Anti-smiley piercing
An anti-smiley goes through the lower lip frenulum — the mirror of a smiley, visible only when you pull the lip down.
Which shape fits for anti-smiley
Each name opens exactly those.
Titanium or steel for anti-smiley
The material decides how the piercing heals.
Other lip piercings
Jewellery
A small circular barbell or clicker, 1.2 mm, 8 mm across.
The shortest-lived piercing
The frenulum is thin and the jewellery slowly cuts through it.
Versus a smiley
Same jewellery, the other frenulum.
Size and material
| Material | Titanium — 13 models. Contains no nickel, so it causes no reaction even in a fresh piercing. Lighter than steel — less load on the tissue. The material of first choice. 316L steel — 12 models. Cheaper, corrosion-resistant, suitable for a healed piercing. For the first jewellery titanium is the better choice. |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 1.2 mm — 18 models, 1 mm — 5 models, 0.8 mm — 3 models, 1.6 mm — 1 model. The thickness must match the one the piercing was made with. |
| Bar length | 8 mm — 19 models, 10 mm — 17 models, 6 mm — 15 models, 12 mm — 7 models. A longer bar is needed while the swelling lasts, a shorter one — for a healed piercing. |
| Ring diameter | 8 mm — 25 models, 10 mm — 21 models, 12 mm — 14 models, 6 mm — 9 models. A smaller diameter sits tighter, a bigger one — looser and more visible. |
| Thread | Threadless — 15 models, External — 9 models, Internal — 1 model. An internal thread is hidden inside the bar — it does not scratch the channel when changing. |
| Insert | None — 11 models, Cubic zirconia — 4 models, Synthetic opal — 2 models. |
FAQ
Which size should I choose?
The typical size for this zone is 1.2 mm thick, diameter 8 mm. Jewellery smaller than needed presses on the channel, bigger — catches on clothes and hair. The exact size of each model is given on its page.
How long does a frowny piercing take to heal?
4–8 weeks. But this is the piercing that most often has to be taken out for good — it wears enamel and recedes the gums. Discuss this with your piercer before the piercing, not after.
Why is titanium better than steel?
Titanium is about half the weight and contains no nickel. 316L steel is also fit for wearing, but there is nickel in it, and people sensitive to nickel feel it. For a fresh piercing titanium is the safer choice.
Can titanium be worn all the time?
Yes. Titanium does not oxidise in contact with lymph and does not change colour, so it is not taken off at night or in the shower. The jewellery is worth removing only for cleaning — and only from a healed piercing: a fresh channel is not left empty.
