What are the chances of getting an infection after getting a lip piercing?

Question

I've never gotten a piercing before and it's odd that I want to get a lip piercing because I don't really like pain or needles. But it's something I've been thinking about getting for over a year now. So, just wondering for those who have piercings, how to take care of a new piercing, specifically a lip piercing.

Answer 1

First and foremost i need to say that the best advice you can get is from a professional Piercer or a medical professional the specializes in treating puncture wounds...if they are not a professional piercer or medical assume they do not know, it's usually safer that way. You wouldn't ask just anyone to remove your apendix or fix you car so why would you ask just anyone for medical piercing advice? No matter how well intentioned these people may be they do not always give the best advice.

That being said...The odds of getting an infection are slim if you follow the aftercare advice you are given by your piercer. I can tell you the aftercare advice I give my clients but your piercer will give you their own set of aftercare that may or may not differ from my own.
Never touch your piercing with dirty hands...dirty hands are any hands that have not just been washed with liquid unscented antibacterial soap.
No Rubbing Alcohol
No Hydrogen Peroxide
No Neosporin
for the outside of the lip...
Cleaning Solutions: A mild liquid antimicrobial/germicidal medicated soap such as Provon or Satin, and water. Inferior alternatives include products such as Almay Clearly Natural, Hypocare, Nutribiotic; or other mild, fragrance and color free-liquid antibacterial soap. These should possibly be diluted with distilled or bottled water, depending on product strength. In addition, the use of H2Ocean or mild non-iodized (no iodine) sea salt soaks as described below.

Cleaning Instructions
Body Piercings need to be cleaned once or twice daily, every day, for the entire initial healing time. Most people clean morning and/or night in the shower. Do not clean with your liquid soap product more than twice a day as this can irritate your piercing and possibly delay your healing. For once-a-day cleanings, do it at the end of your day. Optimal frequency will depend on your skin sensitivity, activity level, and environmental factors.
Before cleanings wash hands with liquid antibacterial soap and hot water. If you wish, you may wear disposable latex or vinyl gloves, and/or use a hand sanitizing gel. Never touch healing Piercings with dirty hands. This is vital for avoiding infections.
Prepare the area for cleansing by rinsing or soaking the area with warm water and be sure to remove any stubborn crust using a cotton swab and warm water, never pick with fingernails. This step is very important for your comfort.
Apply a small handful of cleaning solution to the area with your clean hand. Cleanse the area and the jewelry, and gently rotate the jewelry back and forth a few times to work the solution to the inside of the piercing. (You do not need to rotate your jewelry during the first several cleanings) Allow the solution to cleanse there for a minute or so. You may bathe normally but don’t purposely work anything other than the cleanser on or inside of the piercing.
Rinse the area thoroughly under running water, while rotating the jewelry back and forth to completely remove cleanser residue from the inside and the outside of the piercing.
Gently pat dry with disposable paper products such as gauze or tissues, as cloth towels can harbor bacteria. Please try to be patient, each body is unique, and healing times can vary considerably. If your piercing is tender or secreting you should continue the care regimen even if it is past the stated average healing time range.

Sea Salt Soaks
First fill a fresh disposable cup- with approximately 8 ounces of warm water and add a ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt, stirring until it is dissolved. Soak the lip in the solution for 10 minutes once a day.

or

H2Ocean
Just spray on pierced area and allow solution to dry and absorb into the skin. We recommend spraying the solution on the piercing every 3-4 hours, because the enzyme (lysozyme) will remain active killing bad bacteria for 4-5 hours. This will ensure that no infection will occur. You can not overuse this product. We recommend a mist that covers the piercing area. Do not dry the area let the solution dry and absorb in the skin.

Now for the inside of the lip...
Oral Rinse

The Optimal way to care for your piercing is to rinse your mouth for 30-60 seconds with a medical-grade oral rinse (such as Tech 2000 or Biotene) after every meal, after smoking, or after drinking anything except water during the initial healing period (3-6 weeks). If a medical grade oral rinse is not available, the next best thing is to dilute 4 ounces of an oral antiseptic with 4 ounces of water. This will deintensify the antiseptic and prevent it from irritating your piercing. (Note: Do not use ordinary mouth-wash because most brands contain alcohol or other antiseptics which could irritate your piercing and hinder the healing process.) Be careful not to over-clean your piercing, as this will also prevent proper healing. (Signs of over cleaning include a white or yellow looking tongue.)

Sea Salt Rinse
In addition to oral rinse after every meal, after smoking, or after drinking anything except water non-iodized sea salt rinses will assist in healing your piercing. First fill a fresh disposable cup- with approximately 8 ounces of warm water and add a ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt, stirring until it is dissolved. Then, rinse your mouth for approximately 15 seconds. Note: Some piercers and pierces have had much success by substituting non-iodized sea salt rinses with medical-grade oral rinses or other sterile saline solutions.

Ice
Ice and other cold liquids can help reduce swelling. Ice pops, ice cream, and frozen yogurt are also good ways to reduce swelling, but be sure to perform either a sea-salt soak or oral rinse following your snack (this is not necessary if you just use plain ice). Swelling tends to last 3-5 days.

Brushing Your Teeth
It is important to brush your teeth three times daily while your piercing is healing. Brushing your teeth will cut down on the amount of bacteria and food particles in your mouth. It is suggested that you purchase a new soft bristle toothbrush to use during the initial healing period.

Aproximate healing time
Lip – 6-8 weeks

Answer 2

Aww, you'll be fine. Lip piercing's aren't bad, and believe it or not, I have a baaaaad thing about needles...it's ironic that I am...for what I do. Keep in mind that the healing process sucks. Your lip will swell and become sore, and it will hurt to eat or drink. Make sure that you do not have to take the piercing out before the piercer tells you to(exapmle: you'd have to take it out after the weekend at work) Don't do that. If you cannot wear it during the healing process wait to get it, that can irritate and possible contribute to infection.

Anyway, keep in mind that you must take perfect care of your piercings...to not do do is to risk infection or other injuries.

Alright, make sure you go to a clean and professional piercing studio. Talk to them about the risk and the procedure, and anything that you would like to know.. They are usually a very understanding and respnsive people. You can NOT get an infection from the piercer if they practice proper ways to avoid cross contamination and blood borne pathogens...most should have proof of certification if you are paranoid, and some of them have portfolios so you can see their past piercings they have done.

Infection usually occurs when bacteria gets into a fresh open wound (ie, a piercing.). The best way to avoid infection in a lip piercing, is to follow the proper after care the piercer tells you/gives you. Do NOT ignore them. If you wash them the way/the amount a day/how often/ how long they tell you to, you should be fine. Overcleaning a tattoo or piercing is bad for it. Do not ever touch your piercing while it is healing, it can contribute to infection, but, if you really must, for cleaning purposes or what not, always thouroughly wash your hands to prevent introducing bacteria into your piercing. Oral piercings can be affected by the food you eat, and the drinks you consume. You must use a mouthwash with NO Alcohol after everytime you eat or drink ANYTHING. Most piercer suggest sea salt soaks or H2Ocean and clean it with Provon or Satin soap, but I suggest that you simply follow their instructions and ask them what they suggest.

Like I said, talk to your piercer about the risks and what you should do to avoid them.

I have several piercings, and none of them have ever been infected. It's not very hard to take care of your piercings(hehe not be lazy)

Answer 3

You're better off paying the 50 bucks to get it professionally done than risking an infection so bad you lose your lip. The tools they use are sterile. They use an autoclave which basically heats the needles etc to such a high degree that it kills bacteria etc without charing it with fire. If you go put the needle in a flame right now, you'll see all this black stuff appears on it, then you'll have to clean it off with whatever, still potentially exposing it to more bacteria. You're just best off doing it professionally. Not to mention the risk of hitting nerves. You could end up paralyzing part of your face. And if for nothing else, it's really freakin hard to pierce yourself. Back in my stupid days, I pierced something on my own and I had so much trouble getting the damn needle through. So you're sitting there for 10 minutes trying to push the needle. Our natural reaction to pain is to stop whatever it is that caused the pain, so you're fighting against your nervous system to get that needle through. Very painful.

Answer 4

i have had a lip piercing before and it never get infected but, the guy that put me the piercing gave me a cream to put on it everyday. It really depends on your body because i had a nipple piercing twice and the twice get infected.. i did put the cream but get infected anyway the guy that did the piercing told me something about a factor of my blood that wont let coagulate therefore become infected.

Answer 5

I got my tounge pierced and my lip (monroe) and they didnt get infected :) you just have to make sure you clean it well. If you get the labre just make sure you clean REALLY well and also... say goodbye to your gums! I've see so many people that lose there gums because the lip ring rubs A LOT on the gum.

Answer 6

Keep it CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN! No part of the human body has near the numbers of infection causing bacteria as the mouth. Keep it religiously clean, and you won't have a problem.

Answer 7

The piercer ought to give you clear instructions for keeping the piercing clean. Follow those instructions, and you'll be fine.

Answer 8

you can get an infection if the needle (or place for that matter) is not sterile. If you do it, get a hypo-allergenic earring for your lip and keep bacitracin on it so it can heal propery.

Answer 9

ok it could depend on if you play with it or if you dont clean it im not quite sure because i dont have a lip peircing but im just pointing the obvious

Answer 10

I WOULDN'T KNOW, BUT MY DAUGHTER HAS HER TONGUE PIERCED, AND HER BELLY BUTTON, AND HER NOSE, AND HER EARS, AND NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER GOT INFECTED.