Will chewing gum/jaw exercises help wear off masseter botox?

Question

I've had three botox treatments to my masseters within 6 months, on advice from my Dr. However my masseters have diminished to the point that my cheek area around my mouth corners now sags, from the jaw muscle atrophy and resulting loose skin. Will chewing gum/jaw exercises help wear the botox off faster, or could this build up other muscles and cause facial imbalance? Should I wait until I can see the masseters working again before I try to build them back up? Thank you.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

I would recommend that you wait for the Botox to wear off naturally rather than doing exercises. I'm sorry to hear that you dislike your results.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

You will have to wait approx. 3 months until the receptors to the muscles are restored. When the muscles begin to contract again they will naturally become larger again over time. All the Best.

Donald B. Yoo, MD, FACS · Answer

When the Botox is active and relaxing the masseter muscle (3-4 months) the work of chewing is assumed by 3 other pairs of muscles.  Cosmetically, this can result in one pair of those muscles - the temporalis, which bulges the temple - to become more prominent.

Steven Hacker, MD · Answer

Exercising your muscles will not make the affects of Botox dissipate any sooner than they would do naturally.

Vicki J. Levine, MD · Answer

I do not think there is any point in exercising these muscles until you see some activity.at that point I would begin to exercise them and see if that helps.

Ben Talei, MD · Answer

Exercising the muscles won't necessarily make the botox wear off, but it will strengthen the remaining muscles that were not paralyzed, as not all of them are paralyzed.

Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS · Answer

While the theory is sound, the use of masseters have to be tremendous for you to see a shortening of the 3 - 4 month duration. Best of luck and let us know how you are doing in a couple of months.

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

In theory and in practice, use of muscles will help the elimination of botox from receptors sooner than the 3-4 month duration. Good luck.

James Clayton, MD (retired) · Answer

Botox effect is not changed by muscle exercise.  Wait until the effects wear off, typically in 3 to 4 months.  At that point you will need to have an evaluation of your face to see what can be helped with surgery, fillers, and Botox.  It may be that Botox is not the right answer for your situation.

Will chewing gum/jaw exercises help wear off masseter botox?

Answers (9)