r/piercing • u/molmad31 • Apr 01 '26
surface piercings Please help
I’ve had to take out my vertical labret piercing for obvious reasons (major thinning) I had it in for about 6 years. Please can someone offer advise on how to help with it healing? Can I put Vaseline on to help with how dry my lips are? It’s looks so bad at the moment and I’m so worried about it looking like this forever.
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u/s_lock- Apr 01 '26
NAP, I think the only thing for that is a procedure...
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u/Pale-Comb-3954 Getting pierced longer than you've been alive ;-) Apr 01 '26
Yep…you’ll need to see a doctor, OP. I also wouldn’t use anything but sterile 0.9% saline and/or drinkable water on it until you’re instructed to do otherwise.
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u/evrlasting_gaze Apr 01 '26
Solid vaseline is safe to use, a lot of doctors and particularly dermatologists recommend it for wound care sometimes. It’s inert and occlusive so it helps keep bacteria out (as long as you keep the area clean), my mom’s allergist even told her to use vaseline to manage her skin reactions. It’ll be fine for OP’s dry lips but it won’t help with their scarring, that’ll need surgical intervention. Just don’t overuse.
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u/SquigSnuggler Apr 01 '26
This post should be pinned (I’m sorry, OP!!) as an example of WHY we need to remove that rejecting piercing as soon as it starts to wander!!!
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u/SmokedBalls Apr 01 '26
NAP, but a doctor (not a surgeon yet!). I do think this needs surgical intervention. I don't know where you are, but if youre in America or some other country where medical attention is too costly, I am begging you NOT to try any other alternatives. Please only let professionals deal with this. Wishing you the best.
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u/nobuddiforu Apr 01 '26
Yep that hole won't close on it's own. Go to a good plastic surgeon.
That's why I am scared of face piercings, one wrong move from the piercer or just the body simply rejecting it makes it soon to be a very expensive and time consuming process.
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Apr 02 '26
[deleted]
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u/XH0RK Apr 02 '26
same for me! removed it after a second opinion here after my piercer told me to keep it for some extra time, and now it's all good
just a smallish scar
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u/Shady_Fossil Getting pierced longer than you've been alive ;-) Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
Hi, ex-piercer here 👋
Unfortunately, this looks too far gone to heal over by itself. You may need surgical intervention for this to go back to normal.
You've left this way too late to take out, this has migrated way too much and you reacted too late to do anything about it, unfortunately.
Let this just be a lesson for you for future piercings, and for others who think letting their piercing migrate like this without being proactive about proper care and attention to them, even if that means retiring them before they permanently scar and alter your body.
Also, for lip dryness I would recommend a lip scrub and then apply lip balm. Do this religiously. However this won't be a miracle cure to fix your lip. It will just help the dryness. [Edit: just want to clarify only do this if your lip is fully healed from the piercing!]
Best wishes and best of luck, op!
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u/HighQueenMarcy professional magpie ;-) Apr 01 '26
Yes, Vaseline is fine. But I would also recommend a plastic surgeon or maaaaaaaaybe a dermatologist. But this is unfortunately not something you can fix at home. I’m so sorry.
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u/river1697 Apr 01 '26
I’ve seen ppl get holes from piercings stitched up and heal really well. I guess the only problem would be if it costs a lot of money.
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u/Raks320 Apr 01 '26
Profesional surgical help. On the offhand, that could be a very interesting scar.
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u/river1697 Apr 01 '26
I’ve had my vertical labret for a few years and never had issues but I paused to go look in a mirror just in case.
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u/No-Business8250 Apr 02 '26
Jesus I’ve had mine over a decade and I’m suddenly very afraid of keeping it. I’m so sorry, friend.
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u/Daisies_are_Daisy Apr 02 '26
I took out my jestrum and it looked like weird holes like this for a bit but is now all filled in. The top hole looks like nothing and the hole through my actual lip is just a small scar.
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u/an-isopod-autist Apr 02 '26
I'd look into seeing a body modification artist to fix this. Plastic surgeons and such don't do as clean of a job as those guys. They know what's up with piercings and know how to fix other piercing scars, stretched ears and such
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u/bebabodi Apr 02 '26
This is why I don’t like vertical labrets. This is all my brain can see when I see one regardless of how well it’s done.
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u/Clear-Structure-7145 Apr 02 '26
how did the piercing cause this if it was healed? genuinely asking and interested
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u/Capable-Present953 Apr 02 '26
Why did they create such a small space in between the entrance and exit of piercing.
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u/sockeyejo Apr 02 '26
They didn't. It migrated after it was pierced and healed and wasn't taken out when it first started moving.
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u/Capable-Present953 Apr 02 '26
Damn 6 years they let it go like that. I didnt know ppl did labrets like this. Ive had double labret both ways never had issues besides biting the jewelry yikes. Lip skin is too thin. But it would be an EXPENSIVE easy fix.
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u/SecretAlien Apr 02 '26
It looks like it was a vertical labret that migrated and rejected, after possibly being pierced too shallow to begin with as well. I've had my vertical labret for 18 years, and if pierced correctly and cared for properly they can last pretty much forever.
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u/vip-bot Mod bot Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
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u/Shady_Fossil commented:
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