The Anatomy of a Perfect Lip Piercing: What a Piercer Looks For in Your Lips

Lip piercings are one of those styles that never really fade away. They’ve been around for decades and continue to be a go-to choice because they’re bold, versatile, and unique to each person. But before you sit in the chair, your piercer needs to figure out if your lips are a good match for the piercing you want.

Most people have anatomy that works fine for lip piercings, but every mouth is different. That’s why professional piercers don’t just grab a marker and pierce. Instead, they study the shape, how your lips move when you talk or smile, and even how the inside of your mouth interacts with your gums and teeth. All of it plays a role in whether your piercing heals smoothly and remains comfortable in the long term.

Let’s walk through what piercers look for and why your anatomy matters so much in getting the perfect lip piercing.

Why Anatomy Matters

A lip piercing isn’t just “putting a hole where you want it.” Placement has to work with your face, or you will run into problems later. If the jewelry presses into your gums, it can cause gum recession. If it constantly taps your teeth, you risk damaging your enamel. Placement that’s too shallow might migrate outward.

Anatomy decides what will work, and a good piercer will use your natural features to guide placement rather than forcing a trend that doesn’t fit.

Key Factors Piercers Evaluate

Lip Thickness

Thicker lips often provide more options for placement because there’s more tissue for jewelry to pass through. Thin lips can limit choices, particularly for vertical labrets or paired piercings, because there may not be enough tissue to support the piercing without stressing the skin.

What piercers check:

• Is there enough tissue to safely accommodate the jewelry?
• Will swelling impact comfort or mobility?
• Does the lip’s shape allow for balanced placement?

Lip Shape & Symmetry

Every mouth is different. Some people have a fuller upper lip, others have a more pronounced bottom lip. A piercer considers the natural symmetry to ensure your piercing looks intentional and balanced.

Why this matters:

• Off-center piercings can emphasize natural asymmetry
• Jewelry will sit differently depending on lip curvature
• For paired piercings (snake bites, spider bites, angel bites), balance is essential

Frenulum & Oral Anatomy

A frenulum is a small, thin band of connective tissue in your mouth. You have two: an upper lip frenulum (maxillary labial frenulum), which connects your upper lip to your gums above your front teeth, and a lower lip frenulum (mandibular labial frenulum), which connects your lower lip to the gums below your bottom teeth.

Some people have more pronounced frenula that can interfere with placement. Piercers carefully mark around these tissues to avoid piercing through or too close to them.

Concerns here include:

• Jewelry rubbing against teeth or gums
• Long-term enamel wear
• Placement that interferes with natural oral movement

Bite Alignment

Your bite (how your teeth close together) plays a considerable role in lip piercing suitability. Jewelry that constantly rubs against teeth can cause chipping or gum recession. Your piercer will ask you to close your mouth and observe where the jewelry will rest inside the lip, whether the placement avoids constant contact with the teeth, and if the jewelry's length needs to be adjusted to accommodate your bite.

Your Anatomy Shapes the Perfect Lip Piercing

Your piercer will work with you to find the best possible placement that suits your anatomy, minimizes the risk of gum and tooth damage, and looks best on your face. This sets you up for a piercing that not only looks amazing, but heals comfortably and lasts long term.

To learn more about things to consider before and after you get pierced, check out our lip piercing care guide.

PHOTO CRED: TÁTI ALVES