Everything You Need to Know About a Medusa Piercing

Next to the ears, the lips may be one of the most versatile body parts to pierce. From the center to the corners, above and below, there's no shortage of mouth points worthy of punctuating with body jewelry. But with so many stunning areas 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. Considered both an oral and lip piercing, the high-risk area comes with more aftercare, risk, and maintenance notes than most.

Intrigued but unsure if you're ready to commit? Don't worry, we spoke to the experts 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 professional piercer, Johnny 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 Level of Medusa Piercing

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 of Medusa Piercing

Healing time can also be variable. "Be prepared for a potentially longer healing process," says dermatologist, Brendan Camp, MD. "Because the philtrum is under movement anytime you talk or chew food, it may take longer to heal than a part of your body that does not experience the same amount of mechanical stress."

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 for Medusa Piercing 

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. Dr. Camp also advises against excessive contact with the site: "Avoid overmanipulating the piercing after it has been placed, as this can slow the healing process and increase the risk of infection. Be vigilant about monitoring for signs of infection, which include redness, swelling, pain, warmth, or drainage of pus."

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. "Maintain good oral hygiene with a soft-bristles toothbrush and antiseptic mouthwash," says Dr. Camp.

"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.

With any facial piercing, you'll want to be mindful of your skincare routine. "Most skincare products are applied to the philtrum passively so it’s unlikely any changes need to be made to a daily skincare routine. Don’t apply any skincare products directly to the area," says physicians assistant, Sydney Givens. And yes, that goes for makeup, too.

Potential Side Effects of Medusa Piercing

According to Dr. Camp, "a philtrum piercing can be complicated by scarring, bruising, infection, and a reaction to the piercing material or metal." Additional risks include:

• Infection: Dermatologist, Lauren Penzi, MD., notes this piercing placement is a high-risk area, philtrum piercings have "a higher risk of infection due to close proximity to the mouth that harbors bacteria."
• 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.
• Impaired oral function: You can also add the risk of disrupted motor skills to that. "Make sure to discuss placement of the piercing with your provider beforehand to make sure it will not affect [teeth and gums] or your ability to talk or chew," adds Dr. Camp. According to Dr. Penzi, these impairments can be caused from swelling/pain that can make it hard to eat or drink or potential nerve damage.
  

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."

The Final Takeaway

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. Exceptional oral hygiene and maintenance will be an ongoing commitment with this particularly infection-sensitive placement. "Consider the possibility that you may decide to remove the piercing in the future and what your skin will look like after it has been removed," adds Dr. Camp. "The philtrum is a very cosmetically sensitive area because it is so noticeable. Piercing scars are permanent, and correcting them may require surgical scar removal or treatment with lasers."