What is a Frenulum Piercing and its Common Types?
It is crucial to know what a Frenulum is. A fine line or flap of tissue connecting your gums and tongue is the frenulum. Another frenulum connects your gums and upper or lower lip. Most people don’t even realize the existence of this body part. But the weird contradiction is that piercing it is an international vogue. Three types of Frenulum Piercing are in trend including the tongue web, smiley, and frowny piercing. While frenulum piercings focus on oral anatomy, other cartilage-focused modifications like an auricle piercing and a snug piercing offer distinct aesthetic options.
A tongue web piercing is the one done to the frenulum connecting your gums and tongue.
A smiley frenulum piercing refers to the one between the upper lip and gums and is often done with a curved barbell.
A frowny piercing is done between the lower lip and gums, similar to a smiley piercing. This type of piercing is less common but offers a unique look for those who want something different.
All these distinct piercing types accentuate your style and are known as web piercings. It’s essential to consult with a professional piercer to determine the best piercing placement for your anatomy.
Pros And Cons of Frenulum Piercing
Are you thinking of getting a trendy frenulum piercing done? If yes, first sneak a peek at everything you need to know about its pros and cons. It might help you to get concrete on your decision regarding the initial piercing.
Pros of This Oral Piercing:
- To your wonder, this is one kind of piercing that hurts the least. The healing mechanism of it is faster in comparison with other piercing forms. Proper aftercare is essential so that it can last long.
- The frenulum is a set of tissues and refrains from higher blood vessels. Hence, you are about to experience lesser bleeding after the procedure.
- You can either opt for a prominent piercing or one that can be unseen, depending on the jewelry you choose.
- Many fashionable jewelry alternatives are also accessible in the market, similar to those used in specialized cartilage piercings like the orbital piercing. You can choose from a captive bead ring, a small barbell, or other types of jewelry.
Cons to Consider Before You Get Pierced:
- Several risks can also occur if you did not take proper care during the healing process. There are chances that the piercing studs may lead to some skin allergy or irritations. It is dependent on the sensitivity of one’s skin.
- To get a frenulum piercing done, it’s necessary to check whether the frenulum tissue can hold the jewelry. If you have a very thin layer, it is better to chuck the idea as the piercing may not last.
- Some people also come up with the issue of swelling in the tongue or redness.
- Some people get permanently comfortable with this form of piercing while others are done within a few months or years of proper piercing aftercare.
The Frenulum Piercing Procedure
You need to get knowledge about the procedure through which a frenum piercing is done, including the use of a captive bead ring. It is very important to scrutinize if your frenulum is strong enough to carry out the process. Also, it is essential to check if you can carry the jewelry without discomfort.
After the basic checklist is complete, the actual procedure for frenulum piercing starts up. The first thing is to clean your mouth using a good non-bacterial mouthwash. Your piercer will then fix the frenulum tissues with the help of a hollow needle. It is important to get it done with the help of a professional so that any kind of negligence is omitted. Proper needle positioning and an instant perforation pattern are essential.
Now, it’s time to pick nice, stylish jewelry, like a barbell or bead ring, to pierce with. With this, the procedure for frenulum piercing is complete. However, just because the process is done smoothly does not mean you won’t face problems. Proper piercing aftercare can only assure that your piercing stays healthy and for a longer period.
How Much Does Frenulum Piercing Cost?
Although the costing of this piercing varies from one place to another, the average price for one-time pierce can range somewhere between $30 to $90. But getting it with the help of a professional piercer will ensure you do not face any severe irritation or wounds.
In several parts of Europe, an average piercing may range around 25 to 70 euros. This cost typically includes the initial jewelry, but it’s always a good idea to confirm with your piercer beforehand.
Frenulum Piercing Pain and the Healing Process
A frenulum piercing involves a procedure on a very thin tissue lining, and this is the reason why many people feel it won’t hurt. But this is not the fact. Many people experience a certain level of discomfort or pain after this piercing.
It is not measurable how much you can get hurt after this piercing. Everyone’s body reacts in an entirely different manner during the healing process. Few people can react high to such pain while others may have hardly any after-effects after the oral piercing aftercare. The size of the jewelry also matters, as a heavier stud might pain more comparatively.
Some usual swelling is quite normal after the frenum piercing. But if you face any severe pain or gum bleeding, it is vital to ask for medical help right away. Or there are chances it might get even worse.
Essential Tips to Keep In Mind While Healing
With a note of a few important things, you can get early healing for the frenulum piercing done by you. Consider the important points stated below:
- Having alcohol or intake of spiced food is a strict no, especially during the first few weeks.
- Over-care is also sometimes harmful. Excessive rubbing or cleaning of the piercing area might also increase your pain or discomfort.
- Many people have this habit of moving the piercing stud with their tongue. Doing this might lead to scratching of the place and bleeding might start again.
- For the first few days, your mouth should not get into physical contact with anyone for any reason to aid in the healing process. This might increase the probability of skin irritation.
- Sharing food or beverages is not a very good idea immediately after the piercing is done.
- If you find that the frenulum is unable to move, you must remove the jewelry immediately. This precaution applies to most oral modifications, including more complex procedures like the septril piercing that require extended healing periods.
- Smoking or having cold drinks might lead to swelling problems.
- After you have just got the piercing done, it is important to give your mouth rest for some initial days. This will allow the new change to settle down and you can then proceed.
Frenulum Piercing Aftercare: A Detailed Guide
Web piercing is not a very critical thing to deal with. You can manage to get through it with some basic hygiene rules. Aftercare is important for any new change to settle in your body. And if it’s in your mouth, some extra steps can help you to hack its pain and get used to it.
Maintaining oral hygiene is the thumb rule for frenulum piercing. Use a good saline solution suggested by your expert to rinse your mouth after every 2 to 3 hours. If you are indulging in a smiley or frowny piercing, it is also imperative to protect the new pierce from your teeth. A normal saline rinse can also work well in that case. You can also get rinses available specifically for oral piercing from the market. You can ask your expert for it or search online to get some good options for it.
Take care of your eating habits, especially after a tongue web piercing. If you wish to escalate all hitches of piercing, it is always advisable to eat food that does not get stuck in your mouth. The initial days after wearing frenulum jewelry might be grim as you are not used to it. Once you develop habits of eating or drinking anything with it, it may not be a problem with your lip frenulum piercing. Choose warm and softer foods initially to soothe the illness and pain.
Do not make the mistake of playing with your jewelry. It might happen unconsciously as that area is sensitive. But ensuring that you do not move it often can be a good aftercare rule for your frenum piercing.
Frenulum Piercing Risks and How to Avoid Them
Frenulum piercing is done in the mouth and it is a very sensitive area. If the piercing process is not done with an apt technique, there are chances that you might get prone to some severe and critical side effects. Certain very common hazards that might occur to some people due to piercing, especially with a curved barbell, are as follows:
- Frenulum jewelry may indulge in increasing other skin issues and that can cause damage to your piercing.
- Salivary glands are located near the frenulum area. If the placement of the piercing deviates from its right place, you might end up in gum bleeding or itchiness and scratches in the gums.
- The mouth is one place where bacteria keep entering through various mediums such as drinking alcohol, smoking, or oral contact. The regularity of such activities may result in trapping of the piercing area to multiple bacterial infections.
- When you wear piercing jewelry for the first time, it is crucial to observe that the frenulum surface is away from it. If the jewelry scratches the surface and tearing it up, you could start bleeding due to a frenulum infection.
- It is an important alert for you if any yellow liquid comes out from the pierced hole or there is painful swelling on it.
Frenulum Piercing Images
Final Thoughts on Frenulum Piercings
Any kind of body modification or beautifying technique is always a wonderful change. But it mustn’t affect your health by any means. It is your body’s instincts that make you aware of the accommodation with the new experiments. If you feel that a frenulum piercing is an idea that allures you and you wish to own this change, go ahead but with the note of the above details about the lip frenulum. If you’re exploring other unique body modifications, consider learning about auricle piercings for ear aesthetics, the innovative orbital piercing, or specialized options like the snug and septril piercings.
FAQs
Q: What should I know about the smiley piercing process?
A: The smiley piercing process involves a professional piercer cleaning your upper lip area, marking the piercing placement, and then using a sterilized hollow needle to create the piercing hole through the flap of tissue. They will then insert your initial jewelry. It’s a quick process, but it’s crucial to ensure that you’re going to a reputable piercer.
Q: What is the best jewelry material for a new piercing?
A: For a fresh piercing, it’s best to use high-quality, hypoallergenic materials to avoid irritation. Implant-grade titanium, surgical steel, and 14k or 18k gold are excellent choices. Avoid lower-quality metals that can cause a reaction during the healing time.
Q: How can I avoid infection during the healing period?
A: To avoid infection, it’s essential to follow proper aftercare. This includes keeping your mouth clean by drinking plenty of water, using a saline solution to rinse after meals, and avoiding playing with your jewelry. Also, avoid oral contact and swimming until the piercing is fully healed.
Q: Can I change my jewelry during the healing time?
A: No, you should not change your jewelry until the piercing heals completely. Changing the initial jewelry too early can irritate your piercing, prolong the healing process, and increase the risk of infection. Wait at least 4-8 weeks after getting the piercing, or until your piercer gives you the okay.
Q: What are guiche piercings, and how do they compare to a frenum ladder?
A: Guiche piercings are located in the perineum, the area between the genitals and the anus. A frenum ladder, on the other hand, consists of multiple frenum piercings arranged in a line down the underside of the penis. Both are types of genital piercings but are located on different body parts and have different aesthetic appeals.
