Monroe piercing
A Monroe piercing is a lip piercing placed off-center, above the upper lip and is meant to resemble a beauty spot; it is also known as a 'Madonna' or 'Crawford'. The three name variations of the piercing bear their names from famous female icons: Marilyn Monroe, Madonna, and Cindy Crawford. Although it is commonly thought that the name describes the location of the piercing, this is false: a Monroe/Crawford/Madonna is simply a piercing above the lip in any location. A piercing on the left side above the lip can be referred to as either of the three names, not just a Monroe.

The Monroe piercing has a recent history, unlike others that were popularized in the late 70s and 80s. Seen in the mid/late 90s on Rayna, the bassist of the band Coal Chamber, the Monroe piercing can also be seen on celebrities such Amy Winehouse, Ashley Massaro, Christine Dolce, and Mutya Buena. Although more favoured by women, this piercing is seen increasingly on men; male celebrities who wear this piercing include Travis McCoy and Trace Cyrus.

This piercing is typically fitted with a 12, 16, or 18 gauge labret, the bars of which are usually shortened after healing. A variation on this piercing is the Crayfish piercing - a double version of a Monroe piercing with piercings worn on both sides of the upper lip. When long barbells are worn in this piercing, they look similar to the antennae on a crayfish, hence the name. Most people with a Monroe piercing favor a metal ball or a jewel on the outer-end.

The lip can often swell considerably after the piercing and will need both facial and oral aftercare to keep both sides of the jewelery clean at all times. Monroes, like all piercings, are prone to infection and it is vital that the piercing is cleaned regularly. Scarring is minimal to none if properly taken care of.

An advantage of a Monroe piercing is that the lip area generally heals faster than other piercings. The estimated healing time given by professional piercers for this type of lip piercing is between 8-12 weeks, but many find it heals in 3-6 weeks.

The Monroe is said to be a relatively painless piercing process, compared to others, as this area of the body is soft and contains few nerves. There is a small risk of piercing the superior labial artery, which lies just above the upper lip.

The amount of pain experienced during the piercing process differs from person to person and depends on the specific location of the piercing. Those with thicker lips or well-exercised facial muscles will have more flesh or muscle to pierce, so they may experience more discomfort. Men may experience slightly more pain than women, as repeated shaving can make the skin of the upper lip tougher and harder to pierce. The orbicularis oris (the sphincter muscle around the mouth) is used in the playing of brass and woodwind instruments; as a result, players of these instruments tend to have a larger muscle around the mouth and may experience more discomfort during the piercing process.

As with similar piercings, Monroes can cause long-term damage to the gums and teeth. The back-disk of metal jewelery worn in this piercing rubs against them, potentially resulting in gum recession or damage to tooth enamel. Plastic labret-studs are available to minimize this problem.




















          Nicknames Madonna, Crawford
          Location Off-center, above top lip
          Jewelry Labret stud
          Healing 6-12 weeks