Jestrum Piercing
A jestrum piercing, also referred to as a vertical philtrum, is an oral piercing that goes through the cupid's bow and exits through the upper lip. These piercings have a similar look to a traditional philtrum piercing, without the added dental concerns. Since this piercing doesn't actually enter the mouth, there is little to no risk of tooth or gum damage to the person with the piercing.
Jestrum piercings are done with curved barbells, and can be done with threaded or pressure fit jewelry, depending on the style of end you want.
Jestrum piercings, like almost all piercings, are anatomy-dependant, but as long as you have a thick enough upper lip, you are likely a good candidate! If you are at all concerned that you don't have sufficient anatomy, we recommend you book in for a piercing consultation and we can take a look and recommend which piercings you have the anatomy for.
The healing time for jestrum piercings is similar to other lip piercings, but usually a bit longer as the piercing is passing through thicker tissue. Piercings heal from the outside in, so even when it looks healed on the outside, there is still healing happening inside the tissue. It is important to come in for your downsizes on time and to avoid changing the jewelry until it is safe to do so.
Downsizes are critical for all oral piercings in order to make sure the jewelry sits properly and feels the most comfortable. A jestrum piercing usually swells for the first 3-5 weeks and once the swelling as stopped, it's time to downsize.
Healing Time (approximate): 6-9 months
Downsize: 3-6 weeks
Standard Jewelry Size: 14-16g
Standard Jewelry Style: Curved barbell