{"id":24564,"date":"2023-03-24T11:12:53","date_gmt":"2023-03-24T18:12:53","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=24564"},"modified":"2023-10-11T14:41:54","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T21:41:54","slug":"masseter-botox-jowls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/masseter-botox-jowls","title":{"rendered":"Can Masseter Botox Lead to Jowling? Doctors Explain the Debate Going Around on Social Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

There’s no denying that Gen Z continues to become more and more interested in cosmetic treatments. According to the American Academy of Facial and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery’s 2022 report<\/a>, 75% of plastic surgeons reported an increase in patients under the age of 30. Neurotoxin injections<\/a>, in particular, are incredibly popular among this group, including those performed in the masseter, or jaw. (A recent search revealed that “masseter Botox” videos on TikTok<\/a> have more than 122 million views.) Injecting this area offers a rare combination of aesthetic and functional benefits—but are there drawbacks? Increased popularity of masseter Botox<\/a> has also led to more talk about its potential long-term effects—namely, whether it can lead to lower-face jowling. So we asked doctors to weigh in on the internet debate<\/a>, and here’s what they had to say.<\/p>

What is masseter Botox?<\/h2>

It’s the use of neurotoxin injections in the masseter, colloquially known as the jaw muscle. Just as it does anywhere else, the neurotoxin inhibits the activity of the muscle, which, in this case, has two different effects. From a functional perspective, it’s great for people who have TMJ or who grind their teeth<\/a>, as it’s very effective for addressing symptoms such as jaw pain and soreness, says Dr. Babak Azizzadeh<\/a>, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California. From an aesthetics standpoint, it reshapes the lower face. “By weakening the muscle, you essentially shrink it down and flatten it, which is why this is so good for narrowing this area and creating a more tapered jawline,” he explains. <\/p>

@jahszminn_4<\/a> Masster botox for TMJ disorder but comes with a nice side effect of slimming the face lol #masseterbotox<\/a> #masseterbotoxbeforeandafter<\/a> ♬ original sound – jahszminn_<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote>