Monroe Piercing Information & Aftercare



Marilyn Monroe was known for her classic Hollywood starlet style and iconic fashion. Her makeup style is often mimicked, with people drawing on her classic beauty mark on the left upper lip.

In the late 90s, piercers began piercing the spot with a simple labret stud, so people didn’t have to continuously draw on the beauty mark. And thus, the Monroe piercing was born.

Want to learn more about the piercing and its pain level? Keep reading on.

Monroe Piercing Placement

As mentioned above, a Monroe piercing is located on the left upper lip. However, your piercer will work with you to decide your exact placement. They will start by marking where they recommend and asking for your opinion.

According to Elayne Angel’s The Piercing Bible, there are a few things that are important to know about this piercing’s placement:

• Your piercer should ensure the piercing is performed in such a way that the disc part of the stud rests comfortably flat in your mouth. If not, the piercing could be extremely difficult to heal.
• If your canine tooth protrudes, there could be a chance the jewelry will rest against it. Your piercer should ensure that your jewelry will not rest right along any teeth.
• Your piercer should avoid going within and outside the smile line. Monroe piercings placed within or outside the smile line are much more challenging to heal due to all the movement in the area.

How Painful Is a Monroe Piercing?

First, it’s important to know that everybody is different and has their own pain tolerance.

That being said, Monroe piercings are low on the pain scale. This is because they go through the thinnest part of the lip.

How Long Does a Monroe Piercing Take to Heal?

This piercing heals relatively quickly. The general healing time for a Monroe piercing is 6 to 8 weeks.

How to Heal a Monroe Piercing Properly

While Monroe piercings heal pretty quickly, they also require a two-part aftercare routine.

The first part of healing a Monroe piercing properly is to ensure the inside of your mouth is clean. Whenever you eat, drink anything other than water, or smoke, you’ll want to rinse your mouth with alcohol-free mouthwash (that’s also antibacterial and antimicrobial). You’ll also want to keep up with proper oral hygiene; this means brushing and flossing.

The second part is to ensure the part outside your mouth is clean. This means rinsing it twice daily with a saline spray, like NeilMed’s Piercing Aftercare Spray, and patting the area dry with a sterile tissue or gauze.

Additionally, to make sure that the healing piercing doesn’t come into contact with any bacteria or irritants, you’ll want to avoid the following:

• kissing
• oral sex
• drinking alcohol
• drinking through a straw
• touching your piercing
• entering any public bodies of water (lakes, oceans, pools, hot tubs, jacuzzis)

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you do not need to twist, turn, or rotate your jewelry. Rather than this helping the healing process, it actually prolongs it. Every time your jewelry moves in the healing piercing, it can cause irritation.

If I Take Out the Piercing, Will It Leave a Scar?

Yes, if you retire, or take out, your Monroe piercing, it will leave a scar. In fact, the upper lip area is more susceptible to scarring.

What Type of Jewelry Can I Wear in a Monroe Piercing?

When you’re initially pierced, you will be fitted with a labret stud of your choosing. This is the most common jewelry type for a Monroe piercing. The initial jewelry will be extra-long to accommodate for any swelling that takes place. As your piercing heals, you will need to visit your piercer to have the jewelry downsized.

While people can and do wear hoops in their Monroe piercings, the exposure between your teeth, gums, and jewelry will cause gum erosion and tooth decay.

The Main Point

If you’re looking for a relatively simple yet impactful piercing, a Monroe is right for you. Plus, there are tons of end options for you to choose from. Be sure to browse through our collection today!