Medusa Piercings: What to Expect During and After

Facial piercings are a striking form of body art. If you're going to commit to one, you also need to be ready to embrace the process—not just working up the nerve to get pierced, but also being disciplined in the aftercare. But with so many areas on the face to adorn, how do you know which is best for you? Let's start with the medusa piercing, a particularly delicate, albeit very cool-looking spot for some jewelry.

Intrigued but unsure if you're ready to commit? Don't worry, we spoke to the experts for you to give you the rundown on what you can expect.

Keep reading for everything you need to know before getting a medusa piercing.

What Is a Medusa Piercing?

A medusa piercing is located right above the cupid's bow in the indented part of your upper lip. "While decorative terms for lip piercings (like Monroe, Madonna, Marilyn, and the Medusa piercing) sound cool and catchy, they are technically and professionally all just considered lip piercings," says Pearce. "However, this particular lip piercing is an exception, as it does have a specific title: The Philtrum, named after the anatomical area of the piercing location."

Pain and Healing Time

The million-dollar question: Does a medusa piercing hurt? Unless you have a very high pain threshold, most likely, it will hurt for a few seconds. It depends on your tolerance how much. "As much as I wish I could give you an accurate projection of the pain level, it's simply not possible," says Pearce. "Each individual is completely different and as such, each person will have an entirely different experience."

Healing time can also be variable. According to Pearce, it will likely take about three months. "Some individuals may take slightly longer," he says.

Cost of Medusa Piercing

"When choosing a piercing studio, the price can be a clear indication of the jewelry quality and professional expertise you’re about to subject your body to," says Pearce. "At our studio (and most others), the final price will always be determined by the jewelry that you pick out." Piercings at Nine Moons start at $40, plus the price of your jewelry.

"We’re considered a fine jewelry gallery, using mostly solid gold and ethically sourced genuine diamonds," says Pearce. "Our most cost-effective piece starts around $150-ish, but it can easily reach four figures or more depending on your jewelry taste."

Aftercare 

Since a medusa is both a lip piercing and an oral piercing, it requires a bit of special care. "Less is more" when it comes to aftercare, notes Pearce, who cautions against touching the piercing. "No twisting and turning," he adds. You may also want to adjust your diet if need be. "It’s important to recognize that your body is responsible for healing your injuries, including your piercings. Not to sound like a parental figure, but eat fruits and veggies, get a healthy amount of sleep, and go exercise."

As for your water intake, be sure to drink a lot, especially after eating. According to Pearce, this "helps to get a lot of residual food debris out of your mouth. It prevents dehydration, which in turn, helps prevent your piercing from swelling more than normal. Drinking water also promotes salivation, and your saliva actually contains a multitude of anti-microbial compounds, enzymes, and healing properties specific to oral injuries."

Gently brush your teeth and, if your piercer recommends it, you may want to swish with alcohol-free mouthwash or saline solution to cleanse from inside your mouth. "Do not mix salt into water at home as this is not the same thing and can result in very negative effects on your piercing," says Pearce. Instead, he recommends showering in warm water to gently rinse the area if you don't have a real saline solution handy, and immediately dry the piercing and surrounding area after.

Side Effects of Piercing

• Swelling: You'll probably experience some swelling, but it should subside within a few days. "Philtrum piercings tend to experience a decent amount of localized swelling," says Pearce. It should subside on its own with proper aftercare.
• Crusting: "Philtrum piercings often create discharge during the healing stages," says Pearce. This can result in crust around the piercing, which is normal. "Don’t pick at it or forcefully remove anything. Instead, you can utilize a sterile saline spray to naturally encourage the debris to come off," says Pearce.
• Gum erosion and tooth damage: This is an oft-overlooked side effect of shoddily done mouth piercings. "If a Philtrum piercing isn’t done correctly, the jewelry will likely cause oral trauma and over time can result in irreversible damage," says Pearce. The good news? "Proper and strategic placement by a seasoned piercer should help minimize the potential negative effects that can be associated with oral piercings." The bad? Neither "gums nor teeth are regenerative, so damage that’s done can rarely be reversed and not easily, without pain, or cost-efficiently," notes Givens.

How to Change Out a Medusa Piercing

At the six-month mark, you can usually go back to the shop to downsize your jewelry. It might take two to six months for the internal tissue to heal completely, so continue being as gentle as possible with the piercing. "People always ask advice on changing their jewelry at home. The truth is that it’s tricky working on yourself," says Pearce. He recommends handling the piercing only with freshly washed hands, and possibly even a pair of disposable gloves. "Gloves make it easier to grip your jewelry and also help prevent the transfer of bacteria from your hands. Sometimes keeping a piece of gauze on hand can help dry saliva from the area, making removal slightly easier."

What Type of Jewelry Is Used for Medusa Piercing?

A viable style for a new medusa piercing is the labret, "sometimes referred to as a flatback, post, or stud," says Pearce. "Other abstract styles of jewelry may be worn and interchanged once the piercing is healed, but it is professionally suggested that you wear a labret style during the initial healing process."

What Jewelry Material Is Used for Medusa Piercing?

• Implant grade titanium: Also known as F-136 titanium, this is an ideal choice due to its biocompatibility and the fact that it's hypoallergenic. "For those with a nickel allergy or an overall sensitivity to metals, titanium can be a superior option," says Pearce.
• Solid gold: If you're going the gold route, make sure you're choosing something of high quality. Pearce and other experts agree that 14-karat gold is best for new piercings. The most important rule of thumb according to Givens? "Nickel is the most common allergy. Always avoid nickel."