Your first piece of lip jewelry is large enough to allow for swelling. After the initial healing period is complete and all swelling has gone down, it can be changed. Each person heals at a different rate, but the average healing time for a lip piercing is eight to 10 weeks, according to Infinite Body Piercing. You can avoid recurring swelling, irritation or your lip ring embedding into your lip by waiting until your lip piercing heals before changing your lip jewelry.
Step 1
Wash your hands and the skin around your piercing with soap and water. Remove any dirt or crust from your lip ring and piercing holes.
Step 2
Rinse the inside of your mouth with mouthwash. Move the bead of the lip ring to the outside of your mouth by turning the ring.
Step 3
Open your mouth. Stretch your lower lip across your lower row of teeth, simulating an exaggerated frown with your mouth open. Place your tongue against the side of the lip ring that is in your mouth. Use your tongue to push the ring toward the outside of your lip to create a bigger space in between your lip and the ring.
Step 4
Insert a pair of sterile opening tools into the inside of the ring. Push down on both sides of the opening tools until the bead of your lip ring pops out and the ring opens. Remove the opening tool from the inside of your lip ring. Push the bead out of the ring with your thumb if you do not have opening tools.
Step 5
Turn your lip ring until the open portion is lined up with your two piercing holes. Twist the ring slightly and pull up until the ring clears the top of your bottom lip.
Step 6
Insert the new lip jewelry immediately to avoid shrinking or closing of your lip piercing holes.
Tips and Warnings
- Check with your piercing professional to make sure your lip piercing is healed before removing your lip ring. Add a small dab of soap to your lip jewelry when inserting and removing for lubrication during a jewelry change.
- Never insert lip jewelry into your piercing if it is made of an inappropriate metal or is too large of a gauge to fit in your piercing.
Things You'll Need
- Soap
- Water
- Mouthwash
- Opening tool
