Alysa Liu’s smiley piercing explained

That flash of silver above Alysa Liu’s front teeth is a “smiley” or frenulum piercing, a modification that passes through the thin tissue connecting the upper lip to the gums. The jewelry stays hidden behind the lip and only appears when the wearer grins wide enough to show the gumline.

Liu said she pierced it herself a little over two years ago, with her sister holding up her lip while she looked in a mirror and used a sterile needle. She rated the pain a “zero out of 10.” She picked up piercing as a hobby during the two years she spent away from the sport after retiring at 16, teaching herself because she found shop piercings expensive.

Liu said she bought professional-grade piercing needles and does not use safety pins or a piercing gun. Professional smiley piercings typically cost $30 to $100, heal in four to 12 weeks, and can lead to enamel erosion, chipped or cracked teeth and gum recession over time.

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