A jestrum is a vertical medusa. A curved barbell runs down through the upper lip so that one bead sits in the philtrum, the groove below the nose, and the other sits on the lip itself. The bar is inside the lip, and nothing passes into the mouth.
If a medusa is the upper-lip equivalent of a labret, a jestrum is the upper-lip equivalent of a vertical labret.
Jestrum or medusa
Both sit in the same part of the face, and they look completely different.
| Medusa | Jestrum | |
|---|---|---|
| Visible ends | One, in the philtrum | Two, philtrum and lip |
| Jewelry | Flat-back labret stud | Curved barbell |
| Exits inside the mouth | Yes | No |
| Gum and tooth risk | Present, manageable with fit | Largely absent |
| Anatomy needed | A discernible philtrum groove | Groove and upper-lip projection |
| Pain | 3 out of 10 | 4 out of 10 |
The jestrum removes the dental risk and adds an anatomical requirement. That is the trade.
The anatomy is stricter than a medusa
A medusa needs a philtrum with enough depth to seat a stud. A jestrum needs that plus an upper lip with enough projection for a curved bar to sit inside it without pressing on either opening.
A flat philtrum, a thin upper lip, or both together will not carry one. Forced onto the wrong anatomy the bar sits under permanent tension, which produces migration and eventually rejection, and rejection in the middle of your face leaves a scar you will see every day.
Your piercer will look at your profile as well as head-on, because projection cannot be judged from the front. This is a placement where being turned away is genuinely good service.
Pain
About 4 out of 10. The needle passes down through the body of the lip rather than straight back through the thin tissue of the philtrum, so it lasts a moment longer than a medusa.
Swelling in the first three to five days is noticeable, and because the lower bead sits on the upper lip itself, a swollen lip makes the jewelry feel tight. The long starting bar exists for exactly this reason.
Healing
Two to three months.
- Days 1-5: peak swelling, tenderness at both openings, awkward speech and eating.
- Weeks 1-4: swelling drops, crusting at both ends, which is more visible than on a medusa because both openings are on show.
- Weeks 4-12: the channel matures internally.
Downsize at three to six weeks, a little later than a medusa because the bar spans more tissue. A curved bar left long rocks in the channel, and that movement is the usual cause of irritation bumps here.
Aftercare
Simpler than a medusa, because there is no inside of the mouth to manage. Sterile saline twice a day on both openings, patted dry with clean paper towel, nothing else.
Be careful with cups and cutlery for the first fortnight, since the lower bead sits right on the drinking edge of your upper lip. The aftercare guide has the routine.
Jewelry
Curved barbell, 16 gauge, implant-grade titanium, 12 to 14 mm to start, downsized to 8 to 10 mm. The curve is what allows the bar to follow the path through the lip; a straight bar presses on both openings and will not settle. Threadless or internally threaded only. See the materials guide.
Once healed, the change is usually a different pair of ends rather than a different style of jewelry.
Related placements
- Medusa: the single-bead version that exits inside the mouth.
- Vertical labret: the same idea on the lower lip.
- Angel fangs: two vertical labrets side by side.
Cost
$40 to $90 in a US studio, plus jewelry. Above a medusa because the assessment and marking take longer, and the marking is what you are paying for. Tip 15 to 20 percent.
Frequently asked questions
What is a jestrum piercing?
A vertical medusa. A curved barbell passes through the upper lip so one bead sits in the philtrum, above the lip, and the other sits on the lip itself. Nothing enters the mouth.
What is the difference between a jestrum and a medusa?
A medusa is a single stud in the philtrum that exits inside the mouth, so one bead is visible. A jestrum is a curved bar through the upper lip with a bead visible at each end and no opening inside the mouth.
Does a jestrum hurt?
About 4 out of 10, slightly more than a medusa. The needle travels down through the body of the upper lip rather than straight back through thin tissue, so the sensation lasts a moment longer.
Can everyone get a jestrum?
No. It needs a defined philtrum and an upper lip with enough projection for the curved bar to sit inside without pressing at either opening. A flat philtrum or a thin upper lip usually rules it out.
Is a jestrum safer for your teeth than a medusa?
Yes. Nothing sits inside the mouth, so the gum recession risk that comes with a medusa's flat back largely does not apply.
How long does a jestrum take to heal?
Two to three months. Both openings are on the outside, so crusting is more visible in the early weeks than with a piercing that exits inside the mouth.
Sources
- Association of Professional Piercers - Suggested aftercare for oral piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/oral-aftercare/
- Association of Professional Piercers - Jewelry for initial piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/jewelry-for-initial-piercings/
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy) - Oral piercingshttps://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/oral-piercings
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This article is for education only and is not medical advice. If a piercing is hot, swollen, spreading redness, oozing yellow or green discharge, or you have a fever, see a doctor today.