How do you tell if swollen cheeks are a parotid gland issue or a jaw muscle issue? (Photo)

Thank you for the question. Fullness along the jawline can be salivary tissue (parotid glands) or enlarged chewing muscles (masseter). The difference can be felt by palpating the angle of the jaw with the patient relaxed or biting down on the back molars. This gives an indication of the strength and volume of the muscle. For men, doses can range from 10 to 20 units per side when treating the muscle. Best of luck moving forward.

It would be best if you went in for a consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon. He could palpate and conduct other checks to see if it is glandular or muscles.The number of units could vary depending on what the issue is and how large the muscle groups are. I'd recommend going and getting a qualified consultation with a doctor you trust so you can get the right treatment. It would be unfortunate if you tried Botox and it was actually glandular. Sincerely,Dr. Jerome Edelstein

Thanks for the question and thanks for including the photos as well. You need to have a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon so that the area can be thoroughly examined and as this looks like masseters, the proper treatment plan outlined. In men, upward of 20 units of Botox per side is not uncommon – and the injection technique will differ based on the person doing this. Most would use 3 sites per masseter. And on occasion, more than one session is needed to make the proper correction.Find the right injector, get examined, and then get the proper treatment.