Masseter Muscle Botox
The masseter muscle is a powerful facial muscle that wraps around your jawbone, connecting your lower jaw to your cheek. Its primary job is to open and close your jaw during chewing, but it can also alter the shape of your lower face. An enlarged masseter muscle can transform an oval face into one that looks square and masculine, and it can cause one side of the jaw to appear more prominent than the other, leading to facial asymmetry. Masseter Muscle Botox is a minimally invasive procedure that uses targeted injections to relax this muscle and reduce its size, creating a slimmer lower face and more feminine V-shape.
Unlike other types of wrinkle-reducing treatments, masseter muscle botox injections do not use fillers or injectable dermal fillers to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Instead, this non-surgical treatment uses injections of a type of botulinum toxin known as Botox(r) to shrink the size of the masseter muscle. These injections are performed by an experienced physician at a cosmetic clinic or doctor’s office. The injection process is quick and painless, with no downtime required. Some people require a few treatment sessions to achieve their desired results, while others see a significant reduction in the Masseter Muscle Botox size after the first session.
There are two main reasons why patients choose masseter muscle botox: to produce a slimmer, more feminine jawline and to alleviate negative symptoms of teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism). Since this is a cosmetic treatment, it does not qualify for insurance coverage.
Masseter Muscle Botox – Is Masseter Muscle Botox Permanent?
Masseter muscle botox injections are typically performed by an experienced physician at a cosmetic treatment clinic or doctor’s office. The injection site will be numbed with a topical anesthetic to prevent any discomfort during the treatment. Using a fine needle, the physician will carefully administer small doses of botulinum toxin into the jaw and cheek area to target the masseter muscle. The physician will use a different amount on each side to compensate for the differences in strength of the muscles on each side of the face.
While this non-surgical treatment is safe for most, it is not recommended for anyone with poor general health or a bleeding disorder, who is pregnant or breastfeeding, or who has a weakness of the muscles in and around the Masseter. This includes patients who have a neuromuscular condition called Myaesthenia Gravis or who are taking medications that affect blood clotting.
Masseter Muscle Botox is very well tolerated by most patients, and there is no downtime after the treatment. However, some patients may experience redness or bruising at the injection sites. These side effects are mild and should subside on their own within a few days. This is especially true if the patient applies ice to the affected area immediately after the injection. To maintain the effects, patients will need to have regular touch-up treatments about three or four months apart. However, many patients will find that the effects last longer after the initial treatment period and they can begin to extend the interval between touch-ups over time.
