Medusa piercing is also known as philtrum piercing is one of the most attractive and fastest growing trends of piercing styles.
Because of its interesting location, Medusa piercing has received a lot of attention and popularity among the teens.
Medusa piercing is a great way to highlight the shape of your lips as it is done on the groove or in the middle region of the upper lip below the septum of the nose (the philtrum).
Medusa piercing is favored as it also blends in very well with other types of facial piercings.
Table of Contents
Does Medusa Piercing Hurt?
Yes, Medusa piercing does hurt as the area above the lips has an abundant supply of nerves. However, the pain can vary for different people.For some people, the pain is enormous but for some people, the pain is very less.
Medusa piercing is never considered as the most painful facial piercing. If you are high on the idea of getting a medusa piercing then you can always skip the idea of the pain it will cause you.
Medusa Piercing Swelling
Swelling after Medusa piercing is as normal as swelling in other body piercing. The severity of inflammation depends on your body; you can have a small bump on a swollen face.
Usually, the swelling disappears within 1-2 weeks after piercing. Medusa piercing is done with a long stud to accommodate the swelling after the piercing process.
Once the swelling is reduced you can change the long stud with a short one. You can change it after 6 weeks to prevent the damage of the gums and teeth.
How Can You Reduce Medusa Piercing Swelling?
i. Place ice cubes on the pierced area for more than 15 minutes, and repeat this process many times a day.
ii. Eat crushed ice or Popsicle to reduce the inflammation.
iii. Try Sea salt soaks, as they are known to reduce the swelling.
iv. Take anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the severity of swelling.
v. Chew food slowly and try to talk less.
vi. Sleep with your head elevated about your heart to avoid blood pooling for first few days.
vii. For few days avoid oral sex and kissing.
viii. Protect your lip and the piercing area from any kind of trauma.
ix. To avoid any kind of infection, keep the piercing area clean.
How To Hide Medusa Piercing?
Medusa piercing is very difficult to hide as it is at the obvious center of your face. You can easily find some ways to hide your Medusa piercing for some occasions, but it is very hard to hide your Medusa piercing forever.
It is even harder to hide the Medusa piercing when the piercing is fresh and new.
When your Medusa is in healing period you can wear a band-aid over the piercing area.
But, once healing is complete, you can hide your medusa by wearing a flesh-colored or a plastic clear retainer. This retainer does not completely hide the medusa piercing but it can make the medusa piercing less visible.
You can also remove your medusa jewelry for few hours but make sure to wear it back as soon as possible.
Removing the jewelry from a fresh and new medusa piercing can cause the closing of the pierced hole and it also makes the piercing prone to infection.
If you feel a constant need of hiding your medusa piercing then don’t get pierced at the first place, avoiding all the problems related to it.
Medusa Piercing Scar
There are many questions which people are concerned regarding Medusa piercing like does Medusa piercing scar? Well, it is true that your Medusa piercing will scar but how badly your medusa will scar depends on these things –
- The gauge use
- Your body’s healing capabilities
- In case if you got an infection during the healing process
- Instant removal of jewelry after getting pierced
- How long you had the medusa piercing on
The severity of Scarring varies from person to person. The scar can be unnoticeably small or a big lump depending on the healing capabilities of your body.
If there is an overgrowth of scar tissue them it may result in keloid or hypertrophic scar formation which are difficult to hide or remove.
How To Hide A Medusa Piercing Scar?
It is not much you can do to hide a scar caused by Medusa piercing. Therefore, it is always recommended to accept the risk of scarring before getting a Medusa piercing.
Still, the best way to hide the scar is by applying liquid makeup which matches your skin tone or you can also use a powder foundation. This method to hide the scar works on those who have a small unnoticeable scar.
People with a bigger piercing scar may find this method unhelpful because the makeup can cause the scar to be more noticeable.
You can also consider scar revision. Massaging the scar tissue with bio-oil, vitamin C oil or tea tree oil can also be very helpful in fading the scar with time.
Can Medusa Piercing Get Infected?
Yes, like any other facial piercing, Medusa piercing is also likely to get infected. But if you are following a proper cleaning and aftercare instructions then there is a less chance for your medusa piercing to get infected.
You can also clean your medusa piercing regularly with sea salt soaks, warm water, and antibacterial soap for protecting your medusa piercing from any kind of external bacterial infection.
However, one should keep in mind that once your medusa piercing is infected you will have to deal with the excruciating pain, and frequent bleeding and pus.
Infection on medusa piercing can increase the healing time.
Symptoms Of Medusa Piercing Infection
Once your medusa piercing is infected you can encounter these symptoms –
- Swelling and redness in the pierced area
- Fever and nausea
- Irritation, itching and burning sensation in the pierced area
- Throbbing pain lasting for more than 2 days
- Discharge of foul-smelling yellow or green colored liquid
- Difficulty in eating and swallowing
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
If you notice any of the above symptoms and if these symptoms are persistent then, consult a doctor immediately.
Because if the infection is mild then it can be treated at home by using natural treatments but if the infection is severe then you need to seek a doctor’s help.
Natural Remedies To Treat An Infected Medusa Piercing
If you notice any of the above symptoms then you must consult your piercer or a doctor so that the infection is treated before spreading. If you have a mild infection in your medusa piercing then you can try out these natural remedies to treat it.
1. Rinse your mouth with sea salt and warm water twice a day. This will help you to get rid of the foul smelling discharge and will also help to remove the crust formed by the discharge.
2. Always clean your mouth with mouthwash after eating.
3. Maintain a proper oral hygiene by brushing your teeth properly.
4. You can also use a warm compress to reduce the pain and inflammation.
5. For reducing the pain you can also take Ibuprofen drug.
6. Increase your intake of Vitamins.
7. You can eat yogurt as it contains beneficial bacteria that help to boost your body’s capabilities against fighting the infections.
8. In the case of an infection do not remove the jewelry as it will cause the infection to trap inside it forming an abscess.
9. Do not squeeze out the discharge if you are having any.
However, before treating an infected Medusa piercing on your own you must consult a doctor to know the severity of the infection.
Medusa Piercing Healing
On an average, the healing time for a Medusa piercing is 6-8 weeks. The pain and swelling usually disappear during this time and you can comfortably change your medusa jewelry.
However, the healing time varies from different people to people. The complete healing process for a Medusa piercing can usually take up to 6 months.
During this time you might notice that the piercing becomes sore and tender while touching and while changing the size of the medusa jewelry.
During the healing process, you must quit smoking and you should take a good aftercare of the Medusa piercing. You can clean the piercing area with saline water to shorten the healing time.
Medusa Piercing Aftercare
There are few things to keep in mind after getting a Medusa piercing –
a. Clean the medusa piercing with warm water solution twice a day.
b. Do not touch your fresh and new medusa piercing with unwashed hands.
c. After eating, always clean your mouth with non-alcoholic mouthwash.
d. While bathing you can use a mild soap for cleaning the pierced area.
e. Dry out the piercing area by gently patting it with a clean towel.
f. For brushing your teeth use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a mild toothpaste.
g. Do not use any kind of antiseptic mouthwash.
h. Avoid eating hot, spicy and sticky foods for first few days.
i. Do not engage in smoking and consuming alcohol as it will prolong the healing time.
j. Try to eat ice cream or suck Popsicle for first few weeks to reduce swelling.
k. Do not apply antibacterial creams, lotions or any other cosmetic products.
l. Do not apply ointments like Neosporin, triple antibiotics, Bacitracin, etc. Because the sticky residue can attract germs and dirt and can prevent from oxygen reaching to your piercing area.
m. Avoid engaging in kissing and oral sex during the initial healing time.
n. Do not expose your new medusa piercing to body spray, hair spray, and perfumes.
o. Do not use peroxide or betadine to clean your mouth.
p. Try to eating slowly for first few days.
q. Avoid going in public swimming pools or baths for first few days.
r. Avoid any kind of trauma to your new piercing.
s. Do not play with your jewelry because playing with jewelry even after healing can permanently damage the gums, teeth and oral structures.
Once you get a Medusa piercing always follow up the instructions given for aftercare and take a proper care of your piercing and prevent your piercing from getting any kind of infection.
Medusa Piercing Risks
Like any other body or facial piercing, Medusa piercing also comes with few risks and complications. So always get much information on the type of piercing you are getting.
The risks associated with Medusa piercing are –
- Infection
- Severe inflammation
- Bleeding
- Teeth erosion
- Scarring
- Gum recession
- Variation in oral structures
- Placement of incompatible jewelry
- Discharge of pus
- Redness and severe pain
Bottom Line
Medusa piercing is known to be unique and beautiful piercing. It highlights the structure of your lips and gives you a unique gorgeous look. Yet a proper care and maintenance are required before and after getting a Medusa piercing.
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