Slide image
Diagram of oral piercing locations on a person's face with labels.
Slide image
Diagram of oral piercing locations on a person's face with labels.

Monroe Piercing

A Monroe piercing sits above the upper lip, offset to one side — placed to echo the beauty mark made famous by Marilyn Monroe. It is a precise, considered placement that relies entirely on proportion and facial symmetry to land well. A few millimeters in any direction changes the result significantly.

Because it sits above the upper lip in soft tissue, a Monroe is technically a labret-style piercing — it uses the same flat back post jewelry and heals through similar tissue. But the placement demands a different kind of attention. The upper lip area has less tissue depth than the lip, more visible vascularity in many clients, and a narrower margin for placement error given how close everything sits to the lip line and the nose.

At Stacked, we assess your anatomy before anything is marked. We look at the shape of your upper lip, your tissue depth, and the position of any underlying blood vessels before we commit to a placement. If the anatomy supports a Monroe, we will design it around your specific facial proportions — not a standard dot above the lip. If something needs to be adjusted, we will tell you why. That honesty is part of how we work.

Why Stacked Piercing?

Why a Monroe piercing at Stacked?

Because a piercing this visible, this specific in its placement logic, deserves more than a standard dot above the lip.

We design Monroe placements around your facial proportions — not a template. We assess your anatomy, account for tissue depth and vascularity, and take the time with the marking that this placement requires. Then we stay with you through healing so the result actually holds. That is what The Stacked Method™ is built around.

Why Placement Matters More Here

The Monroe sits at one of the most expressive, most scrutinized parts of the face. Placement that is off — in angle, position, or depth — reads differently than a poorly placed ear piercing. It is immediately visible and difficult to correct without retiring the piercing entirely.

Getting the proportion right relative to your lip line, your philtrum, and your facial structure is what makes a Monroe look like it belongs there. That is a design decision, not just a technical one — and it is one we take seriously.

Cost + Age Requirements

Monroe Piercing Fees: $70

Age Requirement: 15+

Appointment Length: 30 Minutes

Upon booking your appointment, the piercing fee is due in full.

The piercing fee does not include the cost of jewelry.

We have options across a range, from just getting started to more elevated pieces. You can browse a few options in our Lookbook.

We pierce Monroe piercings with 16g ASTM F136 implant-grade titanium flat back posts with threadless push-pin tops. Initial post length typically falls around 7/16” (11mm) or 1/2” (13mm) depending on your tissue depth and any swelling.

Flat back posts are the standard for Monroe piercings because the flat internal disc sits comfortably against the inner lip tissue without creating unnecessary pressure or movement during healing. The threadless push-pin top is secure, low-profile, and easy to change once the piercing is fully healed.

Initial sizing accounts for swelling while keeping the jewelry close enough to the tissue that it does not move more than it needs to. Once healing is complete, the options open up considerably — a well-healed Monroe can carry a range of decorative tops, from simple gems to more statement pieces.

Monroe Piercing Process

Monroe piercing process


We start by examining your upper lip area — the tissue depth, the shape of your lip line, the position of any visible vascularity, and how placement will read against your specific facial proportions. A Monroe is one of those piercings where the marking conversation is as important as the piercing itself. We take our time with it.

Once placement is marked and approved together, the piercing is done with a needle. Some piercers work freehand; others use forceps depending on anatomy and what produces the most accurate result. Jewelry is guided carefully into place. Calm, precise, and unhurried from start to finish.

What Makes a Monroe Different

The Monroe is an off-center upper lip piercing, which means placement is not just about tissue — it is about proportion relative to your face. Where it sits in relation to your lip line, your philtrum, and the natural curve of your upper lip all affect whether it reads as intentional or off. That balance is something we design around, not assume.

It also sits in a part of the face where a poorly placed or poorly healed piercing is difficult to ignore. The upper lip area is expressive, constantly in motion, and highly visible. Placement that accounts for that — the movement, the tissue response, the jewelry angle — is what produces a result that actually looks considered over time.

Monroe vs. Madonna

These two piercings are often used interchangeably, but they refer to placement on opposite sides of the upper lip. A Monroe is traditionally placed on the left side of the upper lip — above and to the left of center, echoing Marilyn Monroe’s beauty mark. A Madonna is placed on the right side, referencing Madonna’s. The anatomy, jewelry, and healing process are identical. The distinction is purely about which side and what proportions suit your face.

At your appointment, we will look at your facial structure and discuss which side — or whether a different placement altogether — makes the most sense for your anatomy and aesthetic.

Spa-like environment

Expert, state-licensed piercing professionals

Support for proper healing

14k solid gold + implant grade titanium

Need to cancel?

We get it, life happens. If you cancel at least 24 hours before your appointment, your piercing fee will be refunded in full.

Questions? Give us a call or email us at 815-782-2533 support@stackedpiercing.com.

Monroe Piercing

$70.00

Monroe Piercing Information

Slide image

Pain Level 3-6/10

The upper lip area is soft tissue, which tends to make the sensation more manageable than cartilage piercings. Most clients describe a sharp, brief moment followed by some tenderness and mild swelling in the first few days. Individual experience varies based on anatomy, tissue depth, and personal threshold.

 
Slide image

Monroe Piercing Healing Timeline

Healing Time: 3-4+ months

Monroe piercings heal on a similar timeline to other labret-style piercings. The tissue is in regular motion throughout the day, which means consistent aftercare and avoiding unnecessary contact with the jewelry both make a real difference. Even when the piercing looks and feels settled, the internal tissue may still be working. We will give you realistic expectations from the start so nothing catches you off guard.

 
Slide image

Downsizing

A piercing starts in the studio, but the healing process is each client's responsibility and can’t happen here. At Stacked, we require our clients to come back in for a six-week checkup. This way, we can help troubleshoot any concerns you may have, take a peek at the healing piercing, and give advice as needed.

Because the upper lip area is relatively shallow compared to other labret piercings, fit matters from the start. We will assess the piercing at your check-up and make the adjustment if the timing is right. If it needs more time, we will let it be.

 

Piercing Aftercare

What to do, what to look out for, and when to contact us.

Slide image

Keep It Simple

  • Wash your hands before touching it
  • Clean with sterile saline while healing
  • Dry gently with clean disposable products
  • Do not twist, spin, or rotate the jewelry
  • Avoid sleeping on that side
  • Avoid pressure from headphones, helmets, hats, or phones when possible
  • Don’t change the jewelry early
  • Don’t use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, ointments, or harsh cleansers
  • Our bodies heal the piercings; saline just keeps it clean. Anything else can be irritating since it’s an open wound

Slide image

Normal Healing Signs

During healing, it’s normal to have:

  • Mild swelling
  • Tenderness
  • Some crusting
  • Occasional redness after being bumped or cleaned
  • A piercing that feels fine one day and slightly irritated the next

APP guidance notes that some bleeding, swelling, tenderness, bruising, itching, and whitish-yellow discharge that dries into crust can all be part of normal healing.

Slide image

When to check in

Reach out if you have:

  • Increasing pain instead of gradual improvement
  • Significant swelling that doesn’t settle
  • Jewelry that feels too tight
  • Embedding concerns
  • Heat, spreading redness, or discharge that seems unusual
  • A bump that keeps getting worse

Cancellations

If you cancel within 24 hours of your appointment, your deposit will be kept and treated as the cancellation fee. If you cancel before the 24 hour window, your piercing fee will be refunded in full.

Rescheduling

Need to move your appointment? You can reschedule without a fee as long as it’s more than 24 hours in advance. There will be a link to reschedule in your appointment confirmation email.

Late Arrivals + Documentation

Arriving more than 5 minutes late or not having the required documentation will be treated as a cancellation, and your deposit will be retained. If you’re running late, call us 815-782-2533 — if availability allows, we may be able to move you to a later time.