:: Lip, Labret and Beauty Mark FAQ ::

Does it hurt?

Yes, about the same as other piercings, although many folks say their lip piercings were some of their easiest. Oral tissue is very soft and easy to go through (compared to, say, navels or ear cartilage), so it tends to not be too bad.

Will it scar if/when I take it out?

More than anything, this depends on how your body scars and how you take care of it. Do large cuts disappear like a scratch, or do you get large, raised scars? In general, faces don't tend to scar too severely, so on most people any scarring doesn't look any worse than an old chicken pox or pimple scar. Of course, if you abuse a piercing (i.e. play with it excessively, rip it, etc.) it will be more likely to leave a mark.

Will the piercing affect eating?

It may be tender for a few days, but it shouldn't be difficult after that. We would suggest you avoid anything very spicy for a week or so, as it can burn, and foods that are very hot in temperature may increase swelling during the first few days.

What about kissing and oral sex?

You'll really need to wait until you are healed to do anything involving fluids, even with your partner. You have an open wound in your mouth, so anything in your partner's saliva or body fluids (from normal bacteria to nasty viruses) can be exchanged. Your partner can also be exposed to your blood. Condoms, dental dams, non-porous plastic wrap and other barriers will come in very handy here (but bear in mind that spermicidal condoms may irritate fresh piercings). If you decide to kiss your partner anyway, at least have him/her rinse their mouth with antiseptic beforehand, and clean your mouth after. At the very least, you'll be kissing clean fresh breath, and you could be avoiding an unhappy infection.
One further note: If you open your mouth very wide with a fresh labret, you may find it stuck on your lower teeth. So be very careful performing any activities which require you to assume this position. At the very least, keep one hand free to unhook yourself, should the need arise.

Can I damage my teeth?

If you bite the post hard enough, yes, but gum damage is actually more of a risk than tooth damage. With labret and beauty mark piercings, the disc back of a labret stud can irritate gums enough (even after healing) that another type of jewelry is desired. Several other options do exist, including fishtail labrets (a straight post with a bendable tail that lays along the gum line) and other materials, such as wood, amber, or acrylic. But the best way to eliminate the risk of tooth damage or gum erosion is to shorten the post as soon as it's comfortable to do so (about 8 weeks after piercing). If it doesn't stick out, it won't rub as much, and you won't be as tempted to play with it.

How about hiding it?

This one's already been taken care of. Once you are healed, you can get a clear acrylic labret retainer, which will keep your piercing open but is difficult to see. Unless someone is right up next to you, you should be fine.