With styles ranging from sparkling jewels to sharp metal stakes, lip rings are one way many men and women express themselves. Getting a lip ring is a serious decision because of the associated health risks and the three-month healing time. If you decide to get a lip ring, locate a piercer from the Association of Professional Piercers, or APP, which certifies and regulates piercers.
Types
Many types of lip rings exist, depending upon the piercing location. The standard "lip ring" may be pierced with a ring anywhere on the bottom lip. A stud on the outside of the lip is a labret piercing. "Bites" are when two or more piercings are placed on the lip to mimic the look of a type of bite, such as snake bites on the bottom lip or angel bites on the upper lip. A "Monroe," sometimes called the "Madonna," is a stud worn above the upper lip to mimic Marilyn Monroe's mole.
Lip rings can be made out of a number of materials, but your initial lip ring should be made from a high-grade metal. Surgical steel, titanium, niobium, platinum and gold in 14 karat or higher are APP-recommended metals. Your piercer can help you pick a ring or labret that is sized for your specific piercing.
Cost
The initial cost of a lip ring includes the ring and the piercing. In 2010, piercing prices by AAP piercers generally ranged from $25 to $50. The cost of jewelry varies based on the type of jewelry used and may be an additional $30 or $40. Once the initial piercing has healed, you can purchase an array of labret studs and rings, decorated with jewels, images and different colors, for as low as $5 to as high as hundreds of dollars, when precious stones and metals are used.
Piercing Hygiene
Keeping your lip piercing clean is key to the healing process. Always wash your hands before touching your piercing. The APP recommends rinsing your mouth with a cleaning solution for 30 seconds after meals and before bedtime. Additionally, soak your lip piercing with a warm saline solution at least twice a day and wash your piercing and lip jewelry no more than twice a day. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels.
Body Care
Taking care of your body also helps your piercing heal properly. Boost your immune system with a healthy diet and supplements of vitamins B and C, iron and zinc. Avoid spicy and hot foods and foods that can get caught on your lip ring. Get plenty of sleep and avoid stress, which can prolong your healing time by 40 percent, according to the APP. Brush your teeth with a new, soft-bristled toothbrush and rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash.
Warnings
Lip rings, like any piercing, pose some health risks. Piercing quipment that hasn't been sterilized properly can spread HIV, warns The Center for Young Women's Health. Bacterial infection, hepatitis B and C, damage to your nerves, thick scarring known as keloids, an allergic reaction and excessive bleeding may also occur. The American Dental Association advises against lip rings because they can cause dental damage to your gums and teeth.
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