Shark bites are four lower-lip piercings arranged as two pairs, one pair on each side of the mouth. They are, in practice, spider bites done twice.
Everything that applies to a single labret applies here four times over, and that multiplication is the whole story of this placement.
Consider doing them in two sittings
Most piercers will do all four in one appointment if you ask. Many would rather not, and the reason is practical rather than cautious.
Four fresh wounds in one lower lip produce a lot of swelling. For the first three to five days that means a lip that is genuinely difficult to eat and speak with, and there is no comfortable side to favour because both are healing.
Staging one side at a time solves that. You keep a working side of your mouth, the swelling is halved, and your piercer gets to place the second pair against a first pair that has already settled, which usually improves the match. The cost is that the full project takes four to six months rather than two to three.
If you do have all four done at once, clear your calendar for a few days and stock the fridge with soft cold food before the appointment.
Placement
Two pairs, evenly spaced either side of the lower lip. Each pair needs enough of a tissue bridge between its two channels to stay stable, and the two pairs need to read as a matched set.
That is four points to balance against a face that is not symmetrical, which is why this placement rewards an experienced piercer more than most. Marking, mirror, adjust, mark again. Do not rush this stage.
Pain
About 3 out of 10 each. Individually none of them is notable.
Four in a row is a different experience from one. The lip becomes progressively more tender, so the fourth is felt considerably more than the first even though the piercing itself is identical. Staging over two appointments removes this.
Healing
Two to three months if all four are done together, healing in parallel.
- Days 1-5: substantial swelling across the whole lower lip, difficulty eating and speaking.
- Weeks 1-3: swelling drops, crusting on all four, light white discharge inside.
- Weeks 4-12: channels finish maturing internally.
Downsize all four at two to four weeks, in one visit. Four over-long posts in one lip is the worst version of the standard lip-piercing problem: they knock each other, they knock your teeth, and they keep every channel moving.
The dental question, four times
This is the highest-exposure lip arrangement covered on this site. Four flat discs rest inside your lower lip, and any of them sitting against the gum line rather than the soft inner lip can cause recession, which does not grow back.
- Downsize on schedule, all four.
- Ask for the smallest comfortable discs. With four backs in one lip, surface area adds up.
- Tell your dentist before you get them, not after, and have the lower gum margin checked at every appointment.
If your dentist has already noted recession or enamel wear, this is not the arrangement to choose.
Aftercare
Outside: sterile saline twice a day across all four, patted dry with clean paper towel. Inside: an alcohol-free antibacterial or saline rinse after eating, after anything but water, and after smoking. No alcohol-based mouthwash.
Expect the first fortnight to require real care with food. The aftercare guide has the routine.
Jewelry
Four flat-back labret studs, 16 gauge, implant-grade titanium, long posts to start, downsized together. Threadless or internally threaded only. See the materials guide.
Once fully healed, matching rings across all four are the classic look. Rings move more than studs, so wait until the channels are genuinely mature.
Related placements
- Spider bites: one pair, and the sensible way to find out whether you like the look.
- Snake bites: two piercings, one either side.
- Vertical labret: nothing inside the mouth at all, if the dental risk is what concerns you.
Cost
$120 to $240 for all four in a US studio, plus jewelry for each. Studios usually discount additional piercings in the same session, so four together costs less than four separately. Tip 15 to 20 percent.
Frequently asked questions
What are shark bites piercings?
Four lower-lip piercings arranged as two pairs, one pair on each side. In effect they are spider bites done on both sides. Each of the four passes through the lip and exits inside the mouth.
Do shark bites hurt?
About 3 out of 10 for each piercing. No single one is bad; the difficulty is sitting through four in a row, and each one is felt a little more than the last as the lip becomes tender.
Should I get all four shark bites at once?
Many piercers would rather do them in two sittings, one side at a time. Four fresh wounds in one lip swell considerably, and staging them leaves you a comfortable side to eat and sleep on while the first pair settles.
How long do shark bites take to heal?
Two to three months if all four are done together, since they heal in parallel. Staged over two appointments, expect the whole project to take around four to six months from the first piercing to the last one being healed.
Are shark bites bad for your teeth?
They are the highest-exposure lip arrangement on this site, with four flat discs resting inside the lower lip. Correct sizing on all four and regular dental checks are not optional here.
What is the difference between shark bites and snake bites?
Count. Snake bites are two piercings, one either side. Spider bites are two on the same side. Shark bites are four, arranged as a pair on each side.
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.