Thursday May 29th, 2008 @ 4:52 PM
Though I am an ‘impulse pieree’, as I like to think of it, I always make up for my split second decisions with research after the fact. Bad, I know.
I got a vertical labret piercing a week ago, and it is my favorite piercing. There was no swelling, blood, tenderness, or pain at all- even my tongue was worse. Yet I have seen several forums that claim that this piercing commonly rejects. However, as with most everything on the internet, whether or not this is true seems to vary.
Unfortunately this has made me very paranoid, to the point where I am checking it several times a day. So, I’ll ask the experts: do vertical labret piercings reject often? Also, I’ve seen some people mention it depends on whether ones anatomy is suited for it- my piercer did not say anything about this. Where should the piercing sit to lesson the risk of rejection?
Thanks for your help.
I wouldn’t say that vertical labret piercings reject very often. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s pretty uncommon. That assumes, of course, that the anatomy is well-suited for the piercing to begin with. Fortunately, most lips are pretty well suited for vertical labret piercings. Lips that are very thin and/or flat are often not good candidates for vertical labret piercings, but I have seen them work out on lips I was almost-postive they would reject on.
So, if your piercing seems to be doing well at this point, I really wouldn’t waste a lot of time and energy on worrying about it rejecting. If it’s going to reject, there likely isn’t anything you can do about it anyway.
Kick back. Relax. Don’t stress. Enjoy the hell out of your new piercing!
+6 / 6 votes 
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | Comments
Sunday May 25th, 2008 @ 11:57 PM
HELP! About 6 months ago I purchased an 18 qauge 1/4 inch labret/monroe stainless steel piece on jewelry that was just perfect for my monroe. It has a micro gem (about 1mm to 1.5mm wide) and it was a “push in” jewel rather than an internal or external screw. I do remember it was at least $30 but my computer crashed and I no longer have the link. Can anyone help me? I’ve been searching for days and cannot find anyone who sells the. Painful Pleasures sells something similar but the interior flatback is much wider than the original one I purchased. My original is about 2.5mm wide while the Painful Pleasure piece is 4mm. Unfortunately I cannot wear bioplast so it has really become a problem to find a good piece of jewelry now. Thanks!
What it sounds like, is that you have a NeoMetal Threadless Labret. To make the statement a bit more accurate it should be Titanium not Stainless Steel, as NeoMetal strictly deals with Implant Grade Titanium (ASTM F136 6Al-4V ELI Titanium).
There are only a small handful of online jewelry retailers that offer this type of jewelry, however my suggestion is to perhaps visit your local piercing studio and request a custom order of the NeoMetal jewelry. There are a lot of reputable studios that carry that type of jewelry or if for some reason they don’t, it shouldn’t be hard for them to order it in for you. As realistically the price shouldn’t really be more than $30 for the jewelry, if anything you might pay a couple extra dollars for the shipping.
Perhaps if you let us know where you’re located we can help you track down a studio that carries the jewelry or will be willing to get it for you.
+3 / 3 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 8 Comments
Wednesday May 21st, 2008 @ 8:36 PM
what size rings should i get for my snaked bites so the hoops are tight on my lip… i was thinking 5/16″ diamtere, like 8mm. im wondering before i order soemthing, does that size make any sense? im wanting seam rings but regular ball closure rings is fine. cuzi tried on a hoop that i measured to be 9 mm (inside diameter) but i cant get the ball on its really hard plus i only have one. okay thank you!!!!!!!!!!
Visit a piercer and ask them to measure your lip and they will advise on what size your piercing is best suited to. Everyone has different sized lips and differently placed piercings - it’s a bit like asking what size shoes to get.
+2 / 12 votes 
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | Comments
Monday May 19th, 2008 @ 8:38 PM
i had my piercing done almost a week ago. a lip ring actuslly the 2nd snake bite. anyways i ghave my friend a kiss goodbye and it inda hurt. later i see blood on my lip around the piercing. i clean it and later theres more so i got o clean it and it keeps bleeding for a couple minutes. then later on out of nowhere i taste blood in my mouth and its bleeding again for the third time. so i go clean it but its not as much blood as last time. anyways my friend sad it could be cuz i was drinking for the past 3 days, ending last night, so maybe my blood cant clot too well. also last night i was ina moshpit, so maybe it got hit. Is this bad? should i take it out? what do i do!!!?
A lip piercing, less than a week old, and you’re kissing, drinking and moshing? Yeah. That could contribute to the bleeding. It’s also possible that your ring has a knick/barb on it and is irritating the piercing. There are a lot of potential factors, but- my primary advice would be “lay off the lip, the hooch and the moshing”. Piercings heal with patience and care, not abuse.
+12 / 14 votes 
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | Comments
Friday May 16th, 2008 @ 1:50 AM
I’ve been trying to find information on stretching a vertical labret. I’ve searched the main site and have found nothing, as well as rummaging around IAM. I’d like to take my vertical labret (now 14g) up to 10g or 8g.
Do you have any information/advice on this? I know to take it slowly but that’s about it as I’ve only ever stretched my lobes.
In theory, there is no reason you can’t stretch a vertical labret piercing. However, keep in mind that the tissue of the actual lip is pretty thin. So, the more you stretch it, the more pressure you will put on it, and you may likely increase your chance of rejection.
Going slow is definitely the key. In addition, pay attention to what your body is telling you. If you stretch it, and it seems to react badly, be prepared to take back down.
+4 / 4 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 1 Comment
Tuesday May 13th, 2008 @ 6:54 AM
I have a 14 gauge labret, which i am uncomfortable with its length.
It feels too tight, so am i able to get the same size gauge jewelery but with a longer bar, or will the purchase of a 14 gauge only come in one standard length, the length i already have?
Can someone please tell me what size i will require if the fact is that gauges only come in one size lengths.
Thanks
PIPA
Labret studs come in a variety of different lengths irrespective of the gauge. I can’t tell you which length you need as that depends on the thickness of your lip. The best thing for you to do is to pop along to the piercers and have them measure your piercing and provide you with the appropriate sized jewellery.
+9 / 13 votes
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 1 Comment
Tuesday May 6th, 2008 @ 2:39 AM
I have had the center of my lower labret pierced for almost a year now. I would really like to put something made of stone, horn, glass, or wood in it, but I don’t want to stretch. I am having a very difficult time finding labret jewelry made of organic materials in anything smaller than an 8, 6, and often even 0. The only things I have found in a 12 or 10 gauge are black and far too long, or white and not long enough. I’m looking for something that is long enough to not require a ball to stay in my face, and maybe with some color options.
I thought it couldnt be too difficult considering there are lots of photos of the Matses people with labret pins and other cultures too. Plus, its not like its a complex design or anything.
So the gist of my question is “Where is all the organic small gauge labret jewelry hiding?” and “is there a particular reason why its so hard to find?
In my searches I’ve found a couple companies that could offer what you’re looking for. One option would be to take a proper measurement of your labret piercing and purchase a single flared plug that is 12ga or 10ga (whatever size you’re at) and just make sure that the wearing surface is the matching length.
Another option would be to seek out one of the many jewelry manufacturers of Glass, Organic jewelry on the IAM Community and inquire about if its possible to do a custom request of that nature. However I’d say the best place to look for this type of jewelry is in the plugs sections, as there are quite a few companies that sell 12ga-10ga single flared plugs…Mostly in glass though, at least from what I noticed in my searches. But as I said if you’re looking for Organics (Stone, Wood, Bone,etc) I’d say try and contact one of the few Organic Jewelry manufacturers that are on the IAM Community and see if they can custom make you something.
+1 / 3 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 1 Comment
Monday April 28th, 2008 @ 1:12 AM
after much debate about whether to keep my philtrum/medusa piercing or not, i have decided to retire it due to placement. it did not “align” with my vertical labret piercing as well as i would like, and i would like to have it re-pierced. i know that oral piercing tend to heal a lot quicker than others, however, how long should i wait before getting it re-pierced, seeing as i would like a different placement to where it was pierced orignally? obviously, i would like my baby back as quick as possible 
thanks a lot!
Unfortunately this is hard to answer via the internet without first knowing how long you have had your philtrum for. Personally I’d suggest waiting until the pathway is completely sealed and stabilized, which could technically mean waiting a few months after removal, to even a bit longer. But without knowing how old it is, or seeing how well healed the piercing is, its hard to give you an accurate answer as to how long you will need to wait before re-piercing it.
+3 / 3 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | Comments
Tuesday April 22nd, 2008 @ 12:43 AM
Ok, so my mom is about to drag me out of the house to get my cheeks pierced. Ive been wanting it FOREVER but at the shop I used to work at, the guys wouldnt do it for me. They said they have never done it before and it was too serious of a piercing. I want to know if it is AT ALL possible to be permanently paralyzed if your cheek piercing is done wrong? I know you can get some serious infections, but is that it??
Thank you!
Lot’s of piercers will lie and say “there is no chance of being paralyzed from a piercing”. You can trust me to be more honest than that though. If the piercer slips, stabs you in the upper palate which causes you to pass out and flail around frantically and then you fall down the stairs and land on your head, thereby breaking your neck, you could indeed be paralyzed by your cheek piercings.
That being said, cheeks are tricky piercings to perform as well as to heal, and there are glands that should be avoided even though they aren’t capable of paralyzing you. You are probably far better off not getting pierced in a shop that either doesn’t know what they are talking about, or spreads lies to compensate for there lack of skill.
Sean
+13 / 13 votes
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Posted by Sean Philips | Permalink | 6 Comments
Sunday April 13th, 2008 @ 3:42 AM
I have an internally threaded barbell with disks at the end but my healing is practically done and the bar is way to big 3/8 inch and I cannot seem to find any cheek jewelry I can put in it. I can only fine up to 1/2 inch labrets but that is to small. Is there any place I can buy cheek jewelry?
Thank You 
Properly made internally threaded barbells and labret studs are usually sold in three separate pieces, and therefore, you can get a bar in any length you want and put a disc on one side and a ball or whatever in the other and have “cheek jewellery” to fit any size you need. Your piercer should be able to help you out with figuring out what size will work best for your piercing, as the measurements you’re describing don’t even make sense to me - 3/8″ is smaller than 1/2″, last time I checked!
+4 / 4 votes
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Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | Comments
