The Hidden Risks of Alysa Liu's Viral Smiley Piercing: What Piercers Warn About Healing
By Alexander Ross
The upper labial frenulum is a thin fold of mucous membrane connecting the inner surface of the upper lip to the gum tissue situated between the two central incisors. It contains minimal blood vessels, very few nerve endings, and zero cartilage. Because the tissue web is thin, the actual puncture causes minimal pain, often described as a brief pinch rating no more than 2 out of 10 on standard pain scales.
That anatomical simplicity is deceptive. The web of tissue provides almost no structural resistance against physical tension. If the tissue band is naturally thin or asymmetrical, a piercer will decline the service entirely. Attempting to force jewelry through inadequate tissue leads directly to rapid rejection, where the body gradually pushes the foreign object out through the surface of the skin like a splinter.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
