Bulging Jaw Muscle a Common Botox Side Effect?

asked 3 years ago by jj in NYC
Latest answer by Christopher L. Hess, MD
Question viewed 1,891 times
Tags: jaw

The day after botox to my jaw, my muscle bulges out more in a weird direction. My doctor says I may need another dose of botox. Is this a common occurance? What caused it?

5 answers to Bulging Jaw Muscle a Common Botox Side Effect?

Give it a few days

The effect of Botox is not seen for 3-5 days so the bulging is not due to the paralytic effect of the toxin. It is more likely that there is a small hematoma or bruise in the muscle. If you are significantly sore on that side that would be my guess. Give it a week and see if it doesn't go down.

Christopher L. Hess, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

You may have a hematoma.

Hi. The story doesn't quite add up. You seldom see any kind of dramatic Botox effect in just 24 hours. And I have not seen bulges. You may have gotten some bleeding into the muscle from the needle. This could certainly cause a bulge, but you would also have some soreness. At any rate, don't do anything for several weeks.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Botox to the Masseter for a large jaw

Botox to the masseter muscle is reportedly performed to reduce the appearance of a the jaws. The masseter is quite a large and strong muscle. Partial paresis of the muscle may result in other portions bulging. This seems entirely possible and can easily be remedied with additional Botox as advised. This seems reasonable given the size of the muscel.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Botox usually takes 3-5 days to show its effect

If the bulging happened 24 hours after Botox, I would wait a full week to re-evaluate. It would be unusual to see such a rapid effect and change. If the injection is into the masseter muscle, it could potentially be that you need more Botox in the part of the muscle that was not weakened. Botox around the jaw, in my experience, is a little less predictable than in the forehead and crow's feet. I would think it is pretty common to need a touch up or additional dosing.

Francisco Canales, MD
Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon

Not normal.

Dear JJ Properly done, massetter muscle treatment should have no effect on the position or function of the jaw. Treatment is placed along the jaw where the chewing muscle inserts onto the jaw. If you clench your teeth and feel near the angle of the jaw, you will feel this muscle. This is where your treatment should have been places. The dose for this treatment is between 10 and 25 units split between the two sides. Over the course of several weeks the Botox slightly relaxed the... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

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