Why do some women get "duck lips"?

Rather than simply injecting a syringeful here and there, truly experienced filler injectors know to respect certain basic proportions of the lips to each other and to the rest of the face in order to avoid creating "duck" lips (aka "trout" lips). Ideally, for example, in the frontal view, the volume of the upper lip should be one-third of the entire volume of both lips. In side view, the upper lip should project about 1-2mms beyond the the projection of the lower lip. The point is that the injector must not only be experienced in treating the lips, but must have an artistic eye. Rarely, people present wanting to have those exaggerated puffed out lips. But more often, in my experience, the duck look results from non-medical injectors and non-core physicians who have learned to inject at a weekend seminar and who have injected the lips cut-rate, cookbook style by the syringe.Best to make sure to seek treatment by a board certified aesthetic physician with experience and expertise in lip filler injections and be certain to ask to see his/her before and after photos.

One easy answer, too much filler! Either the injector is overzealous or the patient insists on lots of filler, because they like the dramatic look. Not my cup of tea! It is so important to find a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist who knows what they are doing with regard to lip fillers.

Plain and simple that is how they were injected.  Choose wisely.  This is your face, don't go to a bargain basement spa; you might just get what you paid for.Dr Rodger ShorttPlastic Surgeon Oakville OntarioAssistant Clinical Professor & Director of Cosmetic Surgery Training,McMaster University

This is a great question. There are a few reasons why women end up with duck lips after filler injections. The most common is that too much filler is given to the top lip and the normal anatomy of the lips is ignored. Some of this has to do with the experience of the injector. Believe it or not, some women actually come in asking for that type of appearance, which I refuse to do.

Many patients forget that a filler just makes lips bigger- not necessarily more shapely. Many patients with small, thin lips get filler only to be unhappy with a bigger version of their old lip shape. I offer to inject any patient seeking lip augmentation with SALINE for FREE. The saline gives them the idea of what they'll look like (and how much it'll hurt) and it's gone in 24 hrs.

Thanks for this question.Duck lips happen when too much filler is injected into the lips. This is either injected into the lip itself or especially into the white roll of the lip.I think that when having your lips done, it's important to remember that less is always more.

Getting excellent results from lip augmentation with filler is largely about maintaining the "natural" proportions of the lip.  I tell patients that the normal lip proportions (in terms of volume) is 1/3 in the top lip and 2/3 in the lower lip.  Many people don't realize this and only want their top lip volumized.  Do some "homework" and look at the lip volume ratio in some of the up close pictures of models in the beauty magazines.  When the top lip overrides the bottom lip too much, it looks like a duck bill.  I tell patients that we are going to volumize and enhance their lips proportionately by injecting both the top and bottom.

This is due to fillers placed in the wrong part of the lip, too much filler injection or a loss of balance in the lips after the upper lip is filled. Overall, injectors are getting better at creating natural lips but a quick glance at any reality TV show will reveal that there are plenty of lip injectors that completely lack any sense of pretty, natural facial aesthetics. When you choose an injector seek a plastic surgeon or dermatologist who has a focus on injectables and then look at their before and after lip photos. They should look beautiful and natural. If not, please keep looking. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

More is not always better. Duck lips happen when a person or an injector fall into the trap of thinking that if a little filler is good, then more is better. Patients - be careful! Injectors - be responsible! 

Some patients ask for this look because they feel their lips need to be plumped up to look good!In some other cases the "Injector "has no idea about lip proportions and aesthetics, and does not know when to stop.When such patients get injected by the "injector who has no Idea", you see a disaster.