Q&A for How to Pierce Your Own Lip

The pain duration is dependent on your body. Everyone is different. For most people the pain goes away in about 7-10 days.

No, your lips are tissue, muscle, and capillaries. You can't bleed to death by piercing your lip. It's similar to piercing your ear, but there's muscle in your lip.

Yes, it's best to pit it just below the lip line. Or, have just a little space in between the piercing and the lip but any more space then that would not look right.

You should use a metal clamp. It will make the skin thinner and easier to pierce through.

Yes. Your lip size does not change whether or not you can get a piercing. It may affect what sorts of piercings look good on you, however.

The severity of pain is dependent on your body. Everyone handles pain differently.

Do not use acetone as a sterilizer! Acetone can be corrosive if not used properly. It is strong enough to dissolve paint, dissolve acrylics, and remove super glue. Using acetone is not recommended and is, in fact, warned against. Rubbing alcohol works best and is usually cheaper than acetone.

No. Piercing guns should not be used to pierce lips at any time.

Use ice, and take pain pills as needed for swelling and pain for the first week or so.

Lips usually are pierced at 16g or a 14g. Start at a 16g and see if you like the size; after it heals, you could put a little bit larger jewelry in.

It's too small of a piercing, it's a waste of time and causes extreme pain, much more than using proper equipment.

Paralysis is unlikely, but serious infection can occur without the proper care.

Piercing it with a straight bar is the best, but you can put a hoop through. Captive ball rings are really tricky to put on even with a healed piercing, so it might not be the best option unless you've had experience with them before; best to wait until it's healed for that.

Technically you can but it considered unsafe. You can purchase hollow sterilized needles in piercing kits or in bulk (packs of 100 or so) online.

Yes. If you insert from the outside, it will hurt more.

You can't. There are small veins inside the lip called capillaries. You are likely to hit one regardless of the position. The good news is the veins aren't big enough to cause any major bleeding, depending on the type of piercing you want.

You should pierce the bottom lip. There are three places commonly done: left side, right side and middle. Be careful, however.

It's always better to get the correct equiptment. Safety pins bend and snap easily, which can result in a failed piercing. Also, it's pretty unhygienic.

While it might be difficult to find locally, you can purchase online on eBay, Amazon, and marketplaces specializing in piercing equipment.

If your lip initially was swollen, but has slowly returned to normal, it is most likely just your body's perfectly normal response to the piercing. If it continues to be painful, red, and/or swollen after a few days, consult a doctor.

This is not a good idea and you should talk to your parent(s). At 14 you may not be prepared to assume the risks of piercing yourself. It can be extremely dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. Keep doing your research. If by 18 you still want to pierce yourself, do so responsibly and be well informed.

You should get these materials for the best results. They are all quite affordable. Alternatives are not recommended.

I recently pierced my bottom lip from the outside and nothing happened, except it hurt a little more than the other lip piercing I did (which was done from the inside out). I find it easier to pierce it from the outside, even though it was a little bit more painful. It's up to you how you want to pierce it, and pain is subjective.

I suppose it could help with the placement of the piercing.

It could be a good idea, if only to make sure that you'd be happy with a lip piercing permanently.

It's best to go to a professional to make sure you don't mess it up.

You can pierce with a sewing needle, though this is generally considered less safe.

As long as the needle/piercing was sterilized, that shouldn't be a problem. Check with a professional if it becomes drastically inflamed or develops discharge after more than a few days.

No. Don't use anything other than a needle that is specifically designed for piercings. Never use a sewing needle, as it will be more painful and more prone to infection. Don't use earrings in your lip, as they may not be the right shape, size or material for your lip. Get jewelry that is specifically for lips.

No, you should never use earrings to make piercing holes. It will cause extreme pain, heighten the risk of infection, and might not even work. Get a professional to do it, or at least use proper piercing equipment.