Labret Piercing and scuba.

[hambleto]

O.k. this might seem like an odd question but I cannot seem to find anyone that knows this. I am thinking of getting my labret (my lip) pierced in the center. When diving I would keep a round acrylic ball there, I doubt a nice sharp metal spike would get along well with my reg. The question I have, other than some leakage around the piercing itself, is there a problem with this? It might be neat to blow small bubbles through, but other than that can anyone think of a reason this would be a problem?
Thank you,
Ben

 

[pasley]

...It might be neat to blow small bubbles through, but other than that can anyone think of a reason this would be a problem?
Thank you,
Ben

Not and expert, but it might be a potential site for infection. Unfortunately, our oceans are not necessarily as clean as they should/could be, particularly near shore or a boat that discharges raw sewage overboard (as many do). So you might want to see your physician and explain what you want to do, and how it is done and your intent to expose it to sea water under pressure and what that environmant is like.

Others you might check with are: you parents, your significant other, your employer and potential employers (some, including me will not hire), your dentist (get the facts on any potential damage to teeth) your children or future children and grandchildren.

Can you tell I am from the over 50 crowd? Not my cup of tea, but then it is not my lip either.

 

[saying]

I just checked with a friend with a labret piercing. He reports that unless he had a tube stuck through it he couldn't suck water through. This was a 10 gauge.

Why he was spending his time trying to suck water through it I can't imagine.

 

[hambleto]

I know the dangers of the piercing. I would not dive until after the piercing is healed. The actual hole itself would be safe from infection after proper healing. I see your concern about the water issue, however once healed it would be not different, water wise, than a wet regulator. Dental could be a problem, however you run the same risk above and below the water with that kind of piercing.

I am at the age where my folks would just shake their head and wonder where they went wrong in my upbringing, my SO would just be thankful I took out my other piercings, and my work does not care.

As far as an potential employers not hiring me because of my mods, well it would be there loss not to hire me because what I look like as apposed to the skills that I poses. It is amazing that body mods are one of the last ways people can be discriminated against. That is another topic though.

 

[wreckchick]

Well, I worked in a body piercing shop, so I can answer this one.

First of all, facial piercings heal rather quickly compared to some other areas but I'd strongly advise you to wait AT LEAST 3 months, and probably 6 would be better before diving. Piercings can appear to be healed but can get inflamed and infected even after it seems like they should be fine.

The labret stud is flat on the back with a small rod that comes through the lip and the adornment of your choice visible on the outside. The only issue I can think of is that the disc on the inside might conflict with how the regulator wants to sit in your mouth, but until you have it and try it out, I don't know that you'll know about that one. A small ball would probably be better than a big ol' spike, but neither is likely to destroy your gear. I can envision both being rather uncomfortable should you ever have the need to dive with a hood.

Might just be something you need to do to find out if it'll work, but I can't think of any MAJOR problems, just minor annoyances.

Rachel

 

[hambleto]

Thank you. I was wondering if the disc might cause a problem. The only way to find out would be to get it done and go for it. I might hold off till next fall though so that I have the winter months to heal that up. (I tend to get ink during the fall and winter for the same reason).

 

[CBulla]

I cant see any problems that would be related to the piercing itself. I agree with Biscut7 in that you should wait at least 3 months before you dive... if you DO dive before that, you'd definitely want to sanitize the piercing as soon as possible after each dive to minimize the likelihood of infection.

 

[nessum]

Well I had a labret, but that was before I discovered diving. I had to get rid of it because it caused some gum recession (sucks, I was really quite attached to it, but I'd rather keep my original parts intact...)

I'm kind of curious now about a regular lip piercing & diving.... I could imagine that having your reg unexpectedly knocked or tugged or something may cause quite a bit of pain & that makes me hesitant... besides that, the money that goes towards the actual piercing could be spent on something diving related!

 

[Rick Inman]

can anyone think of a reason this would be a problem?
Thank you,
Ben

Entanglement hazard. Not DIR.

 

[hambleto]

You haven't seen me in the water. I am an entaglemant.