The list runs from a single hole, like the Medusa, Labret or Vertical Labret, to paired setups like Cyber Bites and the Double Center Labret, and the number of holes decides how much healing you take on.
A single hole means one cleaning routine and one stretch of swelling, while a pair like Cyber Bites or the Double Center Labret doubles both, so choose by how much recovery you can manage, not by which look you saved.
Fit and metal matter most while the tissue is still healing, so ask your piercer for implant-grade titanium before anything else.
1. Vertical Labret
A vertical labret runs straight up through the lower lip, so a bead sits on the lip’s surface and another underneath the chin side.
2 silver beads give a vertical labret a clean, symmetrical look that reads well from the front.
I like it for people who want a lip piercing that shows from straight on instead of sitting at the side.
Because the bar goes through the lip itself, have your piercer mark the spot for your anatomy before you settle on a placement.
2. Medusa Piercing
Sitting in the philtrum, the groove above the upper lip, a Medusa is the piercing that frames the whole mouth. A single bead in a bold color, purple for example, turns a Medusa into a focal point.
Pick this if you want something centered and graphic.
Bright beads work best when the rest of your look is simple. Since it sits right under the nose, I would keep any nose jewelry small enough that the two don’t compete.
3. Ashley Piercing
A plain silver stud keeps an Ashley understated.
It suits someone who wants the piercing on the lip itself, not below it. Because the jewelry rests inside the mouth, talk with your piercer about how the placement will sit against your teeth and gums.
4. Jestrum Piercing
Think of a Jestrum as the upper-lip answer to a vertical labret: it passes vertically through the philtrum and upper lip, with a bead above and one below. Silver beads on both ends keep a jestrum looking sleek.
It’s a bolder choice than most center piercings, and I’d pick it for the person who already knows they like jewelry near the nose. Choose an experienced piercer, since the upper lip is a very visible spot.
5. Labret Piercing
Plain and timeless, the labret sits just below the bottom lip, centered on the chin crease. A small silver stud is the most classic way to wear a labret.
If this is your first face piercing, I would start here. I count it as the simplest center lip option here, and it leaves room to add a second piercing later for a more layered look.
6. Cyber Bites
Cyber Bites pair two piercings: one in the center of the philtrum and one under the bottom lip. Matching jewelry ties the piercings together, and clear gems catch light without clashing with other metals.
I like this for anyone who wants a symmetrical, statement look.
It means 2 piercings, so expect more healing to manage than with a single stud. Gold nose rings can work with cyber bites if you match the metal across every piece.
7. Double Center Labret Piercing
Two cone-shaped silver studs sit side by side in the center of the lower lip, close enough to read as one matched pair. Cone ends give the piercing a sharper, more graphic finish than round beads.
Before booking, ask your piercer to mark both spots while you relax your mouth, since the pair only works when the spacing is even from the front.
I’d keep the jewelry identical in metal and size, as the symmetry is the whole look.
This is a good second step if you already wear a single labret.
Two holes in the same area also means two sets of swelling and two cleaning routines, so give the pair more recovery time than a single stud would need.
Infection Risks
Lips touch food, drinks, makeup and mouth bacteria all day, so they get infected more easily than most other piercings. Expect some tenderness, itching and a little pale fluid that dries into a crust in the first few days.
Pus or other discharge, swelling and redness that keep climbing, a burning feel, or pain that gets worse instead of easing are the signs I would treat as infection.
On darker skin, redness may show up as skin darker than usual.
If you suspect one, leave the jewelry in and call your doctor, who may prescribe antibiotics. Don’t pull it out yourself.
Washing the piercing at least twice daily and keeping your mouth clean are the 2 habits that head off most problems.
Skip alcohol-based mouthwash. Gargle warm salt water to soften a crust, and don’t twist or remove dry jewelry.
Jewelry Materials
Start with implant-grade titanium that meets ASTM F136. Titanium is light, resists corrosion, and works well for anyone wary of a nickel allergy.
Solid 14K gold is a good alternative, though purity, alloy and finish all matter. Skip gold-plated jewelry in a fresh piercing.
Be careful with anything labeled surgical steel. Some titanium falls short of implant-grade standards, so I would ask your piercer exactly which grade is in the jewelry.
Style depends on placement: flat-back labret studs, hinged clicker hoops, lip huggers and curved barbells all have their place.
Before you buy, confirm the gauge, the inner diameter or the bar length, since a poor fit keeps irritating tissue that is trying to heal. Save fancy finishes and colors for after the piercing has healed.
Professional Piercing
Even in a spotless studio, lip piercings can bring side effects, so the piercer’s skill and hygiene matter from day one. Choose someone who positions piercings correctly and follows strict hygiene.
Rejection means your body slowly pushes the jewelry out, and the skin splits open as it goes.
Once that happens, bacteria can get in easily, and a scar may stay behind. Thick scar tissue can also build up if the hole sits empty.
Plan on swelling and soreness for the first several days.
For aftercare, clean the outside with sterile saline wound wash containing 0.9% sodium chloride.
A rinse free of alcohol and peroxide is a fair option, as long as your piercer signs off on it. Don’t use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, and don’t rotate the jewelry.
The healing period of a vertical lip piercing is about 6 to 8 weeks. However, the healing time may be shorter or longer depending on how you take care of it.
— WebMD
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ashley piercing?
An Ashley goes through the lower lip itself, with the jewelry resting inside the mouth, so only one decorative end shows on the lip.
The jewelry presses on your teeth and gums, so talk with your piercer about how the placement will sit there before the needle comes out.
How long does it take a lip piercing to heal?
Plan on roughly 6–12 weeks. Paired piercings, such as cyber bites or a double center labret, mean 2 sets of swelling and aftercare, so plan for a longer recovery than a single stud needs.
