Medusa Piercing (upper lip)

The Medusa piercing is pierced in the middle or half of the upper lip in the groove that forms between the upper lip and the nose – called the philtrum piercing. It is usually placed in the small dimple that is located just above the lip. Piercings on the side of the upper lip are called Madonna piercings (right) or Marilyn piercings (left).

Nobody really knows why this piercing is called Medusa. However, it is a fact that the philtrum piercing (the narrow groove that forms between the upper lip and nose), which translates as love charm, was considered particularly erogenous in ancient times.

And the philtrum piercing is also quite an eye-catcher, which beautifully emphasizes and highlights the upper lip.

Pain factor

7/10

Game meat risk

1/10

Healing time

4-12 weeks

Ideal jewelry

PTFE Labret Stud 1.2mm

Jewelry for Medusa Piercing

As initial jewelry for the philtrum piercing, as well as for all other lip piercings, we recommend labret studs made of PTFE. PTFE is a medically flexible plastic that is soft and flexible and can therefore usually reliably prevent damage to teeth and gums.

Healing time for philtrum piercing

The healing time for a philtrum piercing normally takes between 4 and 12 weeks – but in rare cases it can take longer. Due to the greater stress caused by movements of the upper lip, the Medusa piercing has the longest healing time of all upper lip piercings.

Care of the Medusa Piercing

You can find detailed instructions on how to care for your philtrum piercing in our blog article on proper cleaning .

After piercing, in addition to careful care. It is also very important not to change the initial jewelry until the initial swelling has subsided. Changing the jewelry too soon can lead to complications that have a negative effect on the final healing process.

With a Medusa piercing, it is important to have the jewelry shortened after the initial swelling has gone down (after about 2-3 weeks) and not to play with the jewelry too much at the beginning.

Risks of Medusa Piercing

The Medusa piercing is a relatively uncomplicated piercing to heal – complications are relatively rare. However, even with the Medusa piercing there is a general risk of infection or problems with wound healing.

The jewelry (especially metal studs) can cause pressure points on the gums or damage the teeth. In rare cases, it is also possible that the gums begin to recede due to the pressure of the jewelry. We therefore recommend using PTFE labret studs for lip piercings, as this drastically reduces this risk.