If you clench your jaw, grind your teeth, experience frequent jaw tension, or simply feel that your lower face looks wider than you’d like, your masseter muscles may be playing a role.
Masseter Botox has become a popular treatment for both functional and cosmetic concerns. By temporarily reducing activity in these powerful jaw muscles, treatment may help with excessive clenching and grinding while also creating a softer, slimmer-looking lower face.
Here’s what you should know about masseter Botox, including how it works, when results appear, how long they last, and what to expect from treatment.
What Is the Masseter Muscle?
The masseter is a large muscle located on each side of your jaw. It’s one of the primary muscles responsible for chewing and helps you close your jaw.
You can actually feel yours working. Place your fingers along the back of your jaw and firmly clench your teeth. The muscle that becomes firm beneath your fingers is your masseter.
Some people naturally have larger masseter muscles, while others develop more prominent masseters from frequent clenching or teeth grinding, also known as bruxism.
Overactive or enlarged masseters may contribute to:
- Jaw tightness and muscle soreness
- Teeth clenching and grinding
- Tension around the jaw
- A wider or more square-appearing lower face
- Prominent jaw muscles
This is where masseter Botox may be useful.
How Does Masseter Botox Work?
BOTOX® is a botulinum toxin type A injectable that temporarily reduces communication between nerves and targeted muscles.
When strategically injected into the masseter muscles, Botox decreases the strength of muscle contractions. The goal isn’t to completely disable the muscles because you still need them to chew, but rather to reduce excessive activity.
Over time, reducing the workload of an enlarged masseter can also cause the muscle to decrease in size. This is what produces the facial-slimming effect associated with masseter Botox.
Masseter Botox for Jaw Clenching and Grinding
People who chronically clench or grind their teeth can place considerable stress on their jaw muscles.
Botulinum toxin is sometimes used off-label to reduce excessive activity of the masseter muscles. By relaxing the muscles responsible for forceful clenching, some patients may experience improvement in muscle tension and symptoms associated with clenching or grinding.
However, jaw pain and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can have many different causes. Masseter Botox isn’t a treatment for every type of jaw or TMJ-area pain.
An evaluation is important to determine whether overactive masseter muscles are actually contributing to your symptoms.
Can Masseter Botox Slim Your Face?
Yes, in the right patient.
Masseter Botox can create a slimmer-looking lower face when its width is caused primarily by large or prominent masseter muscles.
As the treated muscles become less active, they may gradually decrease in size. This can soften a square jawline and create a narrower appearance through the lower face.
However, masseter Botox does not remove facial fat or alter your underlying jawbone.
If the width of your lower face is primarily caused by bone structure or facial fat rather than muscle, Botox may not produce the same slimming effect.
How Quickly Does Masseter Botox Work?
There are really two different timelines to consider.
Muscle Activity
The effect of Botox on muscle activity begins gradually after treatment. Changes in excessive clenching or muscle tension may become noticeable within the first couple of weeks, although individual responses vary.
Facial Slimming
Cosmetic jaw slimming takes longer.
Botox doesn’t instantly make the masseter smaller. Instead, reduced muscle activity allows an enlarged masseter to gradually decrease in size.
Because of this, changes in facial contour typically develop over several weeks and may continue becoming more noticeable as the muscle adapts.
How Long Does Masseter Botox Last?
The effects of botulinum toxin are temporary.
Masseter Botox commonly lasts several months, but the exact duration varies based on factors including:
- Your individual metabolism
- Masseter muscle size and strength
- The amount of product used
- How frequently you clench or grind
- Previous botulinum toxin treatments
- Your individual response to treatment
As muscle activity gradually returns, additional treatment may be recommended to maintain results.
How Many Units of Botox Are Needed for the Masseters?
There isn’t one correct dose for everyone.
Masseter muscles vary considerably in size and strength, which is why treatment should be individualized rather than based on a universal number of units.
Your injector will evaluate factors such as your facial anatomy, muscle strength, symmetry, clenching activity and treatment goals before determining an appropriate dose.
Masseter treatments generally require more units than small facial areas such as crow’s feet because the masseters are considerably larger and stronger muscles.
What Happens During a Masseter Botox Appointment?
Your provider will first evaluate your lower-face anatomy and masseter muscles. You may be asked to clench your teeth so the size, strength and location of each muscle can be assessed.
After determining the appropriate treatment areas, small amounts of Botox are precisely injected into the masseter muscles.
The injections themselves usually take only a few minutes.
There is typically minimal downtime, and most patients can return to their usual daily activities shortly after treatment.
Are There Side Effects?
As with any injectable treatment, side effects are possible.
Temporary effects around the injection sites can include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Bruising
Less commonly, treatment can cause unwanted changes in muscle function, facial symmetry or smile mechanics. Changes in chewing strength may also occur.
Proper assessment, injection placement and dosing are particularly important when treating the masseter muscles because of the surrounding facial anatomy.
Masseter Botox vs. Traditional Facial Botox
It’s the same basic medication, but the treatment goals and injection techniques are different.
Traditional cosmetic Botox commonly targets smaller muscles responsible for expression lines such as forehead wrinkles, frown lines and crow’s feet.
Masseter Botox targets a much larger chewing muscle.
Someone may therefore receive traditional BOTOX® injections for facial wrinkles and masseter Botox for jaw-muscle concerns during the same overall treatment plan, depending on their individual needs.
Is Masseter Botox the Same as TMJ Botox?
Not exactly.
“TMJ Botox” is a commonly used phrase, but TMJ technically refers to the temporomandibular joint itself. Disorders affecting the joint and surrounding structures are generally referred to as temporomandibular disorders, or TMD.
Masseter Botox specifically refers to botulinum toxin injections into the masseter muscles.
Because some jaw discomfort is associated with excessive muscle activity, Botox may sometimes be used off-label as part of managing certain symptoms. However, it doesn’t treat every cause of TMD.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Masseter Botox?
Masseter Botox may be worth discussing with a qualified provider if you:
- Frequently clench or grind your teeth
- Have strong or enlarged masseter muscles
- Experience muscle tension through your jaw
- Have a square-appearing lower face caused by prominent masseters
- Want a slimmer-looking jawline without surgery
- Want to reduce excessive masseter muscle activity
The best way to determine whether it makes sense for you is through an in-person assessment.
Masseter Botox in Park Ridge, IL
At CN Medical Aesthetics & Wellness, we provide customized Masseter Botox treatments in Park Ridge, IL based on each patient’s facial anatomy, muscle strength, symptoms and aesthetic goals.
Whether your primary concern is excessive jaw muscle activity, clenching and grinding, or the appearance of a wide or square jawline, treatment begins with determining whether your masseter muscles are actually contributing to the concern.
Learn more about Masseter Botox in Park Ridge, IL or schedule a consultation with CN Medical Aesthetics & Wellness to discuss your treatment options.