Your Complete Guide to Philtrum Jewelry

The labial piercing has been around since the 1990s, but has become increasingly popular in the last few years. Above the lip and below the septum, the philtrum piercing, also known as the medusa piercing, is a unique place that can flatter any face.

The location of the piercing's groove classifies it as both an oral piercing and a body piercing, placing it in its own category. With a professional piercer and meticulous aftercare, a medusa piercing may be right for you.

What is Filtrum?

The filtrum is a central groove that runs from the bottom of the nose to the top of the lip. In the middle of this place there is a groove puncture.

You may be wondering how the groove piercing came about. Lip piercing has been traced back to the ancient Aztecs and Mayans for thousands of years as part of spiritual rituals. Indigenous peoples around the world, including the Melanesians in Papua New Guinea and the Dogon living in Mali, continue to perform various types of lip piercing as a significant practice.

The philtrum piercing itself seems to be of more recent origin in the Western world. It is rumored that in the mid-1990s, when facial piercing was in its heyday, the idea of ​​a medusa piercing came to the mind of a Canadian piercer, and gradually it became more popular.

Our favorite non-threaded Philtrum piercing tips

What caliber does the filtrum pierce?

The philtrum is pierced with a 16 gauge 3/8" labial stud. If the healing process has been going smoothly for several months, sometimes you can go to your piercer and switch to a slightly smaller option, like a 16 gauge 5/16 inch stud.

The piercing stand is longer not only because the upper lip area is a thicker area of ​​skin, but also because there is relatively significant blood flow in this area. This means that when pierced, the philtrum often swells naturally, even if the task is performed by an excellent piercer.

What kind of jewelry do you use for your Medusa piercing?

Whether you're looking for a subtle gold ball or an eye-catching design, a medusa piercing may be right for you.

The most common jewelry for jellyfish piercing is a stud earring. Labret studs are the best option for lip piercings because they have a flat plate on one end and a threaded tip on the other. Piercing jewelry should always be 14k gold or high quality stainless steel, which are more sterilizable and greatly reduce the risk of infection. Infection is always a possibility when piercing the skin for any body modification, so it is extremely important to carefully follow the care steps outlined by your piercer.

Buying Philtrum Jewelry

Some of our favorite places to shop for upper lip body jewelry are Junipurr Jewelry, Buddha Jewelry Organics, BVLA, and other options we offer here at pierced.co. Each of these brands offers many attractive options. Perhaps more importantly, they offer 14k gold body jewelry. Having real gold body jewelry is vital because it is an implant-friendly material that is much less likely to irritate even the most sensitive skin.

Change of decorations for the upper lip

Before changing piercing jewelry for the first time, a professional should evaluate your measurements to make sure they fit correctly. The piercing specialist can also make sure your piercing is fully healed and ready to be replaced. It usually takes about three months for a philtrum piercing to heal, but it can take longer for some people.

If you live in the Ontario area, visit one of our offices in Newmarket or Mississauga for a professional measurement and body jewelry change!