All About Alysa Liu's Viral Smiley Piercing

If you tuned into the 2026 Winter Olympics, you probably saw Alysa Liu figure skate her way to a gold medal, and you may also have noticed some cool-looking mouth jewelry whenever she smiled. Alysa’s piercing is called a “smiley piercing,” and we’ll tell you all about it below. Read on to learn what a smiley piercing is and how much it hurts to get one. We’ve also consulted wikiHow’s piercing experts for insight into the healing time, aftercare, and potential risks, so you can be fully informed if you’re interested in getting this piercing yourself!

Smiley Piercings Explained

A smiley piercing goes through the thin strip of skin between your gum and upper lip called the frenulum. It’s hidden when your mouth is closed but visible when you smile, hence the name. Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu’s smiley piercing was visible at the 2026 games, leading to increased interest in the piercing.

Section 1 of 7:

What exactly is a “smiley piercing”?

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A “smiley piercing” goes through the skin between your gum and upper lip. If you stick your tongue up between your front teeth and upper lip, you should be able to feel the thin strip of skin that connects your gum to your lip. This is called the frenulum, and a smiley piercing goes right through that thin strip of skin. The piercing is hidden when your mouth is closed, but it becomes visible when you smile and hangs down in front of your teeth, which is how it got its name!^{[1]
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- Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu has a smiley piercing, which was on full display during her gold medal-winning appearances at the 2026 Winter Games. This led to a spike in interest for this unique oral piercing.
- Liu recently revealed that she did this piercing herself (although we recommend going to a professional). “I had my sister hold up my lip, and I was looking in the mirror, and I had my piercing needle, and then, yeah, I just put it through,” Liu said in an interview with TMJ4.
- If you’re curious about potentially getting a smiley piercing, we’ll go over the process, healing time, aftercare, and risks below!
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Lynn Loheide is a body piercing expert with 14 years of experience, specializing in surgically altered tissue and gender-affirming piercings.

Brian Thompson is a body piercing expert and the CEO, proprietor, and Chief Piercing Officer of The World Famous Body Electric Tattoo in Los Angeles, CA.

Natalie Rose Pokes is a professional piercer who previously worked as a nurse for over 10 years. They co-own Gunns and Roses Tattoo and Piercing Parlor in Feasterville-Trevose, PA.

Section 2 of 7:

How is a smiley piercing done?

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First, a professional piercer will assess your anatomy. It’s essential to go to a reputable professional piercer because oral piercings are more advanced in general, and they carry more risks. “I would stress finding a piercer who has fresh and healed examples in their portfolio,” says body piercing expert Lynn Loheide.^{[2]
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Lynn Loheide
Body Piercing Expert

Expert Interview} Your piercer will look at your frenulum and make sure it’s thick enough to support the piercing—unfortunately, some people with thinner frenulums won’t be able to have it done.^{[3]
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Next, your piercer will pierce your frenulum with a sterile needle. You’ll likely have to swish an antibacterial rinse around inside your mouth first, then your piercer will show you the sterilized needle that will be used for your piercing. Your upper lip will then be held back, and your piercer will use the needle to pierce your frenulum. The whole process takes just a few seconds!^{[4]
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- Afterwards, jewelry will be put into the piercing, and your piercer will discuss the healing process and aftercare instructions with you.
- How much do smiley piercings cost? Smiley piercings typically cost around $30-$90.^{[5]
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Section 3 of 7:

Do smiley piercings hurt?

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The pain level of smiley piercings ranges from three to six out of 10. Some people consider a frenulum piercing to be about a three out of 10 on the pain scale, but others say it’s closer to a six.^{[6]
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Research source} The piercing itself is in a very sensitive area, which may cause it to be more painful, but it’s also a thinner strip of skin, which could make it less painful for some people.^{[7]
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Research source} Ultimately, pain levels for piercings are relative, and they depend very heavily on your unique pain tolerance.
- Luckily, the process is quick, so no matter how painful it ends up being, it will be over fast.

Section 4 of 7:

Smiley Piercing Healing Time

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A smiley piercing takes about six to eight weeks to heal. The exact healing time can vary slightly from person to person, but in general, it should take about six to eight weeks for your smiley piercing to heal completely.^{[8]
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Research source} During the healing process, some swelling and discomfort are normal. “All oral piercings swell significantly more than any other piercing,” explains professional piercer Natalie Rose Pokes.^{[9]
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Natalie Rose Pokes
Professional Piercer

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- “If you're thinking about getting an oral piercing, you want to make sure you have at least a week where you're not having to speak to somebody a lot, going to an interview, doing something like that,” she continues.^{[10]
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Section 5 of 7:

Smiley Piercing Aftercare Tips

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Rinse with alcohol-free mouthwash twice per day. To keep your piercing clean and prevent infection, rinse your mouth with alcohol-free and hydrogen peroxide-free mouthwash twice daily during the healing process. Don’t overuse the rinse—two times per day should be enough!^{[11]
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Maintain good oral hygiene practices to keep your mouth clean. Brush your teeth two times per day and floss, just like you would regularly. Gently brush your jewelry with a clean toothbrush as well to avoid plaque build-up on it.^{[12]
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Rinse your mouth out with water after eating. After eating or drinking anything, take a minute to swish your mouth with water to clear out any food debris and keep your piercing site clean. Use filtered or bottled water, not plain tap water.^{[13]
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Avoid spicy, acidic, super salty, and hard foods. “You want to avoid spicy foods [and] really hard foods. You’re going to want to be on a softer diet for the first week,” explains Natalie Rose Pokes.^{[14]
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Natalie Rose Pokes
Professional Piercer

Expert Interview} Very spicy, salty, or acidic foods can easily sting or irritate the piercing site, and hard or crunchy foods can scratch or snag against it in an uncomfortable way, so it’s best to steer clear of all of these.
- It may take some time to adjust to your new piercing, so be careful and take your time while you eat.
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Avoid smoking and alcohol. Smoking (both tobacco and cannabis) increases risks and prolongs healing time, so it’s best to avoid it altogether, or at least greatly minimize it. Try to avoid alcohol as long as you’re still bleeding or swelling at the piercing site, as well.^{[15]
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Avoid kissing in the early days of the healing process. It’s important to avoid activities that jostle your new piercing around, which can irritate the area and prevent proper healing. Unfortunately, this includes kissing.^{[16]
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Research source} Quick pecks are totally fine, but as your piercing heals, avoid deeper kisses.^{[17]
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- On that same note, don’t touch your piercing or move it around with your tongue! It may be tempting, but it’s not helpful to the healing process, so try to leave it be.^{[18]
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Section 6 of 7:

Smiley Piercing Risks & Things to Consider

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Smiley piercings can cause dental issues. According to the American Dental Association, risks of oral piercings include chipped or damaged teeth and gum recession.^{[19]
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American Dental Association
World's largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health

Go to source} Unfortunately, since smiley piercings rest and move against your upper gums and teeth, these complications are in fact possible, so you should be aware of them beforehand.
- “You want to be careful, and I tell all my clients to watch [their] gum line,” agrees piercing expert Brian Thompson.^{[20]
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- “If you see your gums receding, you need to take that piercing out, because if it’s left too long and it rubs on your gums, there will be recession of the gums, which will eventually lead to tooth loss,” Thompson says.^{[21]
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- If you’re concerned about the dental risks associated with smiley piercings, consider talking to your dentist before getting one.
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Like all oral piercings, smiley piercings carry an infection risk. Your mouth is a wet environment, and it’s also home to large amounts of bacteria, which makes it an ideal place for an infection to form.^{[22]
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Research source} Proper aftercare can help prevent this, but it’s important to be vigilant and immediately take action if you suspect an infection. If you think your piercing might be infected, seek out care from a medical professional, rather than trying to manage it yourself.^{[23]
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Section 7 of 7:

What jewelry is worn with a smiley piercing?

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Captive bead rings and circular barbells are the most popular options. A captive bead ring is a circular piece of jewelry with a small bead at the bottom. You’ll likely get fitted with this type of jewelry when you first get your piercing, and once you’re healed you can also go for variations of this style with gemstones instead of a plain bead. Circular barbells, which look like unclosed rings with beads on each end, are also popular choices.^{[24]
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