(NEXSTAR) – On Thursday night, Alysa Liu earned the U.S. its first Olympic gold medal in women’s figure skating since 2002. But she also brought attention to another shiny metallic object not often possessed by athletes at the Winter Games: a piercing through the underside of her upper lip. Liu’s piercing, often seen hanging down over her front teeth in photos, is what’s known as a frenulum or “smiley” piercing. It’s not a totally uncommon piercing (it even has its own Wikipedia page), but Liu’s path to this particular look might deviate a bit from the average body-modification experience. “I pierced it, like what, a little over two years ago now,” Liu said during an interview with NBC, clarifying that she actually did it herself. “I had my sister hold up my lip, and I was looking in the mirror, and I had my piercing needle,” Liu remembered. She also claimed it wasn’t painful in the least, in part because “the skin there is so thin, you don’t feel it at all.” Liu has spoken about her self-piercing habit before, in a 2024 episode of the “In The Loop” podcast. “I guess that’s another hobby I picked up,” she said. “Getting pierced at a shop is really expensive for no reason, so I thought I’d learn it myself, be a little DIY-girl.” But while it (arguably) looks pretty cool, a smiley piercing — or pretty much any piercing in or around the mouth — is not recommended by the American Dental Association. In its official statement on the matter, the ADA “advises against the practices of cosmetic intraoral/perioral piercing, tooth gems/jewelry and tongue splitting, due to the increased risk of negative health outcomes.” Some common complications of oral piercings, according to the ADA, can include infection, chipped teeth, recessed gums, lesions, scarring or discharge, among others. Experts say those with oral piercings need to practice good oral hygiene to minimize the potential for these complications. Liu and her “smiley” piercing, meanwhile, are likely to remain in the spotlight until the Winter Games come to a close on Sunday. “When I see other people out there smiling, because I see them in the audience, then I have to smile, too. I have no poker face,” she said of her reaction to the Olympic crowds.