The upside down labret piercing is known as medusa piercing. It is a form of body piercing which is done through the middle of the upper lip, making a right angle with the tissue present there. Medusa piercing is normally worn with a labret stud. The ball sits outside the mouth in the dip of the top tip. Other jewelry pieces like rings can also be worn. Some experts on body piercings have brought a little variation to the medusa piercing. They place the piercing vertically through the lip with the help of a curved barbell in such a way that both the beads are visible.

The commonly used jewelry for this type of piercing is a labret. This type of piercing is a great way of making a style statement and it will help you stand out from the crowd.

However, if you are planning to have a Medusa piercing, make sure that you have enough information about the entire procedure of Medusa piercing, including aftercare instructions.

Cleaning Instructions

For the outside of the piercing
Wash hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap and warm water before touching your piercing. This is very important to avoid most infections.

Soak piercing with warm water to soften any dried and crusty matter around piercing and jewelry. Never pick off crusty matter with fingernails.

Apply small amount of cleaning solution to piercing and jewelry, gently rotating the jewelry back and forth through the piercing a few times to work the solution into the piercing.

Allow solution to remain in contact with the piercing for at least 30 seconds, preferably one minute.

Rinse the piercing thoroughly under warm running water, gently rotating the jewelry back and forth again to rinse the solution out the inside of the piercing.

Gently pat dry with a disposable paper product. Check threaded jewelry to be certain ends are tight. Threaded ends tighten in a clockwise turn.

Do not touch until next cleaning time. Clean piercing twice daily during entire initial healing time. Any piercing question or concern, contact Mystical Body immediately.

For the inside of the piercing
Rinse mouth for 30-60 seconds with mouthwash after meals during entire initial healing time. Do not use more than 4 to 5 times daily. Non-iodized sea salt soaks can be used in place of the mouthwash, or in conjunction with it. A cool water rinse can be used if there is no mouthwash available at the time, however, this only helps keep food particles away from the piercing, and a mouthwash rinse should follow as soon
as possible.

Use a new soft-bristled toothbrush to help reduce the bacteria that isintroduced into your mouth. Very gently brush the part of the jewelry inside your mouth to minimize plaque build up.

What is Normal
Swelling is perfectly normal. To help minimize swelling, gently suck on clean ice whenever possible, especially within the first 48 hours of getting pierced. Slight bleeding, bruising, discoloration, and tenderness are also normal.

Typically these symptoms will subside within the first 1-2 weeks, and may be further minimized if you reduce your intake of aspirin, alcohol, and caffeine. A whitish-yellowish fluid may secrete from your piercing, which crusts on the outside of the jewelry and surrounding tissue, this is normal. This fluid indicates a healing piercing. This fluid also secretes from the inside surface of the piercing, however it looks a little different, since it stays moist inside the mouth. This is also perfectly normal, and indicates a healing piercing. Plaque may form on the inside of the jewelry, just brush the jewelry
gently with your new soft-bristled toothbrush.

Things to Avoid
DO NOT use alcohol, peroxide, or Betadine to clean the outside of your piercing, they are overly strong and extremely drying to the tissue, which slows the healing process.
DO NOT apply additional ointments to the piercing, such as Neosporin, Bacitracin, triple antibiotics, etc., because they prevent oxygen from reaching your piercing and the sticky residue can collect dirt and germs.
DO NOT touch your fresh piercing with unwashed hands.
DO NOT engage in oral sex, or french kissing during the initial healing.
DO NOT expose your fresh piercing to hair spray, body spray, perfume, lotions, cosmetics, etc.
DO NOT chew gum, fingernails, pencils, sunglasses, etc. during healing.
DO NOT expose your fresh piercing to bodies of water, such as a pool, jacuzzi, lake, river, ocean, etc. during healing.
DO NOT intake tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, chew, etc. during healing. Smoking of all kinds increases risks of complications and can lengthen healing times.
DO NOT intake alcoholic beverages of any kind for the first 2 weeks.
DO NOT intake beverages or foods that are hot in temperature, spicy, salty, or acidic for the first 2 weeks.
DO NOT take large bits while eating. Eat slowly to avoid biting the jewelry.
DO NOT play with your jewelry during healing time. Even after healing, excessive
play with oral jewelry can permanently damage teeth, gums, and oral structures.

Some Helpful Tips:
Gently sucking on clean ice whenever possible, especially during the first 48 hours, helps keep swelling to a minimum.

An anti-inflammatory product, such as Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.), can help reduce possible swelling and discomfort. Sleeping with your head elevated above your heart, can minimize swelling even more.

Once the swelling subsides, switching to a shorter post on bar-style jewelry can help reduce irritation to your teeth and gums, and also reduce the risk of biting the jewelry accidentally.

To aid your body against infection and heal more rapidly, get plenty of rest, reduce your stress level, and maintain a nutritious diet. Taking a multi-vitamin mineral supplement that contains zinc and vitamin C may boost your body's healing abilities.

Remember, the healthier you are, the faster your piercing will heal..
Make sure your bedding is clean, and changed frequently. Leave your jewelry in at all times throughout the healing time. Even after it heals, it is wise to leave it in to allow the piercing to "toughen up", because even well-healed piercings can shrink or close quite quickly.

Remember:
Each body is unique, and healing times can vary greatly, yet with care and patience, your new piercing can give you a lifetime of pleasure.

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