{"id":21758,"date":"2022-03-01T12:56:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-01T20:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=21758"},"modified":"2023-10-11T14:52:36","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T21:52:36","slug":"masseter-botox-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/masseter-botox-candidates","title":{"rendered":"Doctors Explain How Masseter Botox Works and Who Is a Good Candidate for the Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article has been medically reviewed for accuracy by Laguna Niguel, CA dermatologic surgeon Dr. Lorrie Klein<\/a> on March 4, 2022.<\/em><\/p>

Botox<\/a> may be best known for its wrinkle-smoothing effects on the forehead and crow’s-feet, but the injectable neurotoxin has plenty of other applications. One of the very first uses of botulinum toxin was to treat blepharospasm; today, it’s also a common treatment for those who suffer from migraines, cerebral palsy spasms, and excessive sweating. And one injection site gaining popularity blurs the line between medicine and aesthetics, offering benefits for both arenas. Masseter Botox (aka Botox injections in the jaw) can be used to treat TMJ or <\/em>slim the jawline—and many people rely on it for both. <\/p>

Ahead, doctors weigh in on how masseter Botox works, who’s a good candidate, and whether you should be concerned about the strange side effects you may have heard about on social media. <\/p>

Interested in Botox?<\/small><\/div>Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div>

How does masseter Botox work?<\/h2>

The same muscle-relaxing principles of any type of Botox injections apply here. “Botox prevents muscle contractions, which also causes the muscle to shrink over time,” explains Dr. Jessie Cheung<\/a>, a board-certified dermatologist in Willowbrook, Illinois. Think of it as losing a six-pack after not exercising for a while—if that muscle is weakened, it will also diminish in size, adds Dr. Konstantin Vasyukevich<\/a>, a New York City board-certified facial plastic surgeon. That first part—a relaxed, weakened masseter, the muscle that runs from the temple to the lower jaw—is what helps to improve common symptoms of TMJ, reducing jaw tension and pain and decreasing grinding and clenching, says Dr. Y. Claire Chang<\/a>, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. The shrinkage is what contributes to a slimmer lower face and a less square jawline.<\/p>

It bears mentioning that sometimes Botox needs to be injected not only into the masseter but also the temporalis muscle. These are two of the four “chewing” muscles, and both are responsible for bruxism, the technical term for grinding or clenching, says Dr. Cheung. “Clenchers tend to have enlarged temporalis muscles. Grinders tend to have enlarged masseters and hollowed temples because the chronic tension accelerates fat loss in this area,” she explains. Either way, injecting into either or both areas contributes to a slimmer-looking face.<\/p>

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A post shared by CLAIRE CHANG I Dermatologist (@drclairechang)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>