Posh lip ring was 'fake'

Victoria Beckham was using a clip-on ring

Victoria Beckham was wearing a fake clip-on ring for a stage appearance in Birmingham, her spokeswoman has said.

Beckham, aka Posh Spice, had been criticised by a dentist for failing to consider how her fans would react to what appeared to be her new pierced lip.

Jonathan Porter, a north London dentist and a spokesman for the British Dental Association, said young people would follow her example despite the health risks involved.

But the spokeswoman insisted the lip-ring was purely of the decorative clip-on, variety.

A leather-clad Beckham appeared on stage in front of 30,000 people at Party in the Park in Birmingham on Monday sporting the new lip ring.

She shared the billing with former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and rival Sophie Ellis Bextor.

Fashion

Mr Porter made his comments after Beckham told the Sun newspaper that her bottom lip was "agony".

"My personal opinion is that I think there other ways of being cool and I think that people in the public eye should have a responsibility beyond themselves," Mr Porter said.

"Like it or not, these types of people are made into heroes and heroines and young people are going to be following and copying the fashion."

Anyone thinking of having their lip pierced should only use a qualified practitioner and be over 16 years old, advised Mr Porter.

Checking the practitioner is experienced, licensed and aware of sterilisation was also necessary, he added.

The procedure can cause excessive bleeding if a blood vessel is pierced.

Nerve endings can also be damaged during the procedure causing extreme pain.