Lip Piercing Repair
Lip Piercing Hole Repair from £500
If you have removed a lip piercing but the hole hasn’t fully closed, or you’re left with a visible mark that bothers you, lip piercing repair can help. At CLNQ in Manchester and Cheshire, we offer minor surgical procedures to close piercing tracts, refine the lip border and improve the appearance of scars. We explains what’s involved, who it’s for, how we do it, recovery, risks, and answers to common questions so that you can make an informed choice.
Piercing hole repairs such as earlobe repair or nose piercing repairs are performed by our team of plastic surgeons in our CQC registered clinics and hospitals.
Table of Contents
What is lip piercing repair?
Lip piercings pass through delicate structures—the skin, muscle (orbicularis oris) and the vermilion (the pink lip) or the cutaneous upper lip. Even after jewellery is removed, the body often maintains a small epithelialised tract (a tiny tube of skin lining) that prevents complete closure. That can leave:
A visible hole or dimple that collects make-up or saliva
A small notch in the vermilion border (lip line) that catches the eye
Hyperpigmentation (darker mark) or hypopigmentation (lighter spot)
A stretched opening after years of jewellery wear
A contour irregularity where the inner and outer openings don’t line up
Scar tissue or keloid-prone bumps around the old site
Functional issues (irritation from food, plaque, or recurrent spots)
Surgical repair removes the epithelial tract and precisely re-aligns tissues so the lip looks natural again. It can help improve the appearance of an indentation caused from a previous piercing after removal.
Who Is Suitable For Lip Piercing Repair?
Most healthy adults who are unhappy with the appearance of a previous piercing are candidates. We can repair:
Labret piercings (central lower lip)
Medusa/philtrum piercings (centre of upper lip)
Monroe/Madonna (off-centre upper lip)
Jestrum (vertical upper lip)
Vertical labret (vertical lower lip)
Angel bites/dolphin bites (paired piercings)
You should wait at least three months after jewellery removal (six months is ideal) to allow soft-tissue settling and pigment normalisation. If you have a history of keloids, acne flares, cold sores (HSV-1), or you smoke/vape, let us know—these factors affect planning and aftercare.
Lip Piercing Repair
The lip piercing journey at CLNQ Manchester and Cheshire begins with a consultation with our plastic surgeons. There are a number of steps in the journey which we have outlined below.
Consultation
During your consultation, we carefully examine the lip and surrounding area. We look at:
Your lip anatomy, including thickness and border definition
The position of the piercing tract
The quality of the scar – whether it is flat, raised, pigmented, or tethered
Whether the muscle underneath is affected
Any internal irritation from your teeth
Your skin type and risk of keloid scarring
We will also discuss your goals. Some people simply want the hole closed discreetly, while others are looking for more refinement such as evening out a notch or restoring the crisp lip border.
Treatment Options
There are several surgical techniques we may use depending on the piercing and the scar left behind.
Simple punch excision and closure is suitable for small, straight tracts. A micro-punch removes the tiny skin tube and surrounding scar, then the opening is closed with ultra-fine stitches.
Elliptical excision involves removing the tract with a very small ellipse of skin. This is designed along natural skin lines to allow a flat, well-blended closure.
Mini-wedge repair is useful when the piercing hole disrupts the lip border. A tiny wedge of tissue is removed and the lip border is carefully re-aligned to restore its natural outline.
Vertical piercing tract repair is used for piercings like jestrum or vertical labret, which have both an internal and external opening. Both sides are excised, and the muscle layer is repaired. Dissolvable stitches are used inside the lip, with fine stitches outside.
Scar revision and contour smoothing may also be considered. This could involve releasing tethered scars, using dermal fillers later to smooth dents, or treating redness or raised scars with laser or silicone therapy.
Procedure
Lip piercing repair is carried out under local anaesthetic in our clinics in Manchester and Cheshire.
The procedure is straightforward and follows these steps:
Marking the lip in a seated position so the natural shape is respected.
Injecting local anaesthetic to numb the area.
Precisely excising the tract using a micro-punch or scalpel.
Closing the wound in layers, using dissolvable stitches inside and very fine stitches on the skin.
Applying a thin tape dressing or glue to protect the area.
Aftercare and healing
After surgery, you will be given full aftercare instructions. In general, you should:
Keep the area clean and dry for the first 48 hours
Some stitches will be dissolvable and we will let you know if they need removing
If the tape dressing comes off then do not worry, this can remain off
Avoid drinking hot drinks within 2-4 hours post surgery since the lip may be numb
Expect mild swelling and bruising, which settle within three to five days
Return for stitch removal at 7 to 10 days
Apply silicone gel or sheets to the area from two weeks onwards for six to eight weeks once stitches removed
Wear SPF on the lips for at least three months to prevent darkening of the scar
Most scars improve and fade over three to six months.
Lip Piercing Repair FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does lip piercing repair hurt?
The local anaesthetic numbs the area so you do not feel pain. Afterwards, most people only need simple pain relief like paracetamol.
Will I need time off work?
Most people can go back to work the next day. If your job is very physical, take three to five days off.
Will there be a scar?
Any incision leaves a scar, but with fine stitches and good aftercare, these are usually very discreet.
Can I wear lipstick after the procedure?
You should wait until the wound is healed and stitches are out, usually seven to ten days.
What are the risks of lip piercing repair
Complications are uncommon, but as with any procedure, there are risks. These include bleeding, infection, scarring, asymmetry, or persistent dimpling. If you are prone to keloid scars, there is a slightly higher risk of thickened scarring. We minimise risks with careful planning, sterile technique, and appropriate aftercare.
How much is lip piercing repair?
The cost of lip piercing repair depends on a number of factors such as technique, surgeon and clinic. At CLNQ, the price for lip piercing repair is £500 for one hole.
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