About This Service

The mouth is one of the most complex environments a piercer works in. Saliva, constant movement, teeth, gums, and the frenulum tissue all create variables that a skilled piercer has to account for before the needle is ever uncapped. At M.INK Tattooing on Main Street in Winnipeg, Mckala Farrell leads every oral piercing appointment with an assessment-first approach, examining tongue thickness, lip tissue depth, frenulum attachment, and dental clearance before any placement decision is made.

Whether you’re coming in for a straightforward tongue piercing or something more intricate like a venom tongue or jestrum, Mckala and the M.INK team — Tayler, Violet, and Lex, bring the same standard of care to every chair. 

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Ear Placements

Oral piercings cover a wider anatomical range than most people realize. From the inside of the cheek to the underside of the tongue, each placement sits in a unique tissue environment with its own healing behaviour, jewellery requirement, and long-term dental consideration. Mckala Farrell walks through all of this with you at your consultation so you leave knowing exactly what to expect.

01

Cheek

( Starting from $80 )

Cheek piercings pass through the cheek tissue and rest against the inner mouth lining, creating the appearance of dimples when worn with flat-back labrets. Placement depth and angle matter significantly here because the parotid duct runs through cheek tissue and must be avoided. Mckala maps each cheek piercing carefully to keep your anatomy protected while achieving the aesthetic you’re after.

02

Dahlia

( Starting FROM $80 )

Placed at the corners of the mouth where the upper and lower lip meet, dahlia piercings frame the smile with a striking symmetry. They are typically done as a pair and require enough tissue at the lip corners to sit comfortably without pulling. The result, when healed well, adds dramatic definition to the mouth without competing with other facial features.

03

Frenulum (Smiley Adjacent)

( Starting FROM $80 )

The frenulum piercing passes through the thin band of tissue connecting the upper lip to the gum line, visible only when you smile, which is exactly where it gets its nickname. It is one of the more anatomy-dependent oral piercings we offer since the frenulum tissue needs to be thick enough to support a ring without tearing. We assess yours honestly before booking.

04

Frowny

( Starting FROM $80 )

The lower lip equivalent of the frenulum, the frowny pierces through the tissue band connecting the lower lip to the gum line. It sits hidden at rest and peeks out when the lip is pulled down. Like the smiley, this placement is highly anatomy-dependent and works only when the tissue is substantial enough to support jewellery without rubbing against the lower teeth.

05

Jestrum

( Starting FROM $80 )

The jestrum is a vertical piercing through the centre of the upper lip, with both ends of the curved barbell sitting visibly on the outer lip surface. Unlike the standard philtrum, the jestrum curves down through the lip tissue rather than exiting inside the mouth, making it visible from both the front and in profile. It is a distinctive placement that suits specific lip shapes particularly well.

06

Labret

( Starting FROM $80 )

The labret sits below the centre of the lower lip, just above the chin. It is one of the most versatile lip-area placements available, working with a flat-back stud for a minimalist look or a ring for something bolder. Labret piercings are also one of the lowest-risk oral placements for dental contact, which makes them a practical choice for clients who are mindful of tooth and gum health.

07

Low-bret

( Starting FROM $80 )

A variation of the labret placed significantly lower on the chin, closer to the jawline than the lip. The low-bret has a surface-adjacent quality that makes it feel more like a facial placement than a traditional oral piercing. It is less common than a standard labret, which tends to attract clients who want something distinctly different from the more recognizable lip placements.

08

Lip

( Starting FROM $80 )

Lip piercings encompass a range of positions around the upper and lower lip, side lip, off-centre, and symmetrical pairs are all options we offer. The placement you choose shapes the entire look, and Mckala takes time to assess your lip anatomy, bite pattern, and existing dental work before marking anything. A well-placed lip piercing heals cleanly and sits comfortably for years.

09

Philtrum (Medusa)

( Starting FROM $80 )

The philtrum piercing, widely known as the medusa, sits in the groove of the upper lip directly below the septum. A flat-back labret stud is the standard jewellery choice here, and when positioned correctly it creates a clean, centred focal point that complements both the nose and lip. Mckala assesses philtrum depth and lip fullness to ensure the jewellery sits flush rather than sinking or sitting proud.

10

Monroe

( Starting FROM $80 )

Placed off-centre on the upper lip to one side, the Monroe takes its name from the iconic beauty mark it mimics. It is one of the most recognizable lip placements and remains consistently popular because it works across a wide range of face shapes and lip structures. A subtle flat-back stud keeps it refined, while a gem adds a little extra.

11

Smiley

( Starting FROM $80 )

The smiley pierces the frenulum tissue inside the upper lip, sitting hidden at rest and revealing itself with a full smile. It is a playful, low-profile placement that appeals to clients who want something meaningful without it being on display constantly. Frenulum thickness determines whether this piercing is a viable option for you, and we assess that at consultation before anything else.

12

Tongue

( Starting FROM $80 )

Tongue piercings are among the fastest-healing oral piercings when placed correctly at the midline with appropriate jewellery length. The initial barbell is longer to accommodate tongue swelling in the first week or two, and downsizing to a shorter post at the 4-6 week mark is an important step that prevents unnecessary dental contact. Mckala checks tongue vein placement and tissue depth before every tongue piercing appointment.

13

Venom Tongue

( Starting FROM $80 )

Venom piercings are a paired tongue placement, with one barbell on each side of the tongue rather than the traditional centred single. They require enough tongue width to accommodate both piercings without crowding, and they are done either in a single session or staged across two appointments depending on your anatomy and aftercare capacity. The result is one of the most striking oral placements available.

How It Works

01

Consult and Assess

Mckala examines the specific tissue involved in your chosen placement tongue thickness, lip depth, frenulum attachment, dental clearance and gives you an honest read on what will work and what to expect from the healing process.

02

Mark and Review

Placement is marked and reviewed with you before anything proceeds. For oral piercings, the mark accounts for tissue shift, bite pattern, and jewellery behaviour at rest. You approve it before the needle is uncapped.

03

Pierce and Fit

Single-use sterile needle, clean controlled technique, implant-grade starting jewellery fitted immediately at the correct length for your anatomy. The piercing itself typically takes under a minute from start to finish.

04

Brief and Follow Up

We walk you through oral-specific aftercare before you leave. Tayler and Violet are also on hand for follow-up questions by phone or email throughout your healing window, reaching out early is always better than waiting.

Aftercare

Oral piercings heal in a unique environment. Bacteria, food, drink, and constant movement create conditions that require specific habits, not just the standard saline routine. We brief you thoroughly at your appointment. Here is what you need to know going in:

What to Do:

What to Avoid:

Questions during healing? We’re at info@minktattooingwpg.ca or call 431-481-1681.

Tracy
    Tracy

    Customer

    Favorite artist. Always books me in right away, and does an absolutely incredible job!!!

    Meghan
      Meghan

      Customer

      I went here for my first tattoo. Best results im obsessed and will continue going back

      Keisha
        Keisha

        Customer

        When you come in you get a very welcoming & comfortable presence, i lovedddd that!

        Oral Piercings Done Properly. By Appointment Only.

        Book online to secure your time with Mckala and the M.INK team · 1681 Main St, Winnipeg

        FAQs

        The honest answer is that oral piercings carry more dental risk than external piercings, and anyone who tells you otherwise is not being straight with you. The risk is real but manageable. Correct jewellery length, proper placement away from tooth and gum contact, timely downsizing at 4-6 weeks, and avoiding the habit of playing with your jewellery all significantly reduce the likelihood of enamel or gum damage. We discuss this with every client before their appointment.