Explaining What Smiley Piercing is
Smiley Piercing has become popular over the years and will become even more popular in years to come. Smiley Piercing can be found on the upper lip near the corner of your mouth; this piercing adds a stylish and unique element to your appearance and is also very easy to maintain.

A Smiley Piercing involves making a small cut in the upper lip and then inserting a labret or barbell; this type of piercing takes anywhere from 5-10 weeks to heal.
You need to keep the piercing clean and avoid activities that could cause irritation or infection during the healing process; more so, Avoid certain foods or drinks that can cause irritation or disrupt the healing process.
To ensure the best healing experience possible and avoid any complications, it is important that you follow all instructions given by your piercer and ask questions when you can; piercing can be very dangerous if not taken care of properly.
Types of Smiley Piercing
The most common type of smiley piercing is labret piercing or a single piercing in the middle of the upper lip. This type of piercing is suited for people with a noticeable upper lip and can be done using a barbell or a stud.
It is important to remember that this type of piercing requires extra care and attention, as it is very close to the teeth and gums and can easily become infected if not properly cared for.
It is important to follow the aftercare instructions provided by your piercer, including keeping the area clean, avoiding certain foods and activities that could irritate the piercing, and regularly replacing the jewelry to prevent infection.
Additionally, choosing a reputable and experienced piercer is important to ensure that the piercing is done correctly and safely.
Top Four most common Types of Smiley Piercing Explained
- Labret stud: This is the most popular type of smiley-piercing. This consists of a small flat disc placed inside the lip with a stem or post that extends through the skin. A removable ball or ornamental top holds the stud in place.
- Barbell: A barbell can be described as a type of smiley piercing that consists of a straight, removable bar with a ball or decorative end. The barbell is placed through the lips and horizontally sits across the upper teeth.
- Ring: A ring refers to a type of smiley piercing. It is a piece of jewelry placed through the lips and worn above the teeth. You can make the ring from a variety of materials, such as stainless steel or gold.
- Captive bead rings: Captive bead rings, also called ball closure or BCR, is body-piercing jewelry. They consist of a circular ring that has a removable or fixed bead or ball; the ring is held in place with tension. Because the bead is kept inside the ring, it is known as a “captive bead” ring. Captive beads rings can be used to make smiley piercings. They are also useful for other body piercings.
Pictorial Illustrations of Smiley Piercing




Benefits of Wearing Smiley Piercing
A smiley piercing could have the following benefits:
- Aesthetic appeal: Just like a 222 Tattoo, a smiley tattoo can give your style a funky, more interesting look.
- Smiley piercings can boost self-confidence and make you more expressive and stand out from the crowd.
- Smiley piercings can be easy to maintain and care for, provided you follow the proper aftercare instructions.
- Fast healing: Most smiley piercings heal quickly, let’s say in 8 weeks or more.
- Relatively painless: A smiley piercing can be more painless than other types of piercings.
- You can wear smiley piercings with many different jewelry types, allowing you to change your look at any time.
How to Choose the Right Smiley Piercing
Smiley piercings are a great way for you to show your personality and express your feelings. It’s important to make informed decisions about your body modification. These are some suggestions to help you choose the right smiley tattoo.
You should consider these factors when selecting the right smiley-piercing.
- The shape and size of your lips will dictate the location of the piercing. Find a location that you feel is visually pleasing and comfortable.
- Jewelry: Pick a style of jewelry that you enjoy and that matches your personal style. You can choose from a variety of materials, such as stainless steel or gold, and various shapes and sizes.
- Aftercare: Be sure you are familiar with the aftercare instructions regarding your smiley piercing. Regularly clean your piercing and avoid any substances or activities that could cause irritation or infection.
- Professional piercers: It is important to select a specialist who is good at his or her job; I will advise you to select based on past reviews from other people; this will help you make the right decision. Make sure you choose a piercer who is skilled in using sterile equipment and uses proper piercing techniques.
- You should consider your pain tolerance before you decide to get pierced. While smiley piercings tend to be relatively painless and easy, every person’s pain threshold will vary.
How does Smiley Piercing look like?
Depends on the jewelry; since Smiley Piercing has different types and those different types come with different materials, we can’t say how they look.
However, the jewelry is usually a small circular barbell with balls on both ends; the piercing area is located at the center of the upper lips, just above your philtrum. The needle is used for piercing the skin. However, it can also be done on one side.
What is the Difference Between a Smiley and a Snakebite Piercing?
A Smiley Piercing procedure is quick and easy, and It can either be done using a straight barbell or a round barbell. The jewelry is placed so it can be seen when the wearer smiles. Smiley piercings usually are less painful than other types and heal in just a few weeks.
While a snakebite piercing is an oral piercing performed on one side of the lower lips, snakebite piercings are somewhat similar to a smiley piercing; they can be done using a straight barbell or a circular one.
Snakebite piercings are usually done in pairs, one piercing is on each side, and these piercings are more likely to become infected than other oral piercings and can take longer for them to heal.
You should follow proper aftercare to ensure your snakebite piercings heal properly. Also, note that there are risks to body piercings. You must carefully consider your options and decide if a piercing is right. A reputable piercer must follow safety and sterilization protocols.
Smiley Piercing Vampire
A vampire smiley piercing is a body piercing that is very similar to a regular smiley but has some distinct differences. The vampire smiley piercing can be found on the inside of your upper lip, just above your teeth.
A vampire smiley piercing does not use a barbell, or a circular one, as jewelry; instead, it uses a longer, more flexible barbell with two beads at either end. The bar extends past the lip and out to the mouth, thereby creating the illusion of fangs if the wearer smiles.
Vampire smiley piercing may require more healing time, probably three months. Follow proper aftercare to ensure that your vampire smiling piercing heals well. You should always seek out a licensed piercer that follows safety and sterilization protocols.
Smiley Piercing Fangs
The smiley piercing does not include the fangs, but they are an additional type of body modification. Fangs are artificial teeth worn over natural teeth, commonly used in movies and comedy shows.
If you watch vampire movies, you will be familiar with fangs; it’s more like a long pointed artificial tooth, it’s an added modification to a Smiley Piercing, and they are completely optional.
When to change Piercing
After three to five months, you are free to change your piercing; anything less than that can cause infections in days to come.
This is done so the previous pierce can completely get healed. You can always contact your piercer to determine when it’s safe to replace your jewelry, this process is similar to that of tattoos.
Although you can do your septum piercing yourself, I recommend that you go to your piercer to have it done the first time properly. To ensure that you are doing it correctly, they will be able to guide you through the entire process.
They can also visually check if your condition is stable enough to make a change. Lastly, wash your mouth after you have changed your piercing to prevent infection.
How to Hide Smiley Piercing
You might want to conceal or hide a smiley piercing for many reasons. It is common to hide it in professional settings like churches, governmental organizations, etc.
The best way to hide your Smiley piercing is to use a facemask since facemask is very common and used in every location and meeting.
Another way to hide your Smiley Piercing is to completely remove them, I won’t recommend you do this frequently as they can cause infections and irritations.
Alternatives to Smiley Piercing
These are alternative facial piercings to smiley piercings:
- Anti-eyebrow Piercing: This is done above the outer corner and usually with a curved barbell.
- Canine bite piercing: is a piercing that involves multiple piercings along a jawline or neck area. It often resembles a “bite” or “claw” mark.
- Christina piercing: This is a vertical piercing that is done in the middle of the lower lips. This is usually done using a barbell.
- Dimple piercing (or chin piercing): This is done using a barbell.
- Frowny Piercing: This is a piercing that is done on the lower lip just below the middle of the mouth. It is usually done using a barbell.
- Medusa piercing: This is a vertical piercing that is done in the middle of the upper lips. This is usually done using a labret-stud.
- Monroe piercing (or Monroe piercing): This is a piercing that is placed on the upper lip just above the right or left nostril. It resembles Marilyn Monroe’s iconic beauty mark. This is usually done using a labret-stud.
- Perforating the shark bite: Multiple piercings are made along the lower lips, often looking like a “bite” or “claw” mark.
- Spider Bite Piercing: Two piercings are required for spider bite piercing. They will be placed on each side of the lower lips. This is often called a “bite” or “claw” mark.
Does Smiley Piercing Hurt?
Many people wonder if Smiley Piercing hurts. Although it does hurt, the pain is generally manageable. Remember that every person’s pain tolerance will vary, so the pain you experience may be different for each person.
It is also important to seek out a professional piercer experienced in this type of piercing; they will be able to do it accurately and quickly, which will minimize the pain.
Before you get pierced, it is a good idea to do your research to ensure that you are prepared for any discomfort or pain; this will make You feel more relaxed and able to manage the experience.
Talk to your piercer if you have concerns about the pain from a Smiley Piercing. They can recommend ways to reduce discomfort, such as using a numbing gel or over-the-counter medication. To ensure that your piercing heals correctly and without complications, it is important to follow the aftercare instructions carefully.
Conclusion
Overall, smiley piercings allow you to express yourself and still maintain your sense of style. It is important to plan ahead before you get a piercing. And remember, aftercare is equally important. You can make your smiley piercing a source of beauty and self-expression for many decades with proper care.