Wednesday May 16th, 2012 @ 2:24 AM
I want to get Dahlia piercings in a few months, when I’ll finally be 18. I was wondering how the healing process is, like what’s normal and what I should watch out for. Also, would I be able to wear retainers or clear studs in them for school? And are there any extra risks other than the usual infections or scarring?
I have done a few sets of Dahilas in my studio before and find that they are more like cheek piericings in many ways. They do take longer to heal, require longer (and thicker) jewellery than labrets and can be more problamatic during the healing.
I wouldn’t suggest wearing any plastic (clear) jewellery in it for at least 2-3 months to let them fully heal. Often plastic jewellery will cause irritation and sometimes scar tissue to form. Perhaps you could get them while you are on a break so they are healed and happy for retainers when you go back.
As always, ask the piercer you found if they have HEALED photos in their portfolio and ask what length/gauge they used on them fresh and healed. Being a much rarer piercing than a normal lip, make sure you see someone that is familiar with the tissue and the correct inside placement.
+1 / 1 votes 
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Wednesday May 16th, 2012 @ 2:08 AM
I have had a vertical labret piercing for about 6 years now. I am getting a little bored of the jewelry available for it. Is it possible to put a hoop in a vertical labret? Or will it look awful.
Thanks a lot.
Although there is nothing stopping you from wearing a ring, however it will look kinda silly and will get caught on nearly everything!
If you want to try something different, you could put a curved barbell in with a jewelled disc on top or a spike on the bottom. Both will look sweet and give your old piercing a new splash of life!
0 / 0 votes 
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Saturday May 12th, 2012 @ 4:07 AM
Hello 
My question is: will a straight ptfe bar stay straight in a vertical labret, or will it curve? And will it being straight cause the piercing to reject/migrate?
I always suggest internally threaded CURVED metal barbells (preferably titanium) for vertical lip piercings as they put significantly less pressure on the area and will drastically reduce the chance of migration.
PTFE (and other plastic materials) are often a ’stouborn’ material and will want to do their own thing. You can curve PTFE and it will stay, however it will often be easier to spin around and could over time can begin to straighten and cause irritation.
Metal materials are always a much safer and more secure option.
0 / 0 votes
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Tuesday May 8th, 2012 @ 5:02 AM
Okay so I’ve had my smiley for 4 or 5 years now and a couple days ago I woke up and couldn’t move it because it hurt so bad. It started to feel better so I thought it would be fine. now the skin around it is swelling and its a slight dark red. What is odd is that it doesn’t hurt to move my piercing anymore and it slides readily back and fourth, but there’s an odd smell and the area around looks worse than it does. Should I take it out and clean the shit out of the area? Should I go to a doctor or professional? I’ve been using listerene every night to see if the alcohol helps but it doesn’t seem to be doing much.
Also I don’t have a hoop in it but a bar like the one used in a tragus….is that bad?
I think that the smell could be associated with the over use of mouth rinse. Alcohol based mouth rinse is NEVER a good idea for a piercing (even if healed) as all it will do is burn the tissue and mess up your natural bacterial levels.
It could be to do with your actual jewellery, make sure that its free from scratches or barbs. Many cheap manufactures will have little burs or funny bits at the ends. I would also suggest to get a piercer to put in a quality captive ring, they are often best for smiley piercings.
Secondly, it could also be from plaque build up on the bar itself. It’s totally normal for this to happen, but sometimes it can trap a bit of food or cause an irritating rough spot. Sometimes you can’t even see it, until you take the bar out.
I would suggest to first try a brand new (preferably titanium) barbell in there and see if it gets better. It might also be advisable to go back to your piercer to put it in and get them to check for any little bits of debris that might be trapped in the fistula (inside of the hole).
0 / 0 votes
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Tuesday May 8th, 2012 @ 4:45 AM
I just recently got my monroe re-pierced at a shop called Inferno. I’ve been brushing my teeth 3+ times a day, gargling with a alcohol free mouthwash, and I bought a cleaner from a tattoo shop that I can internally and externally rinse with, but it’s been about a week and my lip is still oozing and crisping on the outside. I had to change the labret the second day because the previous one had a backing that was way too thin and was cutting into my lip, so I disinfected my previous labret and put that one in instead. Right now though, my lip burns a little on the inside. It just feels bruised and really warm on the inside, I haven’t been touching it with my tongue much, just to check in how it is doing. It doesn’t hurt at all as much as it did, but I got sick this week and had a fever and I’m a little worried that it may be because of my piercing. I’m getting better, and my lip seems to be better, but if anyone could tell me a little information to comfort my tummy and mind, and maybe give me some ideas on how to make it better, that would be great.
I would say not to be too stressed out, it doesn’t sound infected at all - just healing. Chances are your body was focusing on healing the piercing and lowered your immune system which let a little flu or something get through.
I would recommend to go back to your piercer and let them have a quick look at the inside, just to make sure nothing is going on. Although changing the bar to a larger back (I only use 5mm backs for initial lip piercings) was a good move, its always recommended to let your piercer change it - that way you know its been autoclaved (properly sterilized).
Keep not touching it, that is a really good way to build up scar tissue and can stop the piercing from healing correctly.
0 / 0 votes
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Tuesday May 8th, 2012 @ 3:01 AM
4 days ago, I got a lip piercing, and my lip has been swollen and painful since. It seems like both sides is digging in my lip, and there a bit of infections. Though I do what the guy who pierced me told me to do. I rince my mouth with alchool free mouth wash. Then i spray clean it with the stuff he gave me (Blue Wave), then i clean it with Sea salt in warm water.
But it seems to be getting deeper in my skin everyday..
It is very doubtful that your lip is infected - more likely bar bar is just too short.
Go into your piercer RIGHT AWAY and get a longer bar put in. You are doing all your aftercare correct, however some people swell more than others.
The up-size is nearly always free if you go back to your piercer, but if you leave it too long - it can grow over and become a very nasty thing to try and fix.
0 / 0 votes
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Tuesday May 8th, 2012 @ 2:52 AM
I am considering getting my lip pierced. However, I work at a bank so i obviously can’t have any visible piercings. Is there any way a piercer would be able to pierce it with a clear retainer? And are the retainers barely visible or will it still be noticeable? I am only able to take 1 to 1.5 weeks off at a time, so my only other option would be to get it pierced and switch to a retainer within a week or so. Is this a possibility?
Some piercers will be able to pierce you with a retainer, I have done it with great success in the past. Some companies make totally clear bio-compatible internal thread plastics with interchangeable diamante/clear clip-in ends - they are pretty cool.
You can NEVER beat a good quality internally threaded barbell for security and healing, however if it is your only option then its better than taking it out or changing it while it is still healing. I stock them and have used them a number of times, however encourage people to try and always go with titanium for the first 4-6 weeks at least.
Make sure that the piercer allows room for swelling on the piercing, you need it to stick out a bit (which does make it more visible, but not that much) and has experience piercing with retainers. Clear plastic balls on the end of a normal bar is not acceptable (nor autoclavable) for a fresh piercing, so be picky about what you get in there.
0 / 0 votes
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Monday May 7th, 2012 @ 3:03 AM
Hi guys!
I’m preparing for my first real piercing.
The only piercing I’ve ever had was my lobes, which were pierced by a gun (GUNS ARE BAD.) when I was five, so this new piercing is pretty exciting.
I’m having my dahlias pierced. I’ve done a lot of research, and I’ve found a good facility (Friendly staff, autoclave etc.) so I’m just waiting for my pay to come in (My workplace is totally cool with piercings.) so I can trot out and have it done.
My real question here is pretty basic; does anybody have any experience of piercing dahlias (Actual piercers only, I don’t care if you bought a needle online and pierced your friend’s dahlias, that’s a different thing.) or does anybody have their dahlias pierced? If so, is there any extra info I should know?
I gather they carry the same risks as a labret piercing (I hope that’s the right name, I know some people don’t like certain names being used for some piercings. I’m a little ignorant on that front.) and they’re generally fitted with labret jewellery.
As they’re my first facial piercing, I’m just looking for all the tip[s and info I can get to ensure I’ve covered all bases.
My parents and workplace are cool with the piercing, I’m going to a professional, I’ve got my non-alcoholic mouthwash at the ready and I’ve even done a few tests (I photoshopped them onto some of my photos to see if I’d suit them, and almost everybody said they looked great on me.) to make sure I’ll definitely be happy with them.
All tips and info are appreciated!
I have done a few sets of Dahilas in my studio before and find that they are more like cheek piericings in many ways. They do take longer to heal, require longer (and thicker) jewellery than labrets and can be more problamatic during the healing.
I pierced my girlfriend’s Dahlias around 6 months ago at 12g with 13mm length internal thread titanium ‘labret’ style bars (disc on the inside. She found them quite comfortable to get done (except a bit anxious before hand) and we downsized them to 10mm bars around 5 weeks later. They weren’t fully healed at that point, however she was biting them a bit and we decided it would be way more comfortable.
She now wears 12gx8mm posts and has had no problems whatsoever.
As always, ask the piercer you found if they have HEALED photos in their portfolio and ask what length/gauge they used on them fresh and healed. Being a much rarer piercing than a normal lip, make sure you see someone that is familiar with the tissue and the correct inside placement.
0 / 0 votes
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Monday May 7th, 2012 @ 3:03 AM
I’ve had my cheeks pierced for 3 days now. I knew they would swell but, I didn’t know it would be THIS bad. The bar is rubbing against my cheek and it’s causing a raw spot. The piercer that did it told me to take ibuprofen and it would help with the swelling. Also to keep ice chips around because, they can help help also.
My questions is, should I take them out. I’ve heard BAD stuff about them and someone even said that the ball tried to go through there cheek? Or can I just switch it to a bioflex bar as soon as possible?
Sounds like you might either need a longer bar or larger end on the inside. I healed mine with 7mm discs on the inside as it was WAY more comfortable than larger balls or normal size discs.
I would never suggest plastic (PTFE/bioflex/bioplast) in your cheeks, I tried them a long time ago (once healed) and every ‘brand’ that I tried just broke the back disc off - not fun when you are out and about!
Ice does help with swelling, so does cold saline soaks and anti-inflammatories (nurofen+/ibuprofen).
0 / 0 votes
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Friday May 4th, 2012 @ 7:35 AM
Hello,
I got my lower right lip pierced with a flatback labret stud about 5-6 wks ago. The piercer originally put in one of the longest studs they had (as I naturally have a thick bottom lip) to allow for swelling and told me to come back in 10 days to have it switched to a shorter one.
I went back about 10 days later, and I think he said he only switched it down about 2 sizes, if that. It fit snug and was comfortable; redness and crusties went way down. I continued proper aftercare (sea salt soak, washing with antibacterial glycerin soap), but noticed a couple days later that the back felt like it was digging in, the back disappeared into my lip and it became painful. Went back in and a different piercer said my lip just wasn’t ready for the shorter one and changed it back to the longer one.
About 2 1/2 - 3 wks later I got it switched back to a shorter one. Again, fit snug and comfortable. It’s been about a week, and it’s starting to dig into the back of my lip again. There’s no swelling, it’s not sinking in as far as it did the first time I had it changed, but the flatback is cutting into my lip and causing some minor pain. It’s not a “holy crap this is a fresh wound in my lip” kind of pain, but more of a “holy crap there’s a piece of metal in my mouth and it’s kind of annoying” kind of pain. Make sense?
So, I guess my question is, Is my labret stud too short? Is my lip still not ready for it? Or is it still settling? Are you following? Haha! This is my first piercing (other than my ears), so I’m not entirely positive on what to be expecting. I do know that my lips sometimes swell quite noticeably over night (even before I got my piercing), but go down shortly after waking up.
Other than that, it’s been healing up nicely. I’ve only been using the implant-grade steel studs they provide at the piercing studio, as I don’t want to be dicking around with other jewelry until I know it’s 100% healed and settled.
Thanks!
I believe that 10 days is too short to downsize a fresh piercing, unless it is excessively long as your lip has multiple stages of swelling and healing.
If the back disc is sinking in, chances are you should go back and get a longer bar put back in for at least 6 weeks before you downsize again.
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Joeltron | Permalink | Comments
