Medusa Piercing: Jewellery, FAQs & Guide

Medusa lip piercing is popular for pairing with other types of lip piercing because of the symmetry it gives to the lips. Want to know more about this awesome Philtrum piercing? See our FAQs for everything you need to know about the piercing procedure and aftercare.

Where is a Medusa piercing?

The Medusa piercing, also known as the Philtrum piercing, is placed in the centre of the philtrum above the lips. This is one of a number of lip piercing types and is usually pierced with a labret.

How long does a Medusa piercing take to heal?

Medusa piercing should take an average of 2-3 months to fully heal. How long your lip piercing takes to heal may depend on how well you care for it. Maintaining a good aftercare routine throughout the Medusa piercing healing time will help your Medusa piercing to heal quickly. If you experience an infection while healing your Medusa piercing you may find it takes longer to heal. It is important not to change your piercing jewellery until your piercing has fully healed. After 6 weeks your piercer may ask you to return to the studio to change to a shorter labret bar once the initial Medusa piercing swelling has gone down.

Is a Medusa piercing painful?

The Medusa piercing is not a particularly painful piercing. Most people rate Medusa piercing pain at a 4 out of 10 on the pain scale. It should not hurt more than any other lip piercing but may be more painful than other types of body piercings because there are more nerve endings in the lip compared to other areas of the body. Anecdotal evidence suggests some people find that philtrum piercing pain is slightly higher than other placements along the lip.

Medusa piercing aftercare?

Maintaining good Medusa piercing aftercare will help your piercing to heal quickly. Bathe the outside of your Medusa piercing with saltwater solution or Tea Tree oil twice a day and rinse the inside of your mouth with saltwater solution. You may experience some Medusa piercing swelling after getting your piercing. This is normal for lip piercings and should reduce within a week. You can help soothe this by sucking on an ice cube. Make sure to use mouthwash regularly to clear away any food debris.

Can you eat after getting a Medusa piercing?

After getting a Medusa piercing, you will need to be careful about how you eat. Make sure to chew slowly and take small bites while eating. During the first week make sure to only eat cold soft food as your Medusa piercing is likely to cause your lip to swell. Throughout the healing time for your lip piercing avoid spicy foods as these can re-open the piercing wound. It is best not to eat any sticky food, including chewing gum, as this can get stuck around the piercing jewellery.

What can I drink after a Medusa piercing?

After getting a Medusa piercing it is best not to drink alcohol as this can aggravate the piercing wound. Wait until the lip piercing has fully healed to drink alcohol and carbonated drinks. Some people like to avoid hot drinks while their piercing is healing and find that cold drinks and ice can be very soothing during the initial healing time. Once your Medusa piercing has healed you can resume drinking all these types of drink.

Do Medusa piercings ruin your teeth?

The Medusa piercing, like any lip piercing, has a risk of ruining your teeth because it is partly placed in the mouth. The back of the piercing jewellery can damage the teeth by wearing away the enamel or chipping your tooth. Choose a short piece of jewellery to minimise the risk a ruining your teeth. Make sure to regularly clean around your piercing and check your gums and teeth for any signs of redness or gum recession.

Does Medusa piercing leave a scar?

If you remove your piercing jewellery during healing you are less likely to leave a Medusa piercing scar, unless you have had an infection. The longer you have you Medusa piercing the more likely it is you will have scarring if you take it out. Most Medusa piercings will close over completely so you may only be left with a small mark or indent on your philtrum. If you have used a larger gauge in your Medusa piercing then there is more chance of it leaving a scar or not completely closing over.

Is a Medusa piercing dangerous?

Medusa piercing is not considered dangerous and is one of the most common types of lip piercing. If you go to a reputable piercing studio then your piercing will be done in a safe and sterile environment which will help with healing. A medusa piercing can become dangerous if a piercing infection is left untreated so make sure to seek medical help if you notice any signs of infection. Medusa piercings carry a risk of ruining your teeth and gums if your piercing jewellery rubs against your mouth. Consult your piercer if you think your piercing jewellery is causing these problems as they may be able to recommend alternative jewellery to help prevent this problem.

Does a Medusa piercing make lips bigger?

Some people think the Medusa piercing makes the lips look bigger, in particular the top lip. This is most likely due to the illusion the piercing gives by drawing attention to the lips and highlighting the Cupid’s bow or philtrum. It can draw attention to your lips and add symmetry that is aesthetically pleasing.

Ready to get your Medusa piercing? You will be pleased to hear the Medusa piercing price is quite low compared to other types of lip piercings because this is a single piercing. For £25 - £30 you could soon be showing off a new lip piercing. With so many options of labret bars and philtrum jewellery, the Medusa piercing is easy to customise making it a popular choice, particularly among those looking for a feminine style. The Medusa piercing looks awesome when paired with a Vertical Labret or Labret lip piercing but also looks fab with a septum piercing.

Want to know more about piercings at Blue Banana? Check out our Piercing Guides for tips and tricks of the trade.

Medusa Piercing Procedure

Ready to get a Medusa 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 Medusa piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the Medusa 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 Medusa piercing location.

Medusa Piercing Aftercare Advice

A Medusa 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 and sticky foods, including chewing gum as this can get caught around your piercing jewellery. During healing, avoid smoking, alcohol, and kissing as this may introduce unwanted bacteria into your piercing wound.

There are two different types of cleaning you will need to do for your Medusa piercing. When cleaning the inside of your Medusa 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. When cleaning the outside of the 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 Medusa Piercing Jewellery

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

Medusa Piercing Bar
Medusa Piercing Labret
Medusa Piercing Jewellery
Philtrum 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 Medusa 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.