Frowny Anti Smiley Piercing: Jewellery & Guide

Frowny piercings are placed in the skin membrane between the lower lip and gums. This hidden piercing is perfect for those wanting a secret piercing. The frowny piercing is also known by some other names, including:

Anti smiley piercing
Reverse smiley piercing
Gum piercing
Mouth piercing
Frenulum piercing

Want to know more about lip frenulum piercing? Check out our frowny piercing FAQs to find out more about getting this piercing and best aftercare practices.

Does frowny piercing hurt?

Many people ask does a frowny piercing hurt. Like any piercing, you are likely to experience some pain but many people say it won’t hurt as much as other types of piercings such as cartilage piercing. The piercing procedure is not very painful because the skin being pierced is very thin meaning the frowny piercing is done very quickly. You may find your frowny piercing hurts afterwards due to swelling but this can be soothed with cool drinks and soft cold food.

Do frowny piercings damage your teeth?

Frowny piercings can potentially damage your teeth. If you choose piercing jewellery which sits against the teeth this can cause the enamel to wear or become chipped. It is also important to look for damaged gums which are indicated by a receding gum or redness. If you think your frowny piercing is affecting your gums or teeth then consult your piercer for advice. Make sure you are looking after your dental health by regularly using mouthwash, and cleaning your piercing when you brush your teeth.

Are frowny piercings dangerous?

Frowny piercing risks include problems with the teeth or gums and a high chance of the piercing rejecting over time. Neither of these are particularly dangerous side effects but they are things to look out for. Many people ask ‘Are frenulum piercings dangerous?’ Frenulum piercings have a quick healing time which can help to reduce the risk of getting an infection. However, due to the location of the frowny piercing, in the mouth, there is a chance you could get an infection if you don’t take care of oral health and make sure food does not build up around the piercing.

Can you kiss with a frowny piercing?

During the healing process, you cannot kiss with a frowny piercing but once it has healed you can kiss safely. During healing, it is important not to kiss with your frowny piercing as the bacteria from someone else’s mouth can be harmful to your open piercing wound. It is also important to limit the amount of movement and pressure on your new piercing which kissing can cause. You may need to be more careful when kissing as the frowny piercing sits close to the teeth so any pressure on the lips could cause the piercing to push against the teeth making it uncomfortable and potentially wearing away tooth enamel.

Can you smoke with a frowny piercing?

While your frowny piercing is healing it is important not to smoke as this can introduce bacteria and chemicals into the mouth which are harmful to your open piercing wound. Other effects of smoking, such as a dry mouth, are also counter-productive to getting a piercing to heal. Your frowny piercing could take longer to heal if you choose to smoke and you will be more at risk from infection.

How long can you leave an anti smiley piercing out?

During the initial healing time of 4-12 weeks, you must not leave your anti smiley piercing jewellery out. Do not try to change or remove the jewellery during this time as it could cause problems with your healing wound, therefore, extending the healing time. We recommend waiting for up to a year before leaving your anti-smiley or frowny piercing without jewellery, and even then it should only be left out for a couple of hours.

How long do anti smiley piercings take to heal?

An anti smiley piercing usually takes 4-12 weeks to fully heal. During that time it is important not to change the jewellery or move your anti smiley piercing. Other factors can cause the healing process to take longer including the food and drink you choose, whether you smoke or kiss, and if you get an infection. Avoiding spicy food, alcohol, carbonated drinks, smoking, and kissing will help your piercing to heal quickly and without any problems.

Do frowny piercings grow out?

Frowny piercings can grow out over time or even during the initial healing process. Sometimes, no matter how well you look after it, your frowny piercing with start rejecting. There are some things you can do to help prevent this from happening such as choosing smaller piercing jewellery. The skin membrane of the frowny piercing is very thin so heavy piercing jewellery can be too much for your skin. If you think your piercing is starting to grow out or reject then it is important to see your piercer as they can give you advice and help to minimise scarring.

How old do you have to be to get a frowny piercing?

To get a frowny piercing you need to be 16 years old. The age limit for this piercing is the same for all oral piercings, including smiley and tongue piercings. A frowny piercing can only be done with ID and is not available with parental consent. You should make sure to bring a valid form of ID with you to get your frowny piercing. This includes a valid Passport, Driving License, or identification with the Pass holographic logo.

Can you see a frenulum piercing when you talk?

Most people find that you can only see a lower frenulum piercing when you pull down your bottom lip and not when you talk. If you would like a hidden piercing the frowny piercing is perfect. If you would like a frenulum piercing that does show when you talk then consider the smiley piercing which, on most people, is visible when you smile (as the name suggests).

Ready to customise your frowny piercing? Make sure to check out frenulum piercing jewellery at Blue Banana.

Want to know more about other types of piercing? Check out more of our Piercing Guides and FAQs.

Piercing Procedure

Ready to get a frowny piercing? Use our store locator to find your local Blue Banana Studio. There’s no need to book an appointment; you can simply go to the store of your choice and be pierced on the day.

Make sure to check the frowny piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the frowny piercing age restriction is 16 (ID may be required). Frowny piercings are not available with parental consent.

Once you’re all booked in, you will have some forms to fill out. A member of Blue Banana staff will go through the steps and can help you pick out jewellery. Then you can meet the piercer! They too will give you a quick consultation and briefing before discussing the frowny piercing location.

Frowny piercings are usually pierced with a curved barbell. Your piercer will pass a cannula needle through the piercing site and then insert the jewellery.

Not everyone can have a frowny piercing. Your piercer will assess your anatomy and look at your lower lip frenulum to determine whether there is enough space for a piercing and if they will be able to pierce deeply enough into the tissue to make it safe. Some people are born without the frenulum in their lower lip which means the frowny piercing cannot be done.

Aftercare Advice

A frowny piercing can take 4-12 weeks to fully heal. The exact healing time varies from person to person and will need top aftercare to ensure successful healing.

After the initial piercing, your frowny is likely to swell and can be quite sore. During the healing process, you should avoid strong food such as spicy flavours and avoid sticky food, including chewing gum as this can get caught around your piercing jewellery. During healing, avoid smoking and kissing as this may introduce unwanted bacteria into your piercing wound. Kissing can also cause pressure or movement to the piercing which can aggravate the wound.

When cleaning your frowny piercing, swill a saltwater solution around your mouth twice a day. Ensure there is no food stuck around your piercing, regularly use mouthwash to maintain good oral hygiene, and try to avoid touching your piercing while it heals.

If you would like further information, make sure to read our full Piercing Aftercare Guides to learn about side effects to look out for.

Choosing Piercing Jewellery

There’s plenty of options when it comes to frowny piercing jewellery from Blue Banana. Some popular styles include:

Frowny Piercing Ring
Frowny Piercing Barbell
Frowny Piercing Jewellery

There are a range of colours and designs to choose from in our frowny piercing jewellery range. When choosing your piercing jewellery there are a few things you should consider:

Jewellery Size – Make sure to find out from your piercer the size your frowny piercing jewellery should be.
Jewellery Material – piercing materials differ not only through their look but also how they could react to your skin. If you have sensitive skin that is prone to irritation, one of the many Titanium jewellery options is recommended. This material comes in a variety of colours and is durable too!

When searching for a piece of jewellery make sure you know your measurements. We display the piercing jewellery measurements as Gauge first (displayed in millimetres) then Diameter/Length, e.g. 1.2mm x 8mm.

Gauge – this is the thickness of the jewellery itself.
Diameter – the width across the widest point of the jewellery for hoops and rings.
Length – the length of the piercing bar, usually not including the ball.

Make sure to check out the tips from our piercing guides for information about changing and removing piercing jewellery.

Other Guides & Ranges

Please Note: Blue Banana piercing information is based on knowledge from our experiences as one of the UK's top piercing studios. All details provided should be read alongside professional advice. Please see our full Piercing Articles Disclaimer, here.

Frowny Piercing Jewellery

Frowny Piercing Jewellery

Piercing Procedure

Aftercare Advice

Choosing Piercing Jewellery

Other Guides & Ranges