Due to its effectiveness, safety, and wide range of uses, Botox has been a well-liked anti-aging treatment for many years. Botox experts like Dr. Henderson may utilize the medicine for a lot more than just smoothing wrinkles around the eyes and forehead, even though that is how it is most commonly used. Injecting Botox into the masseter muscle, a large muscle in the corner of the jaw, is a common treatment option. For our patients in Tigard, OR, injecting Botox into the masseter muscle can have significant therapeutic and cosmetic effects, resulting in less pain and tension, as well as a slimming appearance. Learn more about The Smile Lounge‘s most popular Botox treatment option by reading on.
What is masseter Botox?
Injecting Botox into the masseter muscle over the jaw angle is known as masseter Botox. Only when the masseter muscle is greater than usual and there are accompanying complaints is masseter Botox used. Patients who experience temporal headaches, temporomandibular joint disease (TMD), teeth grinding, and jaw clenching frequently exhibit this. The masseter muscle is a masticatory or chewing muscle. Botox injections into this muscle relieve the tension caused by jaw clenching and teeth grinding, which causes the masseter muscle to be temporarily weakened. Patients will notice a decrease in unintentional muscle contractions in the jaw and as a result they will feel less jaw discomfort, stress, headaches, teeth grinding and clenching, and a slimmer jawline while still being able to freely move their jaw and chew normally.
What is masseter Botox used for?
Masseter muscle Botox is frequently utilized for two main reasons. The first reason patients select this Botox procedure is to balance the face proportions and visually trim the jawline. The treatment can also assist in alleviating adverse symptoms like jaw clenching or teeth grinding. The majority naturally benefits from both advantages.
Contour A square jaw
For a more extended, beautiful, and feminine appearance, many women are particularly interested in developing a slim jawline. The face shape can appear more square when the masseters are overdeveloped, whether it is the result of habits like chewing gum, teeth clenching, or constitutional structure. The masseter muscle can be made smaller by injecting Botox into it. This process takes time, as the muscle fibers only shrink due to lack of use. Botox weakens part of the muscle, causing some of the muscle fibers to atrophy. This makes the face thinner so that the jawline is more V-shaped and slimmer. This is sometimes described as a non-surgical jaw reduction.
Teeth grinding
Many people unknowingly grind their teeth as they sleep. This is known as bruxism, and it can hurt your jaw as well as your teeth. The signs of grinding are flat spots on teeth, short looking teeth, and a sore jaw joint. Botox injections in the masseter relax the muscles that lead to tooth grinding, which can prevent you from doing it unintentionally. This leads to less tooth wear, helping you keep your teeth as long as possible.
Reduce jaw tension and headaches
Many individuals clench their jaws in addition to grinding their teeth. This can happen while you are asleep and is particularly frequent if you are upset or anxious. Some people experience TMD (temporomandibular joint condition) or headaches as a result of this. With the help of Botox, this jaw tension can be relaxed, alleviating symptoms and enhancing everyday function and sleep quality.
What is the procedure like?
You will have a full consultation with Dr. Henderson prior to receiving your masseter muscle Botox injections. Dr. Henderson will decide whether Botox is the best solution to help you reach your desired outcomes during your consultation. He will perform and exam and analyze your jaw and entire face to decide on things like the ideal Botox injection place and dosage.
Your skin will then be cleaned. The masseter muscle will then receive a precise injection of Botox before the procedure is repeated on the opposite side. This process shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes in total. Completing the entire consult and treatment appointment should last no longer than 45 minutes.
After the treatment
One of the numerous advantages of Botox is that there is no recovery period needed. You can resume your normal activities right away after your injections, with a few caveats. For at least 24 hours, it is advised to refrain from vigorous activity like exercise and alcohol use. Additionally, you should refrain from applying pressure or massaging the treated region for about 4 hours after the injections, because doing so may cause bruising and/or move the neurotoxin to affect a muscle we did not inject. Finally, limit your exposure to the sun’s rays.
Early Botox benefits for the masseter muscle should start to become apparent 1-3 days following your injections. By two weeks you will experience the therapeutic effects.Typically the cosmetic benefits aren’t noticed until about 6 weeks after the procedure.
The effects of botox are temporary. You can observe that your physical symptoms of clenching or grinding your teeth progressively return as well as your apparent results fading with time. This happens to the majority of people three to four months following their Botox procedure. Regular maintenance procedures will help to maintain your outcomes by preventing and reducing your tooth clenching or grinding. During your visit, Dr. Henderson can assist you in choosing a long-term treatment strategy.
What are the potential side effects of masseter Botox?
Botox for the masseter is usually regarded as safe. However, the procedure could have unfavorable outcomes like:
- pain or swelling at the site of injection
- bruising
- headache
- flu-like symptoms
- crooked smile
- Drooling
- Asymmetric smile if the neurotoxin reaches the risorius muscle (very rare)
Who should I choose for masseter Botox injections?
Despite the fact that Botox is usually thought to be safe, all procedures have some risk. This is why it’s critical to select an injector with extensive training, knowledge of anatomy, and experience administering Botox. Dr. Henderson has vast experience in cosmetic medicine and specialized training in Botox. He is certified by the American Academy of Facial Esthetics to inject Botox and dermal fillers. This enables him to safely and effectively do more sophisticated procedures like masseter Botox.
You can ask the surgeon questions and learn more about the treatment at your initial visit. Examples of good questions to ask are:
- Will masseter Botox help me achieve the results I want?
- Am I an ideal candidate for masseter Botox?
- How do I prepare for the procedure?
- Where will the procedure take place? What happens during each step?
- Is there anything I should avoid after getting Botox?
- What will I look like over time?
- Are there risks associated with masseter Botox?
- How long have you been practicing?
- Are you trained in masseter Botox?
- Do you have before or after photos?
- How much will it cost?
Take away
Many people can benefit from masseter Botox injections. Whether you are seeking cosmetic or therapeutic effects, you will be thrilled with the results you get from Dr. Henderson at The Smile Lounge in Tigard. If you are interested in therapeutic Botox for clenching and grinding, or non-surgical jaw slimming using Botox, schedule a consultation at our dental office in Tigard.