Medusa piercing & variations
Medusa Piercing
The philtrum piercing, also known as a the “Medusa” piercing, is performed like a standard horizontal lip piercing, only above the lips instead of under them. It’s generally done using a 16 gauge labret, generally 8mm long or longer to accommodate the swelling. Using a labret is important because of the flat back – you always want to try and keep jewelry away from your teeth and gums to prevent dental damage.
This one is notorious for troubled healing. Most notably, the initial swelling is far more pronounced than with a standard lip piercing. Also, the swelling and irritation have a way of flaring back up after they seem to have settled down, making for an up-and-down sort of healing process.
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Variation 1 - Vertical Philtrum Piercing
Sometimes called a “Jestrum” piercing, this piercing enters through the philtrum but exits through the top lip itself. This piercing never makes contact with the inside of the mouth so there’s no risk of dental damage. This can be a perfect option for those who are especially concerned about their dental health. It also requires different jewelry, generally using a curved a barbell instead of a labret. It is virtually identical to vertical labret piercing, except that it is performed on the upper lip and not the bottom. The extra-lovely thing about a Jestrum piercing is that it also requires no oral aftercare. Since it never enters the mouth, you clean it like a standard piercing. No mouthwash needed
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Variation 2 - Double Medusa
This works best with petite jewelry to make sure that the ends are able to both lie flat, and that the jewelry doesn’t touch. It may be necessary, due to the aforementioned swelling, to get them done one at a time
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