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The Monroe piercing is a type of oral facial piercing meant to look like a mole above the upper lip a la Marilyn Monroe's famous beauty mark. It is typically pierced with a flat-back stud with a ball or jewel on top. The Monroe piercing is becoming more common, but is still considered inappropriate for many workplaces, events and situations. Some people find they must remove their Monroe piercing for these reasons.

Rinse your mouth with mouthwash, making sure to rinse the inside of the piercing. Clean your hands with mild antibacterial soap. Use your fingers or a cotton swab to gently remove any crust from around the visible part of the jewelry.

Put on latex gloves to help you maintain a secure grip on the jewelry. Pull your upper lip out from your gums with one hand. Grab hold of the inside part of the jewelry with your other hand, holding the flat disk between your thumb and index finger.

Let go of the upper lip, with one hand still holding the back of the jewelry. Grab the ball on the front of the upper lip with your free hand.

Turn the ball to the left. Do not let go of the flat back of the jewelry. Continue turning until the ball comes free from the post.

Pull gently on the flat disc to remove the post.

Tip

A professional piercer can help change or remove your piercing. Many provide this service for free. This is the cleanest and safest way to remove any piercing.

Warning

Do not attempt to remove an infected piercing yourself. Consult with a professional piercer.

Do not remove the jewelry from a healing Monroe piercing if you wish to keep the piercing. Lip piercings close very quickly, making it painful to reinsert the jewelry.