Body piercing is a way of life. Showing off your personality through body jewelry is expressive and liberating. Choosing a piercing is an independent decision that makes you who you are, and we love to see it. If you’re considering a lip piercing, a mouth piercing, or specifically, a smiley piercing, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we want to go over everything there is to know about lip frenulum piercings, also known as smiley piercings! This piercing guide will walk you through types of jewelry for smiley piercings, piercing aftercare, the smiley piercing procedure, the healing process, and more.
What is a Smiley Piercing?
Smiley Piercing Location:
A smiley piercing (also known as a lip frenulum piercing) is an inner lip piercing that runs through the thin layer of skin that connects your upper lip to the top of your gums. You can feel this piece of tissue by keeping your lips closed and pushing your tongue upward in front of your teeth. This piercing is called the smiley piercing because it’s most visible when you smile.
Smiley Piercing Process:
This piercing is typically performed with a standard piercing needle. Speak with a professional for more information on the smiley piercing procedure.
How much does a smiley piercing cost?
Smiley piercing cost depends on your location and the shop you’ll be attending.
How much do smiley piercings hurt?
The pain level of an upper lip frenulum piercing depends on your pain tolerance. It is possible to experience pain with all piercings, so we recommend consulting a piercing professional to discuss pain management before getting this piercing.
Can everyone get a smiley piercing?
We recommend speaking with a professional piercer to determine whether or not you qualify for this type of upper lip piercing. Some limitations may include but are not limited to dental procedures, a lip frenulum that is too small, or gum disease.
Other Types of Oral Piercings:
There are lots of mouth piercing options out there besides the smiley piercing. Other types of piercings include lip piercings (labret piercings, spider bites, snake bites, etc.) or tongue piercings, such as snake eye piercings or venom piercings. For more information, check out all of our piercing guides at The Inspo Spot!
Smiley Piercing Jewelry
Recommended Smiley Piercing Jewelry:
Horseshoe rings, captive bead rings, and seamless captive rings are the recommended jewelry types for this piercing. With so many different stylish types of jewelry to choose from, the options are truly endless!
How much does smiley jewelry cost?
Prices vary. We recommend calling a professional piercer for more information on piercing prices, as well as the price of certain jewelry materials and styles.
Jewelry Care:
Clean your jewelry with antibacterial soap and warm water.
Can I get an allergic reaction to my smiley jewelry?
Allergic reactions to certain jewelry types are a possibility. Contact a piercing professional and make sure that getting a smiley piercing is the right move for you. Be sure to discuss types of jewelry and the jewelry material options before getting pierced. Check with a doctor beforehand to be sure of any allergies. If your piercing hurts after the first two weeks of the healing process, contact your doctor and make sure you aren’t allergic to the body jewelry material. Most of our oral piercing jewelry is made of surgical steel or titanium.
When can I change my jewelry?
You should avoid changing your smiley piercing jewelry until your piercing is completely healed. Talk to your piercer for more information on when you can safely change your jewelry style and update your piercing jewelry.
Smiley Piercing Aftercare
Smiley Piercing Healing Process and Tips:
Healing time varies, but the lip frenulum piercing usually heals within 4-8 weeks. Talk to a professional piercer about ways to keep your piercing healthy and clean during the healing process. Be sure to continue brushing your teeth normally and rinse your mouth thoroughly with any type of oral piercing. Staying consistent with piercing aftercare will help ensure the smiley piercing heals properly.
How do I clean my smiley piercing?
Piercing care is essential to ensuring your smiley piercing heals properly. We recommend speaking with your piercer for information on how to clean your piercing and jewelry. Ask them to explain how to avoid infection and piercing pain. When it comes time to change your jewelry, be sure to wash your hands and clean your piercing thoroughly. For more information on proper aftercare, read How to Care For Your Body Jewelry & Body Piercings.
How do I pierce my lip frenulum at home?
You don’t! It is essential that you let a licensed piercing professional perform this process. This will help minimize the chance of infection and make your healing process go as smoothly as possible.
Do smiley piercings last forever?
You should consult a piercing professional to get a timeline on how long your smiley piercing will last. Since the lip frenulum is very thin, there is a chance this piercing will not last long-term, but everyone’s body is different.
Why shouldn’t I get a smiley piercing?
If you’re questioning whether or not a smiley frenulum piercing is the best body piercing for you, we recommend talking to a professional piercing about the pros and cons. You can also check out more mouth piercings on our blog to help decide which body modification is best for you.
More Piercing Info
Want to learn more about body piercing? Check out some of our favorite ear piercing guides, including the cartilage piercing guide, tragus piercing guide, helix piercing, and more! We also have guides on nose piercings, septum piercings, tongue piercings, and pretty much any other type of piercing you can think of.
Now that you’ve read through our smiley piercing guide, it’s time to take the leap! Remember to discuss all of your concerns with a piercing professional before getting pierced, and visit Spencer’s for all of your body jewelry needs.
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