to carefully follow your after-care instructions. Bacteria are especially likely to get into lip piercings through the mouth.
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Daniel James

Daniel James

Author
Daniel James is a distinguished gerontologist, author, and professional coach known for his expertise in health and aging. With degrees from Georgia Tech and UCLA, including a diploma in gerontology from the University of Boston, Daniel brings over 15 years of experience to his work. His credentials also include a Professional Coaching Certification, enhancing his credibility in personal development and well-being. In his free time, Daniel is an avid runner and tennis player, passionate about fitness, wellness, and staying active. His commitment to improving lives through health education and coaching reflects his passion and dedication in both professional and personal endeavors.
Karan Emery

Karan Emery

Reviewer
Karan Emery, an accomplished researcher and leader in health sciences, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals, brings over two decades of experience to the table. Holding a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Stanford University, Karan's credentials underscore her authority in the field. With a track record of groundbreaking research and numerous peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals, Karan's expertise is widely recognized in the scientific community. Her writing style is characterized by its clarity and meticulous attention to detail, making complex scientific concepts accessible to a broad audience. Apart from her professional endeavors, Karan enjoys cooking, learning about different cultures and languages, watching documentaries, and visiting historical landmarks. Committed to advancing knowledge and improving health outcomes, Karan Emery continues to make significant contributions to the fields of health, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals.
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