Smiley Piercing: Pain, Healing, Jewelry Types...

The Smiley piercing lives up to its name. It sits on the small strip of skin connecting your upper lip to your upper gum, known as the "labial frenulum." This piercing stays hidden until you smile. It's one of the trendiest, most original piercings out there right now, and it suits everyone. The go-to jewelry for a smiley is a horseshoe! You can also wear a hoop.
Keep in mind that not everyone can get pierced here, some people have a shorter frenulum, for example. We recommend asking your piercer directly whether this piercing is right for you.

Does a smiley piercing hurt?

Whether it's the ear cartilage (helix, tragus, conch...), the smiley, or the nose, a piercing will always hurt at least a little. We'll never say it enough: pain tolerance is different for everyone. That said, the smiley piercing doesn't hurt as much as you'd think, and it's actually one of the more bearable ones. The reason is simple: the skin is quite thin there, with few nerve endings, which makes it less painful than a cartilage piercing, for example. But don't worry, the pain only lasts a few seconds! Compared to an ear cartilage piercing, you'll barely feel it. So don't stress, and bring a friend along if that helps put you at ease.

How the smiley piercing works

Your piercer will give you an antibacterial solution to rinse your mouth before the piercing. It's done with a sterile needle, always with gloves on. Finally, the jewelry, a horseshoe or a hoop depending on your taste, is threaded through the hole.

If you'd like to combine a Medusa piercing with a smiley, be sure to let your piercer know so they can choose the best possible angle. The medusa's labret bar could otherwise catch on your horseshoe or hoop. We recommend letting one heal fully before getting the other, so they don't interfere with each other.

How much does a smiley piercing cost?

Expect to pay around €40 to €60 for a smiley in our studios in France, usually in the same range as other ear cartilage piercings. The price generally includes a standard starter piece of jewelry, depending on the studio. We recommend going to a piercer who uses ASTM F-136 titanium for the piercing. You can also choose a premium gold piece, which comes with an extra charge on top of the piercing fee. Keep in mind that we strongly advise against so-called "surgical" steel, which contains nickel. In our studios, titanium and gold are the only two materials we use for starter jewelry, the safest choice for a new piercing.

Aftercare and hygiene rules

Never play with a piercing while it's healing, especially not with dirty hands. Moving the jewelry around too much can injure your frenulum and complicate healing. You should also be careful not to play with your piercing using your tongue. We understand the temptation, since you're not used to this new accessory yet, but you need to leave your jewelry alone during the healing period. Proper cleaning and aftercare are essential to healing well.

Here are a few tips to follow:

• Clean your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash
• Rinse your mouth with water after eating
• Brush your teeth regularly

We recommend avoiding:

• Touching the piercing or playing with the jewelry
• Drinking alcohol
• Smoking
• Mouthwashes or toothpastes that contain alcohol

Can I smoke with a smiley piercing?

We strongly advise against smoking while your piercing heals. That said, we know quitting isn't easy for everyone. Try to cut back on cigarettes for at least the first week to help lower the risk of infection.

Smiley piercing healing

A smiley piercing usually heals in 4 to 12 weeks, fairly quick as far as healing goes. If you don't follow your piercer's aftercare instructions, it can take longer to heal. You may feel mild pain and swelling during the first two weeks, but these symptoms should gradually fade as healing progresses. Infections are rare with a smiley, but skipping your aftercare routine and hygiene habits raises the risk.

When should you change your smiley jewelry?

Avoid changing the jewelry before healing has progressed enough. For the first change, either have your trusted piercer do it, or wait long enough and be confident that healing is complete.

We recommend choosing gold or titanium jewelry, for great quality with no risk of allergies or infection. You can go for a horseshoe or a hoop.
You can also browse our collection of smiley jewelry, with plenty of options from a horseshoe set with natural stones to a hoop set with cubic zirconia.

If you decide to change your jewelry yourself, follow these steps carefully:

• Rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash
• Wash your hands with antibacterial soap
• Unscrew the jewelry
• Gently thread the new jewelry through the hole
• Rinse your mouth again with a saline solution

Can a smiley piercing damage your teeth?

If your smiley is done correctly, there's no risk to your teeth. If the piercing is placed poorly, it can have harmful effects, even leading to gum recession. Jewelry pierced too high on the gums, or that rubs against the gums in any way, can also cause damage. Also note that you'll need to wait before getting pierced here if you wear braces.

We hope we've answered all your questions! We can't wait to see your smile with an Obsidian piercing ✨

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