
When she becomes the first American figure skater to win a gold medal in a women’s individual event at the Olympics in more than 20 years, she’s going to get a lot of attention. That’s exactly what Alyssa Liu passes. With his incredible on-ice performances and heart of pure gold, the Oakland, California resident inspires millions around the world. Under the new spotlight, Alyssa motivates others to follow their dreams, but also to dabble in new fashions – like her famous gum piercing and striped hair, to name just a few of the features of her look. Now, people are wondering what’s on the Olympian’s front teeth.
Find out how you can get Alyssa’s famous smiling piercing, and learn how she did it herself below!
What’s on Alyssa Liu’s teeth?
Alyssa’s front teeth have what is called a “smiling” hole. It is a frenulum piercing, a modification that is threaded through the soft tissue that connects the upper lip and gums.
How did Alyssa Liu get her teeth and upper lip piercings?
Alyssa did the piercing herself! Ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, the figure skater told NBC affiliate TMJ4 News that she “hacked them a little over two years ago.”
“I had my sister lift my lips, and I was looking in the mirror,” Alice said. “I had a piercing needle, and then yeah, I just stuck it in!”
During a previous interview on the “In the Loop” podcast, Alyssa noted that she got the piercing herself because doing it in a store could be “too expensive.”
“Piercing in a store is really expensive for no reason,” she explained in 2024. “So, I thought I’d learn it myself, and be a little DIY girl. I trust myself a lot to put it in the right place in terms of putting the jewelry on. … I bought all the supplies I’m going to need, like piercing needles. And I don’t do it with safety pins or a piercing gun.”
How much does Alyssa Liu’s smiley piercing cost?
A “smiling” piercing can cost between $30 to $100 and can take up to a month to heal.

