Overview
The labrum is your lip, and a labret piercing is when you have your bottom lip pierced just in the crevice above the chin.
History
Labret piercings have always been popular in history. Painfulpleasures.com says that as far back as in the Aztec, Mayan and American Northwest Coast Indian settlements, the piercing was kept for the high society male members. It was an outside indicator of an individual’s status, roots and social standing. It ‘s still a strong tribal indicator today, and popular among young people, particularly goths.
Procedure
Your piercer should check the thickness of your lip with a safety device to choose the correct length and size of the jewelry. The piercer will then mark two points on the inside and outside of your lip and place a clamp on the marks. He will then puncture your lip with a needle.
Variations
According to Oneindia.in there are many different labret piercings–a vertical labret is one that goes through the top of the lower lip rather than in front of the lip tissue. A snakebite is when you have two piercings close together to look like fangs. Spider bites are two piercings very close together on the same side of the face and a lowbret is a piercing further down the face placed as low as possible toward the chin.
Aftercare
A labret piercing needs around six weeks to heal to avoid infection. You need to practice good hygiene to look after your piercing, and your piercer should give you some lotion to protect it. Otherwise just use saltwater says Saintsabrina.com. Don’t touch the piercing unnecessarily and always wash your hands before you clean it.
If the jewelry you have chosen is not right for your lip it can irritate the gums and teeth, leading to dental problems. Your first jewelry piece will be larger so as to accommodate any initial swelling, but after the six-week healing period you can replace with a smaller item.
Safety
There are different regulations for body piercing in each state and country, but your piercing should always be performed in a clean, sterile environment where you feel comfortable. Infections can be irritating and serious if not looked after. According to Body-jewelry-guide.com, bacterial infections are the most common form of complication for a labret piercing. Hepatitis B and C are the most severe but rare forms of infection–generally caused by the use of unsterilized piercing needles. If you’ve ever had any allergic reaction to jewelry in the past, you must tell your piercer. According to the Mayo Clinic, common signs of skin irritation include redness, pain or pus coming from your piercing. If this happens, speak to a medical professional as soon as possible, but it’s important to leave the piercing in until the infection has gone away.
