What is nesting with lip piercings?
There are several lip piercings that exist; snakebites, a simple labret, a philtrum, etc. At first, the labret posts are often very long to accommodate the initial swelling. However, it is only temporary. Eventually, these labrets must be switched to shorter ones to make them more comfortable. When the piercings are healed, a properly fitted jewelry may begin to nest in a small pocket in the mucous membranes of the lip. This phenomenon, although it may seem worrying at first, is quite normal and is called nesting.
Is it safe?
When the piercings are healed, yes. The important thing to be able to pop the jewelry in and out from the nest without pain or irritation. Nesting decreases the discomfort and, since the jewelry is in a small pocket, it also decreases the damages a mouth piercing can do to your gums and teeth in the long run. Often, nesting happens without the person even noticing except for the fact that one day, their jewelry no longer touches anything.
Here is a pair of healed snakebites that have formed a nest in the mucous membranes. The jewelry can easily be popped in and out and do not cause any discomfort in addition to limiting the impact on the teeth and gums.
And what’s the difference between an embedded piercing and a nesting one?
A piercing that’s nesting is a piercing that is, more often than not, healed and does not create any discomfort. The tissues around or slightly over the labret post are healthy and the piercing does not bleed nor does it secrete any lymph fluid. An embedded piercing is most likely still healing and, in most cases, this is because the jewelry is too short to accommodate the current swelling. The tissues are usually raw, red, sensitive and the lip may be swollen. In these cases, it is necessary to make sure to install a longer labret post to be sure that the mucous membranes of the lip do not close on the jewelry.
Piercings not made at Studio Zen Tattoo. This client came to us with poor quality jewelry and much too short labret posts for the initial swelling. Here, both labrets are embedded.
In short, this phenomenon is something that is done over time by trying different lengths over the course of the healing process until the jewelry feels perfectly fine and comfortable. If you are not sure if your jewelry is embedding or has simply settled in their nest pockets, it is always possible to make an appointment with your piercer to be sure your piercings are okay.