Apollo Tattoo Studio specializes in the monroe piercing in Los Angeles — a single labret stud placed off-center on the upper lip, mirroring Marilyn Monroe's iconic beauty mark. Our piercers map your unique upper lip anatomy and let you choose between the classic left-side monroe or its right-side counterpart, the madonna piercing. Placement matters: too close to the lip line restricts smiling, too high reads as floating.
Our Los Angeles monroe piercers start every appointment with a free consultation and anatomical mapping, then use implant-grade titanium flat-back labret studs sized for your specific upper lip thickness. We require a free downsize follow-up at 8-12 weeks to protect your teeth and gums as swelling resolves — a step most studios skip. Choose from BVLA threadless ends, 14k gold, or genuine gemstones for your healed monroe beauty mark piercing.
Book Your Monroe Piercing
5000+ clients 
What sets Apollo apart for monroe and madonna piercings in Los Angeles
Classic Monroe sits on the left side of your upper lip (mirroring Marilyn's beauty mark). The right-side version is called Madonna. We'll show you both options so you can visualize before committing.
Every monroe piercing begins with mapping your upper lip — the spot must clear lip movement zones, sit above the lip line, and look natural with your face. We mark and you approve before any needle touches your face.
We require a free follow-up visit at 8-12 weeks to swap your longer starter post for a properly sized labret. This single step protects your gums and enamel from long-term jewelry damage — most studios skip it.
We never start monroe piercings with rings or hoops — flat-back labret studs are the only safe option for healing oral piercings. The smooth disc sits flat against your gums and minimizes movement.
Implant-grade titanium (ASTM F136) starter posts, with optional 14k gold and BVLA threadless end upgrades. Every piece is hand-polished, biocompatible, and engineered specifically for healing oral piercings.
Single-use sterile needles opened in front of you, hospital-grade autoclave for tools, EPA-registered surface disinfectants, and bloodborne pathogen certified piercers. Inspected and licensed by LA County.
Apollo's Premium Jewelry Partner
Handmade in Los Angeles since 1996. Lifetime guarantee. Implant-grade gold, platinum, and titanium. Over 3,000 original designs in our case — ask your piercer for a tour.
See the BVLA story →Explore labret and threadless jewelry options for your monroe piercing. (Other lip placements worth considering: medusa and classic labret.)
Our standard starter for every monroe piercing. Flat disc back sits against gums; small ball or gem on top. Implant-grade titanium, hypoallergenic, ideal for the entire healing period.
Tiny CZ or genuine gemstones threaded into the labret post. Most popular monroe upgrade — reads as a sparkling beauty mark without being obvious jewelry. Switch tops freely after healing.
Solid gold posts and tops for permanent upgrades after healing. Yellow, rose, and white gold available. Long-lasting luxury that won't tarnish or react with skin.
Featured in our BVLA collection — hand-finished gem clusters, opals, and unique designs from Los Angeles's premier jewelry maker. The pinnacle for a healed monroe beauty mark.
Clear next step
Schedule your free consultation — left-side Monroe or right-side Madonna, we'll help you decide
Recommended first step
Choose a facial or oral piercing appointment with clearer placement guidance.
Every piercing heals differently — here's what to expect
| Piercing Type | Location | Initial Healing | Full Healing | Pain Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe / Madonna | Upper lip (left or right) | 6-8 weeks | 3-6 months | 4/10 |
| Medusa (Philtrum) | Center upper lip | 6-8 weeks | 3-6 months | 4-5/10 |
| Lip / Labret | Below lower lip | 6-8 weeks | 3-6 months | 3-4/10 |
5000+ clientsYour safety is non-negotiable at our Los Angeles monroe piercing studio
All reusable tools are sterilized in our hospital-grade autoclave.
Pre-sterilized needles opened in front of you -- never reused.
Clean, organized piercing stations with EPA-registered disinfectants.
Licensed and inspected by LA County Health Department.
All staff trained and certified in safety protocols.
Implant-grade materials and BVLA designer tops for your monroe beauty mark
Senior Piercer Senior Piercer
Bunny Vogt, a Senior Piercer at our Los Angeles studio since 2019, specializes in facial piercings including monroe, madonna, and other lip placements. Her thoughtful anatomical mapping ensures every monroe sits naturally on your upper lip.
Founder Master Piercer
Blue Mason, our Master Piercer and studio founder, has performed thousands of facial piercings including monroes, madonnas, and medusas over 20+ years. His precision ensures every monroe lands in the right spot for your face.
Understanding what happens during your monroe piercing helps reduce anxiety. Here's our process at our Los Angeles studio.
Monroe piercings live in your mouth's bacterial environment, so aftercare is both external and internal — and it matters more than for most piercings.
Externally: clean twice daily with sterile saline spray. Internally: rinse with alcohol-free mouthwash after every meal, snack, or drink (water excepted). Avoid spicy, acidic, hot, and crunchy foods for the first two weeks. No kissing, oral contact, or shared drinks for 4-6 weeks. Skip lipstick, gloss, and lip balm for 6-8 weeks. Return at 8-12 weeks for your free downsize visit.
Book AppointmentLip swelling for 3-7 days. Saline spray externally 2x daily; alcohol-free mouthwash internally after eating. Soft, room-temperature foods. No kissing, sharing drinks, lipstick, or playing with jewelry.
Swelling resolved, tenderness fading. Continue oral and external cleaning. Schedule your free downsize visit (8-12 weeks) to swap your starter post for a properly-fitted shorter labret — protects your gums and enamel long-term.
Fully healed for most clients. Time to upgrade to 14k gold or BVLA threadless beauty mark tops. Once healed you can swap decorative ends freely while keeping the same labret post. Visit us for safe jewelry changes.
Getting a monroe piercing at our Los Angeles shop is easy. We recommend booking ahead so your piercer can give you a full consultation about left-vs-right placement.
See What Our Satisfied Clients Have to Say About Their Monroe Piercings
"Bunny did my monroe piercing last summer and it sits perfectly off-center on my upper lip — exactly the Marilyn beauty mark look I wanted. She walked me through placement options before picking up a needle."
"Apollo's monroe work is the best in LA. Blue mapped my lip carefully, asked which side I wanted (left vs Madonna on right), and the placement looks natural with my face."
"Got my monroe done here and the studio is spotless. Loved that they require a follow-up to downsize the jewelry — felt like they actually cared about my teeth long-term."
"First facial piercing for me and the consultation was so reassuring. The monroe healed in about 10 weeks with their aftercare protocol."
"I upgraded my starter post to a tiny BVLA opal at my downsize appointment. Looks like a real beauty mark — couldn't be happier."
"Drove in from the Valley for my monroe piercing. Worth it — clean, professional, no upselling, just great work."
5000+ clientsLocated in Santa Monica, we serve clients from throughout Los Angeles County for professional monroe and madonna piercings.
Santa Monica, CA
Apollo was founded by Blue Mason in 2007. With 20+ years of body art experience, Blue brings master-level expertise to every piece. Read Blue's story →
Find answers to common questions about monroe and madonna piercing services, healing, and aftercare.
A monroe piercing sits off-center on the left side of the upper lip, mimicking Marilyn Monroe's famous beauty mark. A madonna sits in the same spot on the right side. A medusa piercing sits dead-center in the philtrum dimple. All three are lip piercings with similar healing — the choice is purely aesthetic and personal.
Most clients rate monroe piercing pain at 4-5 out of 10 — a quick pinch lasting under two seconds. The upper lip has fewer nerve endings than the philtrum center, so monroes tend to be slightly less intense than medusa piercings. Anticipation is usually worse than the piercing itself.
Initial healing for a monroe piercing takes 2-3 months, with full healing in 4-6 months. The mouth's bacterial environment and constant lip movement mean monroes need diligent oral and external aftercare. Most clients downsize the starter post to a shorter labret at 8-12 weeks.
We start every monroe piercing with implant-grade titanium labret studs — flat-back posts that sit against the gums, with a small decorative gem or disc on top. Starter posts are slightly longer to accommodate swelling. Once healed (3+ months), you can swap the top to 14k gold, BVLA threadless ends, or genuine gemstones. Never use rings during healing.
Risk is real but manageable. The flat disc of a labret post can rub gums and erode enamel over time, especially if the post is too long. We require a free downsize visit at 8-12 weeks to swap your starter for a properly fitted shorter post — the single biggest dental risk reduction. Flat-back labret design (never rings) is mandatory for healing.
Skip lipstick, lip balm, gloss, and lip stains for the first 6-8 weeks. Once initial healing is complete, apply makeup carefully around (not on) the piercing for several months. Avoid letting product seep into the piercing channel — it can cause irritation and slow healing.
Stick to soft, room-temperature foods for the first 1-2 weeks. Avoid spicy, acidic, salty, and crunchy items. Skip alcohol and smoking during initial healing — both slow tissue repair. Rinse with sterile saline or alcohol-free mouthwash after every meal, snack, or drink (water excepted) throughout the entire healing period.
A correctly placed monroe piercing doesn't restrict smiling or speech long-term. Initial swelling (3-7 days) may cause minor speech changes that resolve quickly. Placement on the upper lip needs to be within natural lip movement zones — we map your lip before piercing to avoid restriction.
Apollo requires clients to be 18+ for facial piercings including monroe piercings. We follow APP (Association of Professional Piercers) guidelines and California regulations. Valid government-issued photo ID is required at every appointment.
Clean externally twice daily with sterile saline spray. Rinse the inside of your mouth with alcohol-free mouthwash after every meal, snack, and drink. Don't twist, play with, or remove the jewelry during healing. Avoid kissing, oral contact, and shared drinks for the first 4-6 weeks. Sleep on a clean pillowcase. Return at 8-12 weeks for your free downsize visit.
A monroe piercing is a specific lip piercing placement — off-center on the upper lip, left side. A standard labret piercing sits below the center of the lower lip. They use the same flat-back labret jewelry and have similar healing, but the placement creates a different aesthetic — Monroe-inspired beauty mark vs traditional lower-lip stud.
Eat a substantial meal beforehand and hydrate well. Avoid alcohol or blood thinners for 24 hours. Brush teeth and rinse with alcohol-free mouthwash before arriving. Bring photo ID. Skip lipstick, gloss, and lip balm to your appointment. Plan for soft foods at home for the first few days.
We welcome clients from across the greater Los Angeles area.
Cities:
Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Venice, Culver City, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Westwood, Hollywood, Downtown LA
We prioritize anatomical precision, dental safety, and professionalism in every monroe piercing.
Recognized in Santa Monica's Most Loved 2025
We'll respond within 24 hours
Or reach us directly:
