The Monroe piercing is a style of facial piercing that has become increasingly common in recent years. This piercing, which gets its name from Marilyn Monroe’s famous beauty spot, is usually placed on the top lip, slightly to one side.
Getting Monroe piercings can be a great way to show off your unique style, but it also comes with its fair share of scrutiny from well-meaning onlookers. This page is for you if you are thinking about having a Monroe piercing, or if you already have one and have questions about how to take care of it.
Questions about Monroe piercings, such as those regarding recovery, aftercare, jewelry choices, and more, are addressed throughout this article. Whether you’re a piercing expert or a novice, you’ll find the following information on Monroe piercing to be both informative and entertaining.
What Is a Monroe Piercing?
1. Definition and Explanation of the Monroe Piercing
The Monroe piercing takes inspiration from Marilyn Monroe’s signature beauty mark, which was positioned slightly to the side of her top lip. It was made famous by pop star Madonna, hence the alternative moniker “Madonna piercing.”
A stud or ball-shaped jewelry piece, small enough to fit through the piercing, is put through the skin and secured in place with a little screw or a bead. Since it is a labret piercing, the Monroe piercing penetrates the skin just below the lip.
2. Monroe vs Madonna Piercing
Monroe piercings are typically placed lower on the body than Madonna piercings. Unlike the Madonna piercing, which is often placed in the middle of the upper lip, the Monroe piercing is typically done on the left or right side of the upper lip.
And while a Madonna piercing can include either a stud or a hoop, a Monroe piercing often has a small stud or ball-shaped metal.
Does Getting a Monroe Piercing Hurt?
Individual pain tolerance, piercer expertise, and piercing kind affect discomfort. Monroe piercings are moderately painful. Monroe piercings are upper lip piercings on either side that resemble Marilyn Monroe’s beauty mark. A needle punctures the skin, and jewelry is placed. The piercing may hurt or burn.
Before the piercing, your piercer may use a local anesthetic or numbing cream. To avoid difficulties and assure proper piercing, hire a skilled and experienced piercer. Pain, swelling, and soreness may linger many days after the piercing. Follow your piercer’s aftercare instructions to prevent infection and enhance recovery.
How is a Monroe Piercing Done?
Here are the general steps of how a Monroe piercing is done:
- Preparation: The piercer will clean the area around the upper lip with an antiseptic solution and mark the location where the piercing will be placed.
- Anesthesia: Some piercers may use a local anesthetic to numb the area around the upper lip, although many people find the procedure to be relatively painless without it.
- Piercing: The piercer will use a sterilized, hollow needle to create a small hole through the skin on the upper lip. The jewelry, usually a small stud or labret, is then inserted into the hole and secured in place.
- Aftercare: The piercer will provide instructions on how to care for the new piercing to prevent infection and promote healing. This may include cleaning the area regularly with a saline solution and avoiding certain activities, such as smoking or kissing, that can irritate the piercing.
How Long Does a Monroe Piercing Take to Heal?
Individual healing abilities, aftercare, and the quality of the jewelry all have a role in how quickly a Monroe piercing heals.
Healing time for a Monroe piercing is usually between 6 and 12 weeks, however, aftercare should be continued for a few additional weeks to ensure proper recovery. During the healing process, you should keep the piercing clean, refrain from touching or twisting the jewelry, and not use any items containing alcohol or harsh chemicals.
Kissing, oral intercourse, and smoking are all things you should avoid doing while your wound is healing to prevent the spread of bacteria and irritation. Redness, swelling, discharge, or fever are all indicators of infection that warrant prompt medical intervention.
What Kind of Jewelry Can Be Used for a Monroe Piercing?
Monroe piercing jewelry should be constructed of biocompatible materials like implant-grade titanium, niobium, or 14k or 18k gold to avoid allergic reactions and inflammation.
A little labret stud with a flat back is the most prevalent Monroe piercing jewelry. The piercer should tailor the stud’s size and length to the patient’s anatomy and allow for swelling during recovery.
After the piercing heals, a shorter or more attractive stud or hoop made of biocompatible material can be used. Prematurely changing jewelry might irritate the piercing and postpone recovery.
How Do I Take Care of My Monroe Piercing?
Monroe piercings require special attention during the healing phase to avoid infections and rejection. Take the following precautions to ensure the health of your Monroe piercing:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before touching the piercing site.
- Clean the piercing twice a day with a saline solution. You can make your saline solution by mixing 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt with 8 ounces of warm distilled water. Soak a clean cotton ball or pad in the solution and gently clean the piercing site, being careful not to twist or move the jewelry.
- After cleaning, gently pat the piercing dry with a clean paper towel or tissue. Avoid using cloth towels, as they can harbor bacteria.
- Avoid touching or playing with the jewelry, as this can introduce bacteria and delay healing.
- Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and engaging in oral sex or kissing during the healing period.
- Avoid swimming or soaking the piercing in water, as this can introduce bacteria and irritate the piercing.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing to avoid rubbing or irritation around the piercing site.
- Be patient and allow the piercing to fully heal before changing the jewelry or engaging in strenuous activities.
Can I Kiss or Eat Normally with a Monroe Piercing?
After a Monroe piercing, avoid kissing, oral intercourse, and smoking for 6-12 weeks. These actions can introduce bacteria or irritants to the piercing site and delay or induce infection.
Biting or chewing on jewelry can harm the piercing site and postpone healing. Avoid hot, spicy, or acidic meals that can irritate the piercing, and eat slowly to prevent striking the jewelry.
Soft or watery foods that are easy to eat and won’t irritate the piercing site are recommended while recovering. To avoid germs buildup around the piercing, brush, and floss daily.
Can I Remove My Monroe Piercing?
You can certainly have your Monroe piercing removed, but you should wait until it has completely healed. Removing jewelry too soon might result in irritation, bleeding, and a slowed healing time.
Be careful and gentle if you ever decide to remove your Monroe piercing. The jewelry should be held firmly with clean fingers or sterile pliers after thorough hand washing. Remove the jewelry from the piercing gently and carefully to avoid damaging the tissue around it.
Even after the jewelry has been removed, the piercing site must be kept clean and checked for symptoms of infection or other issues. Keep the jewelry somewhere clean and secure in case you ever want to put it back in.
Get medical attention if you have any problems after taking the jewelry off, such as pain or bleeding that doesn’t stop.
