Medusa (Philtrum) Piercing Information & Aftercare Guide

Are you looking for a piercing that looks good on virtually anyone and pairs well with other facial piercings like septums and paired nostrils? The medusa piercing, more formally known as a philtrum piercing, may be the one for you.

In our comprehensive guide, learn all about this piercing, including its placement, how much it hurts, the jewelry options available, and the aftercare process.

What Is a Medusa (Philtrum) Piercing?

A Medusa piercing is an oral piercing located above the upper lip. While it may be more commonly known as a Medusa piercing, this is a slang name. The proper terminology is philtrum piercing, which refers to the anatomical placement of the piercing. However, when it first originated in the 1990s, it was called an upper labret piercing.

The philtrum is the little divot in your face between the septum and cupid’s bow of your upper lip. The placement for a Medusa piercing is in the philtrum. The piercing is oriented so that it is perpendicular to your lip. If it is pierced at an angle, chances are that you will have trouble healing it and may need to remove it to have it appropriately pierced.

A Medusa piercing is an anatomy-dependent piercing. One obstacle that can get in the way of your ability to get this piercing is a frenulum webbing that interferes with the placement.

Additionally, if you have a snaggle tooth that interferes with a piercer’s ability to place the piercing properly, you may not be able to get it.

Why Is It Called a Medusa Piercing?

While piercers don’t typically refer to the piercing as a Medusa, preferring to call it philtrum piercing, you may wonder why or how it got its slang name. It’s easy to guess that the name comes from the Greek mythological figure who turned people to stone if they stared directly at her. However, the gorgon has no relation to the name.

The only reason it is called a Medusa piercing is because a Canadian piercer in the 90s decided to call it something other than the anatomical name. The slang name stuck and has become increasingly popular.

Different Types of Medusa (Philtrum) Piercings

In addition to standard Medusa piercings, two variations are available: a vertical philtrum and a double philtrum.

A vertical philtrum, also known as a jestrum piercing, is similar to a standard Medusa piercing. However, instead of entering the philtrum and exiting inside the mouth, it goes vertically and exits through the bottom of the upper lip. Due to this, the jewelry is a curved barbell, and the ends are displayed at the top and bottom of the upper lip. If you’re worried about protecting your gums from recession and preventing tooth decay, this is the safer option for your oral hygiene.

Additionally, standard philtrum piercing jewelry spins a lot. If you know you’d be bothered by jewelry that doesn’t have rotational symmetry, you may opt for a vertical medusa piercing, which can’t spin. You may qualify for a double philtrum piercing if you have enough space between your septum and upper lip. As the name implies, a double philtrum is two piercings stacked, one on top of the other.

You can even get a double philtrum piercing with a standard and a vertical Medusa piercing if you can’t choose between the two. This allows for really unique combinations of jewelry.

Medusa Piercing Pain: What to Expect

If you’re thinking about getting your philtrum pierced, you likely want to know how much it is going to hurt so you can prepare a bit more. While each person has a different pain tolerance, we can give you a general idea of how much it hurts.

This piercing does hurt enough to make your eyes water a bit, but luckily, it is over in a second. You’ll feel a slight pinch; sometimes, getting the needle through the lip tissue can take a moment. If it were on a scale from 1 to 10, a Medusa piercing would be rated a 4 or 5 on the pain scale.

How to Prepare Before You Get Your Medusa Pierced

If you’ve decided to get pierced, you may wonder if there’s anything you can do to prepare. While there’s not much you need to do other than make sure you’re hydrated and have a good meal before you get pierced, there is one thing that you want to be sure of before you head to the piercer.

Although a Medusa piercing is an oral piercing, and the mouth typically heals fast, you want to ensure good oral hygiene. This means actively brushing, flossing, and using alcohol-free mouthwash.

If you don’t have good oral hygiene or cannot keep up with a proper brushing and flossing routine, your piercer may turn you away and ask you to come back once your mouth is healthy. This is because you want your mouth to be free of any bacteria that could cause an infection and prevent your piercing from healing properly, well, or at all.

Medusa Piercing Swelling

Before you get pierced, you also want to be aware that a medusa piercing, or any lip piercing, will swell a lot. So much so that you will get to see what you look like with lip injections for the first few days after you’re pierced.

After you get pierced, your philtrum will be extremely swollen, which is normal. To accommodate such swelling, your piercer will supply you with extra-long jewelry. When the swelling goes down or is not swollen, you will look like you have an antenna sticking out of your face.

Once the swelling goes down and the jewelry remains too long, it's time to downsize. You can typically do this within two to four weeks. It’s important that you do this as soon as possible because otherwise, it can lead to tooth and gum damage. Biting the bar also makes you more susceptible to chipping your tooth. Pay attention to when your piercer says you should return for a downsize and how your body heals.

Medusa Piercing Jewelry Options

The many jewelry options are perhaps the best part about getting a philtrum/medusa piercing. Whether you want a tiny and dainty bezel or prong-set gem or stone or a large 8-millimeter tear-shaped end, you can wear any end you want. You can learn more about our favorite philtrum jewelry styles in our blog.

When it comes to initial medusa piercing jewelry, it will be a flatback stud, also known as a labret stud. This piece of jewelry has a flat disc backing with a post attached. The end can either be connected via a push-pin method, or it should be internally threaded

When the piercing has fully healed, you can switch to a hoop. However, you should return to your piercer for this so they can assist you in getting one properly fitted to your mouth and placed so it won’t cause any damage from rubbing against your teeth or gums. You will need to keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn’t eventually cause oral damage as well.

What Gauge Is a Medusa Piercing?

Medusa or philtrum piercings are typically done at a 16 or 14-gauge. You can get larger philtrums, and some people even decide to stretch theirs.

How Much Does a Medusa Piercing Cost?

The price of getting a Medusa piercing will vary from shop to shop. In general, you’ll pay for the price of jewelry and the needle fee associated with the piercing. Needle fees can range from $40 to $80, and the cost of jewelry can range anywhere from $35 and up. It’s also customary to tip your piercer, and a standard 20% is an appropriate gesture.

How Long Does a Medusa Piercing Take to Heal?

The average healing time for a philtrum piercing is three to five months.

Medusa (Philtrum) Piercing Aftercare

Like most oral piercings, the aftercare process for a Medusa piercing is relatively simple. You just need to ensure you keep your mouth clean and properly clean the piercing.

How Do You Clean a Medua Piercing?

The proper way to clean a philtrum piercing involves two parts: keeping the outside clean and keeping the inside of your mouth clean.

To clean the outside, you will want to invest in a saline wound spray like the kind made by Neilmed. Spray this on the outside of your piercing twice daily, then pat the area dry with a paper towel.

To keep the inside of your mouth clean, practice good oral hygiene. Grab a new toothbrush to avoid old bacteria, and check your toothpaste to ensure it’s free from whitening chemicals or abrasive substances like charcoal.

You also want to continue to floss daily and use mouthwash. However, you need to ensure that you’re using safe products for a healing oral piercing. This means you must stop teeth whitening for the duration of the healing process. You’ll also need to switch to alcohol-free mouthwash.

It’s also important to wash your hands prior to cleaning your piercing and brushing your teeth. This will help ensure that you don’t introduce any bacteria into the area with a healing wound.

Things You Should Avoid After You Get Your Medusa Piercing

During the healing process, your piercing will be its most vulnerable. Therefore, it’s best to avoid the following activities:

• Swimming: Whether you swim in a public or private pool, you are just exposing your new piercing to various harsh chemicals (chlorine) and bacteria. This could irritate your piercing and may cause an infection.
• Smoking: The chemicals in a cigarette and its smoke can seriously damage the tissue around your piercing. This can slow down the healing process by irritating the tissue. If you notice that your piercing is irritated and you’re a smoker, try to cut down on smoking as much as you can.
• Drinking: Alcohol can lead to dryness, irritation, and tissue damage. You don’t have to quit drinking forever, but just for the first two weeks to allow time for your piercing to heal.
• Kissing and oral sex: We know it’s tough, but it’s something in the best interest of your piercing. When you kiss or engage in oral sex, you transfer body fluids. Because you have an open wound on your face, it’s best to avoid swapping saliva or bodily fluids – no matter how clean the other person is.
• Chewing gum or biting your fingernails: Your fingernails contain bacteria, and chewing on them can introduce the bacteria to the open wound of the piercing. Additionally, chewing gum can make you accidentally bite down on the jewelry and cause irritation.

The Main Point

Since a philtrum piercing is highly visible on the face, most people who get them are experienced with body piercing and have piercings on their ears or elsewhere. It’s also important to note that when you retire or take your piercing out for good, there will be a visible scar in the place of the piercing. That being said, Medusa piercings are fun and increasingly popular, and they look good on virtually anyone who gets them, regardless of gender.