Removing a lip ring two weeks after you get it doesn't allow enough time for the piercing to heal. Lip piercings take two to three months to heal, according to the Center for Young Women's Health at Children's Hospital in Boston. If you choose to remove your lip ring two weeks after your lip is pierced, there is a great chance that you will have to let the piercing close or visit a professional piercer to determine if she can insert a new piece of lip jewelry.
Step 1
Wash your hands in hot water with antibacterial soap to reduce the risk of getting an infection in your piercing.
Step 2
Rinse your lip piercing using a commercial saline solution.
Step 3
Allow your hands and lip to dry before continuing.
Step 4
Grasp the bar or ring portion of the lip jewelry with your nondominant hand. Hold it firmly.
Step 5
Place your dominant hand on the ball of the lip jewelry and turn it to the left to remove the ball.
Step 6
Slide the lip ring or bar out of the skin. Don't pull too hard, as this may irritate the skin and cause scarring. If the jewelry seems stuck, contact a professional piercer to help you remove it.
Step 7
Clean the area using a saline solution until it heals, instructs the Association of Professional Piercers. For a lip piercing, you should do this upon waking, after each meal or drink and before bed.
Step 8
Apply bacitracin or triple-antibiotic ointment to the exterior side of the piercing to prevent infection. Follow the direction on the package.
Tips and Warnings
- Don't apply cosmetics or any type of skin-care product to the area until the hole is completely closed, the Association of Professional Piercers advises. These products may irritate the area.
- If you see any signs of infection, such as redness, pain or drainage from the piercing, don't remove the jewelry and contact your doctor immediately. The jewelry is keeping the hole open and allowing it to drain, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. If you remove it, an abscess may develop.
Things You'll Need
- Antibacterial soap
- Saline solution
- Bacitracin or triple-antibiotic ointment
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