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Diagram of oral piercing locations on a person's face with labels.
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Diagram of oral piercing locations on a person's face with labels.
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Vertical Labret Piercing

A vertical labret piercing passes through the lower lip — entering at the base of the lip and exiting at the front of the lip’s surface. Both ends of the jewelry are visible. It is a bolder placement than a traditional labret, with a more dimensional quality that makes it one of the more distinctive lip piercings we do.

It is also one of the more anatomy-specific. The curve, thickness, and projection of your lower lip all determine whether a vertical labret is viable and exactly where it should sit. Lips that are too thin or too flat in their profile can make placement difficult or create healing challenges that are not worth the trade-off. That is not a conversation most studios have upfront. We do.

At Stacked, we assess your anatomy before anything is marked. We look at lip curvature, tissue depth, and blood vessel location before committing to a placement. If a vertical labret is the right fit for your anatomy, we will design the placement around what your lip can actually support. If it is not, we will be honest about why and talk through what else might work. The goal is always a piercing that heals well and lives comfortably on your face.

Why Stacked Piercing?

Why a vertical labret piercing at Stacked?

Because a through-lip placement done carelessly is the reason this piercing has a reputation for being difficult.

The margin for error is smaller here than with most lip piercings. Lip curvature, tissue depth, and blood vessel placement all have to be accounted for before anything is marked. We assess all of it, guide you through jewelry that is hypoallergenic and designed for healing, and stay with you through the process so the result has the best possible chance of lasting. That is what The Stacked Method™ is built around.

Why Placement Matters More Here

A vertical labret exits at the front surface of the lip, which makes placement errors immediately visible and difficult to correct without retiring the piercing. The angle has to follow the natural arc of the lip. The entry and exit points have to be aligned precisely. And the jewelry has to be sized correctly from the start — too short creates pressure on the tissue, too long creates movement that slows healing.

Precision here is what separates a vertical labret that becomes a permanent, comfortable part of your face from one that migrates, causes prolonged irritation, or never quite settles where it should.

Cost + Age Requirements

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.

Vertical Labret Piercing Fees: $70
Age Requirement: 15+

We pierce vertical labrets with 16g ASTM F136 implant-grade titanium curved barbells, with initial sizing typically falling around ⅜” (10mm) to 7/16” (11mm), but may differ depending on your upper lip’s projection and tissue depth.

The curved barbell is the appropriate jewelry type for a vertical labret because its shape follows the natural arc of the lower lip, reducing pressure on the tissue during healing. Straight barbells and flat back posts are not suitable for this placement — both create angles and contact points that work against the lip rather than with it.

Initial sizing leaves room for swelling while keeping the jewelry close enough to the lip that it does not create excessive movement. We size based on your anatomy, not a default. Style is part of the conversation too — but a piece that heals poorly is not a success regardless of how it looks on day one.

Vertical Labret Piercing Process

Vertical Labret piercing process


We begin with a thorough look at your lower lip — its curve, its projection, its tissue depth, and how jewelry will sit against its surface in motion as well as at rest. Facial anatomy is not static, and a vertical labret has to be designed around how your lip actually moves, not just how it looks straight on.

Once placement is marked and reviewed together, the piercing is done with a needle. Some piercers work freehand; others use forceps or a cork to stabilize the tissue depending on anatomy. Jewelry is then guided carefully into place. Precise, calm, and unhurried from start to finish.

Vertical Labret vs. Standard Labret

The difference is more than aesthetic. A standard labret sits below the lower lip in the soft tissue above the chin, with the jewelry exiting beneath the lip. A vertical labret passes through the lip itself, with one end visible at the base of the lip and one at the top of its curve. The placement path, the jewelry type, and the healing considerations are all different.

Because a vertical labret exits at the front of the lip surface, it uses a curved barbell rather than a flat back post. The curve follows the natural shape of the lip, allowing the jewelry to sit with the tissue rather than against it. This also means the jewelry is more visible than a traditional labret — both ends sit on the outside of the face, which is part of the look.

Neither placement is better than the other. They are simply designed differently, and the right choice depends entirely on your anatomy and what you are building.

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.

Vertical Labret Piercing

$70.00

Vertical Labret Piercing Information

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Pain Level 4-7/10

Because the needle passes through the lip rather than the softer tissue below it, most clients find a vertical labret slightly more noticeable than a standard labret. The sensation is brief, and the tenderness that follows in the first few days is manageable. Individual experience varies based on lip anatomy and personal threshold.

 
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Vertical Labret Piercing Healing Timeline

Healing Time: 3-4+ months

Vertical labret piercings heal on a similar timeline to standard labrets, though the through-lip placement means the tissue is interacting with more daily movement — eating, talking, expression. Even when things look settled from the outside, the internal tissue may still be working through the process.

Avoiding unnecessary contact with the jewelry, sleeping on your back when possible, and following aftercare consistently all make a meaningful difference here. We will walk you through the specifics so you know what to protect and what to watch for

 
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Downsizing

A piercing begins in the studio, but the healing happens with you. We require a six-week check-up for every client, so we can take a look at how things are healing, talk through any questions, and offer guidance. Once swelling resolves, initial jewelry that is too long creates more movement than healing tissue needs.

Because lip anatomy varies, the right timing and degree of any adjustment depends on how the piercing is sitting and how your body is responding. We guide that process with you rather than following a fixed schedule.

 

Piercing Aftercare

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

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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

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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.

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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.