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2021 Labret Piercing Pros & Cons by a Piercer S02 EP20

In Season 2 Episode 20, DaVo, a Professional Piercer since 1994, covers the Pros and Cons of Labret Piercings. In season 2 he also covers: What You Should Know Before Getting the Piercing, The Piercing Experience, Healing, Jewelry, Living with the Piercing, and Abandoning the Piercing.

I aka DaVo have been a professional body piercer and is the owner of the Axiom Body Piercing Studio in Des Moines, Iowa since 1994. My focus on education and helping clients make safe and informed decisions on getting pierced has always been a large part of my business practices and services. With my website and increasingly on youtube, I hope to expand and inform others outside of my small part of the world. I always encourage questions and comments, so if you have one, please comment. 

Show Notes:

  • Pierced on the lower lip with Labret Stud

  • Pierced more inside the mouth at a 90-degree angle

  • Pronounced as Lay Bray, lay Bret or Lay Burt. Comes from the Latin word labrum

  • can only wear labret studs

History:

  • lip piercings have a long history among the tribal people of Africa and South America

  • Was developed in a modern piercing in the late 80s. The names for each side came about later.

Pros:

  1. Long History of Healing

  2. Lots of Placement options

  3. can be done in groupings(bites)

  4. Lots of different ends

  5. Lower Profile

Cons

  1. Risk to Damage to teeth, gums, and bones

  2. can only wear Labret Studs

  3. can affect employment

  4. Swelling, change of diet

  5. Closes quickly

 

Things to look for:

  • Piercer is experienced in this piercing, professional, informative and make you feel comfortable, and offer a consultation that involves aftercare, risks, etc… The piercer should evaluate your anatomy

  • More acceptable to STDs during oral sex even after the piercing is healed.

  • The risk of damaging teeth, gums, and bones

  • Should discuss your jewelry goal

  • Should discuss diet changes

  • Does the piercer provide aftercare products and written and verbal aftercare instruction?

The Piercing Experience:

  • Consultation & Jewelry Selection

  • Waiver, Set Up, and Disinfection

  • Before marking you should talk about your jewelry options

  • The placement on the outside should be about a 1/8th of an inch below the lip line and evenly placed with the outside at a 90-degree angle.

  • Best done with forceps

  • The piercing is done from the outside in.

  • Then a guide pin or taper pin pushes out the needle

  • The jewelry is attached to the pin on the inside and is inserted

  • The jewelry end is put on, Hemostats may be used and if threaded jewelry it might take a while

  • There may be some slight to moderate bleeding.

  • Usually, you will have throbbing, aching, and warmth in the area for a few minutes afterward

  • Piercing is sensitive to the touch.

  • Some bruising can occur

Healing:

  • The average healing time is 12-16 weeks or longer

  • Saline twice daily

  • First, two week rinse twice daily with a non-alcohol based antiseptic mouthwash & warm saltwater

  • Must practice cross-contamination prevention and isolate and avoid any contact with the piercing.

    • Clean hands

    • no oral contact

    • Keep your bedding, clothing, towels, etc… clean

    • No Swimming

    • Keep Pets Away

  • Avoid contact or trauma to the area. Elevate the piercing off the bed and do not sleep on it.

  • Swelling

    • Swelling will often happen a few days after the piercing.

    • Change diet and reduce talking and movement

    • Reduce swelling including sleeping with your head elevated.

  • First 3-5 days you can experience slight bleeding off and on, redness/discolor, heat, and tenderness to the touch.

  • An oral piercing white ring of tissue, discharge, and nesting

Jewelry:

  • should leave jewelry in at all times

  • The jewelry should be downsized either as soon as it heals or if there is issues before the healing is complete.

  • check the tightness of the end.

Living with the piercing:

  • The jewelry should be left in at all times.

  • Monitor teeth, gums, and bones in the piercing area. If there is a soreness, pain, or damage, remove the jewelry and abandon the piercing.

  • Avoid pressure or trauma to the piercing including sleep

  • check the tightness of the ball regularly

  • Plaque can collect the disc, rinsing with anti-plaque mouthwash, or brushing will reduce this.

Abandoning the piercing:

  • Will close but may appear open for a long period of time.

  • There will be a small indented circular scar on each side. This may fade in time.

  • The holes may produce a cream cheese-like discharge, this is sebum.

Check Out Our Merch Store - https://teespring.com/stores/bpt-channel

The following links are affiliate links and a small amount will go to DaVo and the Axiom:

Suggested Aftercare Products:

  • For Premixed Saline DaVo suggests. NeilMed Neil Cleanse Wound Wash First-Aid Sterile Saline Solution 6 fl oz Each - https://amzn.to/2lgrfL7
  • For Oral Piercings -     
    Biotene Fresh Mint Moisturizing Oral Rinse Mouthwash, Alcohol-Free, for Dry Mouth - https://amzn.to/2NbIYza

All footage was filmed using a Canon EOS 80D Camera with the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens - https://amzn.to/3bb5PV4 and Canon EOS R  - https://amzn.to/386Y1BZ with Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM Lens - https://amzn.to/3jkvptO

Audio - Recorded with Shure MV7 - https://amzn.to/39fKKbS with a Tascam DR-40x - https://amzn.to/2Lw67O8

For more information on DaVo and the Axiom Body Piercing Studio go to https://axiompiercing.com

Now on TikTok - TikTok - @SKTattoo - http://vm.tiktok.com/fWNXFc/

Axiom Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/axiombodypiercing/

Skin Kitchen's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theskinkitchen/

Contact DaVo at davo@axiompiercing.com or by phone at 515-966-4814
If you would like to set up a Piercing Appointment go to https://axiompiercing.com/booking.

Skin Kitchen Tattoo and The Axiom Body Piercing Studio are located at 3800 Douglas Ave./Des Moines, Iowa 50311
Tattoo hours are Thursday - Monday 1-8pm
Piercing hours are Thursday - Monday 2-8pm