2022 Medusa Piercing Pros & Cons by a Piercing & Everything Else S02 EP45

In Season 2 Episode 45, DaVo covers the Pros & Cons, What You Should Know, The Piercing, Healing, Jewelry, Living with the Piercing & Abandoning the Piercing for the Medusa Piercing.

I aka DaVo have been a professional body piercer and 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:

• Labret style piercing through the Philtrum or Cupid’s Bow centered on the upper lip.

History:

• One of the many lip style piercings that were developed in the early 1990s, The legend is that the Medusa name comes from a Canadian hairdresser. What is behind the meaning of the name is unknown.

Pros:

1. Long History of healing

2. Less movement & contact with Gums, Teeth, Bones

3. Large Variety of Jewelry

4. Quick Heal

5. Doesn’t affect sleeping

Cons

1. Risks of damage

2. Scarring

3. Closes quickly

4. Swelling

5. Can limit employment

6. Diet change

Preparing & What you Should Know:

• If you are employed or involved in organized sports check to make sure that you can have the piercing.

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

• The jewelry will be longer than needed and will need to be downsized

• This will affect diet, so plan ahead. Buy foods, drinks & crushed ice.

• Need to cut down on things to limit swelling

• Cross-Contamination Prevention

• Buy Biotene Mouthwash, sea salt & distilled water.

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

The Piercing Experience:

• Consultation & Jewelry Selection

• Waiver, Set Up, and Disinfection

• Marking needs to appear centered

• Depends on the threaded end and your anatomy how far up.

• Marking should appear to be straight at arm's length.

• The area is clamped with forceps

• The needle is inserted in and through from the outside inward at an angle to match.

• Forceps are removed and the needle is pushed out with a guide pin

• The jewelry is threaded to a guide pin on the inside of the mouth

• The jewelry is inserted

• The end is screwed on, often hemostats are used.

• 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.

• Jewelry will be slightly loose fitting to allow for swelling.

Healing: camera 1

• The average healing time is 2-6 months

• Clean twice daily with sterile saline spray

• First two weeks, rinse twice daily with Biotene and saltwater.

• Reducing swelling:

  • Cut down on the intake of ….

  • Stay hydrated, especially at night

  • avoid movement

  • cold items

  • simple foods

  • avoid drinks and food that are high in sodium

  • sleep with your head elevated above your heart

  • OTC anti-inflammatory

• Swelling will last 3-5 days

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

  • Clean hands

  • no oral contact.

  • Practice safe sex

  • Keep your environment clean

  • No Swimming

  • Keep Pets Away

• Avoid playing with the piercing or excessive movement

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

• Avoid trauma and contact with the piercing.

• Downsize the piercing in 14-20 days.

Jewelry:

• should leave jewelry in at all times

• Can only wear labret Studs

• Should be internally threaded and made of implant grade materials

• Plastics and man-made materials are often not safer and may be harmful.

• The jewelry should be tight fitting to pull it away from teeth and gums

• Ends should be checked regularly.

• Glass can be worn temporarily

Living with the piercing:

• Brushing off plaque or using an anti-plague rinse

• Check the ends at least weekly

• Eating large items may be uncomfortable

• Monitor your gums and teeth regularly for damage

• If you notice damage remove the jewelry at once.

• Leave jewelry in at all times.

• Always practice safe sex when switching partners

Abandoning the Piercing:

• If there is damage, abandon immediately

• If the piercing is still healing and there are signs of infection or another issue, consult a doctor or your piercer before removing the jewelry.

• If the piercing is healing but there is no signs of issues, just remove the jewelry and monitor the area like any other wound.

• If the piercing is healed just remove the jewelry.

• These piercings scar and the piercing will appear open long after it is abandoned. Over time the scarring may fade.

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

Body Piercing & Tattooing Channels Merch Store - https://teespring.com/stores/bpt-channel

All photos are used in the spirit of Fair Uses. If you own the copyright of the photos, did the piercing, or are the person in the photo, please contact me and I will add the information to the description. 

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