Jestrum Piercing: Vertical Medusa Jewellery FAQs

Jestrum piercing is a type of lip piercing that is actually pierced through the lip. The Jestrum is a great alternative lip piercing for people who don’t want the piercing jewellery to go into their mouth. The Jestrum is pierced with a curved barbell which goes under the skin so you won’t have to worry about any rubbing against your gums or teeth. The Jestrum is placed through the philtrum and upper lip and is often paired with a labret lip piercing for symmetry. Want to find out more about Jestrum piercing? See our FAQs and answers, below.

How much is a Jestrum piercing?

A Jestrum piercing costs an average of £50 - £55. The price will vary depending on the piercing jewellery you choose. We always recommend choosing high quality piercing jewellery as it can help with healing. It is worth paying the extra cost to have an experienced piercer perform your Jestrum piercing because the central alignment of this piercing is essential to the overall look – there is nothing worse than a wonky Jestrum piercing!

Does a Jestrum piercing leave a scar?

If you take out your Jestrum piercing before it has healed it will close over but it probably won’t leave a scar, unless you have had an infection which has damaged the skin. If you want to retire a healed Jestrum piercing you may be left with an indent or small area of darkened skin, particularly on the philtrum, once the piercing has closed over. The Jestrum piercing scar should be small.

Where is a Jestrum piercing?

A Jestrum piercing also called a vertical medusa, is a type of lip piercing that enters through the centre of the philtrum and exits in the centre of the upper lip. This is one of a few true lip piercings that are actually placed on the lips. The piercing jewellery used in a Jestrum piercing is usually a curved barbell.

Does a Jestrum piercing hurt?

Jestrum piercing does hurt, similar to any lip piercing pain. You may find the Jestrum piercing will hurt more than other types of lip piercing as the philtrum is notably more sensitive than other areas around the lip. Due to its location near the nose, the entry point in the philtrum may feel painful during piercing. Likewise, some people say piercing through the lip is more painful due to the extra nerve endings present in the lips.

What can I eat after getting a Jestrum piercing?

After you have had your Jestrum piercing you will need to be careful with what you eat during the healing time. It is important to avoid eating spicy foods as these can cause the piercing wound to re-open. The Jestrum piercing is easier to heal and will not restrict what you can eat as much as other types of lip piercing because it does not go inside your mouth. The curved barbell sits under the skin of your lip but remember that food will touch your lips while eating. One end of the barbell will be placed directly on your top lip.

What can I drink alcohol after getting a Jestrum lip piercing?

After getting any lip piercing, including a Jestrum piercing, it is best not to drink any alcohol during the initial healing time. Alcohol can cause the piercing wound to re-open and may slow down healing. After getting a Jestrum piercing, you can drink a wider range of drinks because the piercing does not go into the mouth. Bear in mind that the piercing does sit on the lip so you may still want to avoid carbonated drinks during healing.

What is the piercing on the top lip called?

There are several types of top lip piercing. The Jestrum is the only top lip piercing that sits on the actual lip. The Medusa is placed in the centre of the philtrum, while the Monroe and Madonna are placed on either side of the top lip. The medusa piercing is sometimes called a philtrum piercing.

What is a vertical medusa piercing?

A vertical medusa piercing is another name for the Jestrum piercing. The piercing enters in the centre of the Philtrum which is the same placement as a Medusa piercing and exits through the centre of the upper lip. The Vertical Medusa piercing is sometimes confused with a Vertical Labret piercing.

The Jestrum piercing bottom lip is called a vertical labret. This piercing involves piercing in the labret lip position through the lower lip to create the same effect as a Jestrum piercing on the bottom lip. Want to know more about Vertical Labret piercings? See our full piercing article, here.

Jestrum and vertical labret are a similar type of lip piercing and some people like to pair them together. Some people prefer to add hoop jewellery to the piercings, although it is more common for curved barbells to be worn. Others opt for the single stud Labret piercing.

Want to find out more about piercing at Blue Banana? Check out our piercing guides for more information on lip piercings and other types of body piercing.

Jestrum Piercing Procedure

Ready to get a Jestrum 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 jestrum piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the Jestrum piercing age restriction is 16 (ID may be required). Lip 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 Jestrum piercing location.

Jestrum piercings are usually pierced with a curved barbell. Your piercer will pass a cannula needle through the piercing site and then insert the jewellery. It is important to get your Jestrum piercing done by a professional piercer as alignment in essential – the piercing needs to be in the centre to achieve the intended aesthetic effect.

Jestrum Piercing Aftercare Advice

A Jestrum piercing can take 2-3 months 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 lip is likely to swell and can be quite sore. During the healing process, you should avoid spicy food as this can cause your piercing wound to re-open. During healing, avoid smoking, alcohol, and kissing as this may introduce unwanted bacteria into your piercing wound.

When cleaning your Jestrum piercing, use a saltwater solution or Tea Tree Oil to gently bathe the piercing twice a day.

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 Jestrum Piercing Jewellery

There are plenty of options when it comes to Jestrum piercing jewellery from Blue Banana. Some popular styles include:

Jestrum Piercing Barbell
Jestrum Piercing Jewellery

There are a range of colours and designs to choose from in our lip 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 Jestrum 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 Length, e.g. 1.2mm x 8mm.

Gauge – this is the thickness of the jewellery itself.
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.