Do you want to get an Eskimo piercing? Here you can find out everything about the pain, risks and costs of lip piercing. The so-called Eskimo piercing is a piercing on the lip. More precisely, the piercing is pierced through the lower lip and emerges vertically from the red lip. The Eskimo usually uses a curved barbell (banana piercing), i.e. a curved piece of jewelry, so that both ends of the jewelry can be seen: one below the lip and the other side sits directly on the top of the lower lip. Since the lip piercing is pierced vertically from the bottom up, it is also often referred to as a vertical labret .
The difference between Eskimo and Ashley piercing
The Eskimo piercing is often confused with the Ashley piercing. The Ashhley piercing is also a labret piercing on the lower lip. While the Eskimo is pierced from bottom to top, i.e. vertically, through the lip, the Ashley piercing, on the other hand, is pierced horizontally from front to back through the red lip of the lower lip. Thus, on the Ashley only one end of the piercing jewelry, namely the one directly on the lip, can be seen. The other end is hidden inside the mouth.
Eskimo piercing: This is how the lower lip piercing is done
Important in advance: Piercings, no matter what type, should always only be done by a professional and experienced piercer. If the piercing is not done professionally or even in a jewelry store, serious inflammation can develop, which often ends in the fact that the piercing has to be removed again. Professionalism is particularly important when it comes to Eskimo piercing. Because the red lips are very sensitive and can ignite quickly. In addition, the puncture site can tear permanently if the piercing is pierced incorrectly.
After the puncture site and the surrounding skin have been thoroughly disinfected and the piercing site has been marked with a pen, a special hollow needle is used to pierce the lip vertically. Bleeding and swelling of the lip may occur immediately afterwards. These symptoms are quite normal and should go away after a few days at the latest. Due to the swellings, a slightly longer curved barbell is usually used as the initial jewelry. If the piercing jewelry is too short, the piercing can exert strong pressure and pain on the wound.
Eskimo piercing: how painful is the piercing?
The pain of an Eskimo piercing depends entirely on how sensitive you are. In general, however, one can say that the pain of the labret piercing is not higher than in other places on the lip. In addition, it is only pierced through skin and not through cartilage tissue, as is the case with many ear piercings (such as the tragus or conch ).
Possible risks with Eskimo piercing
Since with all piercings, whether navel , ear or lip piercing, tissue is pierced and a foreign body is inserted, certain risks cannot be excluded. The most common thing that happens is that a piercing becomes infected. An inflammation can develop, for example, if the Eskimo is not cared for properly and regularly, or if the piercing is often stuck on clothing and the like.
Complications can also arise when the Eskimo piercing is stabbed. If the lower lip piercing is pierced incorrectly, it can tear the lip. In general, however, the vertical labret brings fewer risks than other piercings, as it does not run along the sensitive nerve tracts. In addition, the jewelry does not come into contact with the teeth and gums (as is the case, for example, with smiley piercing ), so that damage to the teeth can be prevented.
How much does the Eskimo piercing cost?
The cost of lower lip piercing depends entirely on which studio and which region you want to get pierced. As a rule, you have to reckon with around 40 to 70 euros for the Eskimo piercing. In addition to the piercing, the initial jewelry and piercing care are often included in the price. It is best to inform yourself about the costs that you will have to face before the piercing appointment.
Eskimo piercing: Everything about healing and proper care
The vertical labret is usually healed within four to eight weeks. In some cases it can take longer. Care should be taken to ensure that there are no problems with the healing process.
Here are the most important tips:
- During the first few weeks, clean the puncture site two to three times a day with disinfectant mouth spray (available in the piercing studio, the pharmacy or here at amazon *).
- Refrain from smoking , alcohol and blood-thinning medication such as aspirin in the first few days and protect piercing from soap and cosmetics or use pH-neutral products. Lipstick should not be used again until the piercing has completely healed.
- In the first two weeks, dairy products and very acidic foods should be avoided. In general, one should be careful when eating.
- Avoid ball sports for a few days due to the risk of injury. Sunbathing / solarium and sauna are also taboo during wound healing.
If crusts appear, they can be carefully removed with warm chamomile water.
Will I leave a scar when I take the piercing out?
(Almost) all piercings usually leave a scar as soon as the jewelry is removed and the puncture site is allowed to grow shut. How strong the scar will be depends entirely on where the piercing is, how thick the jewelry used was or how long the piercing was worn. If the piercing is also very infected, scars can also remain.
With the Eskimo, a small scar usually remains at the lower puncture site, i.e. under the lower lip. On the other hand, after some time nothing can be seen on the red lips.
Which piercing jewelry is suitable for an Eskimo piercing?
As soon as the piercing on the lower lip has healed completely, the initial jewelry that was used during the piercing can be replaced with other jewelry. You should have this done by the piercer to avoid complications.
For the Eskimo piercing, a curved barbell, also called a banana piercing or bananabell, is usually used. This jewelry adapts best to the natural, arched shape of the lip.
It is important that the barbell is the right length, otherwise tensions and, in the worst case, even tearing of the lip can occur. Depending on the fullness of the lips, a rod length between 10 mm and 12 mm is usually used. The rod thickness is usually about 1.2 mm and the ball size about 3 mm. A banana piercing made of Bioflex (PTFE) is also recommended. The material is more skin-friendly than nickel or surgical stainless steel, which often cause allergies or inflammation. Piercing rings are also rarely used for the Eskimo. It is important that the barbell is the right length, otherwise tensions and, in the worst case, even tearing of the lip can occur. Depending on the fullness of the lips, a rod length between 10 mm and 12 mm is usually used. The rod thickness is usually about 1.2 mm and the ball size about 3 mm. A banana piercing made of Bioflex (PTFE) is also recommended. The material is more skin-friendly than nickel or surgical stainless steel, which are often allergies orInflammation trigger.
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