Menlo Park Botox doctors

Hello Janine,

Thanks for the question. Injecting Botox (or Dysport) into the masseters, or bite muscles, is certainly an effective and safe technique to shrink the size of these muscles and narrow the jawline in certain patients. The injections must be performed carefully by practitioners with extensive knowledge of the anatomy in this area.

I also have patients who see me for bruxism, or teeth grinding, for whom I inject Botox into the masseter muscles. This technique can reduce the degree of teeth grinding significantly and, in some patients, help treat inflammation of the temperomandibular joint (TMJ syndrome). I have found that the masseter muscles in these patients shrink in size as well. 

Fillers can also be safely used in the cheeks to fill wrinkles and hollows and restore volume to the cheek. A number of fillers can be used in the cheeks, including Radiesse, Sculptra, Restylane, Juvederm, and Perlane, among others. Each filler has different characteristics, such as duration of effect, ability to be dissolved, appropriate locations in the face, and depth of injection. It is important to have a thorough discussion with your physician about the advantages and disadvantages of each for your specific concerns.

Best,

Umang Mehta, MD

I have found that when my patients first start using Botox or Dyport, they typically return for treatment about every 3-4 months. However, with time, they are able to stretch out their injections to 6 months or more as they retrain themselves not to make the repetitive facial motions (such as frowning) which create the wrinkles in the first place. Be sure to consult with a reputable facial plastic surgeon, plastic surgeon, or dermatologist to ensure that you are being treated with the appropriate dosage, dilution, and in the correct treatment areas. Don't be afraid to ask how many units your physician is using per area. 

Botox and Dysport work on those wrinkles which are the result of overactivity of certain facial muscles. Much like your favorite pair of pants will be wrinkled if you repeatedly fold them in the same place, the skin wrinkles in areas of repeated folding. I use these products primarily in 3 areas: the horizontal forehead lines, the vertical lines between the eyebrows (frown lines) and the crow's feet around the eyes. Both products work by temporarily relaxing these muscles, reducing or eliminating the presence of wrinkles for approximately 3-4 months. I have found that with repeated use, patients are able to stretch their need for retreatment to 6 months or longer, as you retrain yourself not to repeatedly draw your brows together, for example. 

Other lines, such as the nasolabial folds (parenthesis lines, between the nostrils and the corners of the mouth) are not effectively treated with Botox and Dysport. Fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm, and Radiesse are much more effective for these static wrinkles which are not the result of muscle activity but rather occur with changes in facial volume and skin laxity.