Duck Lip Treatment in Cincinnati
Duck lip is a frequent condition of concern for patients seeking the expertise of fellowship trained, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Harmon in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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What Is Duck Lip?
Duck lip is a term for a puffy upper lip that is projected out and up such that it looks exaggerated and pendulous. Definition of the features of the vermillion border – the border between the skin and red lip – such as the cupid’s peaks can be reduced due to the rolling out and up of the upper lip. Duck lip can appear even more exaggerated when the upper and lower lips are placed together. Associated findings include a translucent upper lip, possibly with a bluish tint.
What Causes Duck Lip?
The primary cause of a puffy upper lip, or duck lip, is cosmetic and due to over-injection of hyaluronic acid filler in the lips. Dr. Harmon feels over-injection can not only lead to duck lip but also dermal filler migration. Both duck lip and filler migration can lead to filler fatigue.
There can be associated translucency and a bluish tint to the lips because the surface of the red lip itself is translucent and excess filler placed superficially is more likely to scatter light, which is called the Tyndall effect.
The threshold above which duck lip occurs is different for each person and even each injection.
What Can Duck Lip Be Confused With?
The term duck lip is very descriptive. As a result, patients generally do not confuse other features or conditions based on Dr. Harmon’s experience. In fact, the term itself is an expressed concern of patients seeking improvements in the volume of their lips who want to avoid duck lip.
How Is Duck Lip Treated?
First, the hyaluronic acid filler needs to be dissolved with the enzyme hyaluronidase. Dr. Harmon prefers Hylenex®, which is modelled after the human form of the enzyme. Hyaluronidase is a medication that breaks down hyaluronic acid quickly when injected into the site(s) of filler placement. Then, if the filler needs to be replaced, less filler could be injected in more appropriate depth at the next treatment session.
Alternatively, a lip lift is a surgical procedure that can be performed under local anesthesia whose intent is to improve the “pout” of the upper lip without expressly adding volume. Dr. Harmon has also found a lip lift can facilitate the addition of more conservative volumes of lip filler because of this effect.
Candidacy for the above procedures depends on thorough evaluation in consultation by a qualified surgeon. A consultation will also provide an opportunity to discuss the potential benefits, risks, and alternatives to puffy upper lip treatment(s) recommended.
Why Dr. Jeffrey Harmon Is a Duck Lip Expert
Dr. Harmon, as a fellowship trained, double-board certified facial plastic surgeon, is supremely qualified to correct duck lip both surgically and non-surgically. Overall, Dr. Harmon feels a more conservative approach to placing hyaluronic acid filler is the most appropriate way to achieve natural appearing results for most people who develop duck lip. He believes a more comprehensive approach would include the lip lift for those who are candidates for the procedure.
Written by Dr. Harmon
Discover the expertise and compassionate care of Dr. Jeff Harmon, a fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon deeply rooted in the Cincinnati community. A former collegiate athlete and Cornell University graduate, Dr. Harmon brings discipline, precision, and a global perspective to his surgical practice—refined through elite fellowship training in New York City.
Located in Hyde Park, Harmon Facial Plastic Surgery proudly serves patients throughout the Cincinnati area offering personalized facial aesthetics with world-class skill and a hometown heart.