If you are in the market for a lip piercing, and you want to do it yourself, the best thing you can do is change your mind and get it done by a professional. With that being said, a number of people are attempting to do this at home. If you insist on taking matters into your own hands, there are certain precautions and steps you should consider before going through with it.
Prepare for the Piercing
The first step you need to take is to acquire a professionally packaged needle and the right kind of jewelry. Do your research, and do not buy anything that is not properly sealed. A sewing needle that has been boiled in diluted water for 10 minutes will pass, but getting a professional needle is the best option. As for the jewelry, make sure you go with a 16-gauge lip ring or bar. It is very important to make sure it has also been adequately cleaned and sterilized.
The Act of Piercing
Do not try this procedure without a clamp. You can use your fingers if you’d like, but it is definitely not recommended. Make sure you have got your needle ready as well as any other supplies you need. Push through the gummy tissue first. There are less pain receptors in this area, and it is much easier to work the needle. You should be able to get about halfway through with the initial push.
Warning: Before you do anything, check your lip for any veins. One false move could result in excessive bleeding or even facial paralysis.
Finishing Up the Pierce
After you have broken in, your next step is to get the needle through the rest of the gum tissue and up through the epidermis. Keep your eye on where the hole inside your lip is, and have your jewelry ready. Once the needle is out, slip the jewelry through the hole, and you are done!
Warning: The first 10 minutes after making the hole are the most crucial for successful installation of the piercing. If you can not slip the jewelry through during this time, the hole tends to close up on you. This makes it a little harder and a little more painful to get the piercing to look the way you want it to.
The Healing Process
After you are done, make sure you leave it alone. A piercing needs to be allowed time to heal, and it’s important that you do not do things that will irritate it. Though it’s usually a good idea to use mouthwash, you may want to avoid it during the first few days after your piercing is complete. Avoid spices wherever you can, and try not to remove the piercing at all. The more it comes out during this time, the more likely you are to get an infection.
If you must be a DIY-er when it comes to the body art of lip piercing, use good sense before, during, and after the piercing is complete. Lip piercing is a form of self-expression, and if that is your thing, more power to you. Still, you should not take chances with your body. Use precautions. Practice cleanliness. Respect the art. If you can not do that, at least have the smarts to get someone who knows what they are doing to do it for you.
