Can Botox Create a Thinner-looking Face?

CS,
It is possible to inject Botox into the masseter muscles to help thin the face. However, you should be sure that you are being injected by someone with extensive experience in Botox injection. It is not standard practice to use Botox in this way, but it can be done.
I hope this is helpful.
David Shafer, MD
Shafer Plastic Surgery
New York City

If your face is wide secondary to large muscles in the face, it can be made smaller by injections of Botox.  Botox is injected into the masseter muscles, which help in chewing, it can shrink them to create a slimmer face.  This will depend, however, on the patient's anatomy and whether he or she has an overdeveloped masseter that's causing the face to look wide or masculine. You'll need to be evaluated by a facial plastic surgeon to find out if you could benefit from this procedure. I hope this helps.

Botox can be used to
soften a square, prominent jawline in certain patients. If your prominent jaw
is caused by large masseter muscles, then injecting Botox to weaken the muscle
allows the jawline to become more tapered and feminine. Make sure to visit a
board-certified dermatologist with experience performing this procedure for an
in-person consultation because not everyone is a good candidate for this
procedure. If you have sagging jowls, they will worsen if the masseter is
treated.

Thank you for your question. Botox can be a very effective way to contour the jaw line by reducing the masseter shadow through the outer jaw skin. In addition, it can reduce symptoms of jaw clenching or grinding of teeth at night time. This is an advanced technique that requires a strong understanding of the underlying anatomy. Some side effects can results in some very unintented effects. This can include affecting the smile due to diffusion of the Botox into neighboring smile muscles. Over treatment can also overweaken your jaw muscles making it harder to chew food and causes your jaw muscles to relax too much when you sleep.The injection technique does vary by physical exam and the goals of the treatment. Facial contouring goals may change the injection sites themselves to affect different portions of the masseter as well as the dose. The strength of the masseters can be felt by palpation and also helps me to determine dosing. In general, I start with 15- 25 units per side for most patients. If the have very strong masseters, then I may increase the dose, but more commonly ask them to return in three weeks for a touch up. Once you get the desired result, I let patients know that future treatments may require less to maintain the look or the jaw clenching symptoms, especially if they get treated as soon as they notice the symptoms return.

Botox is injected directly into the jaw muscle, known as the masseter,  to relax it, softening your jawline and giving you a thinner appearance.  

Botox, when properly applied, can reshape a face to make it look less square or thinner.  There are a few important factors in deciding on an injector for this area:


Facial anatomy- The injector should have knowledge of facial anatomy which is in depth.  The nerve that controls the face is located near the masseter muscle and should not be injected

Facial aesthetics- The face needs to be reshaped by placing botox in the proper location to create a softer appearing face

Experience- The injector should have treated a minimum of 500 patients with this technique.  This is an advanced use of botox.


 

 

As the panel members all agreed upon, Botox or Dysport to the masseter muscle will help create a more rounded, less square appearance of the jawline. This has become more common in Asian patients that are wanting to create a less angular or wide look to this area of the face. It is not uncommon for those that suffer from TMJ to have this area treated for relief. Because dosing is on the high side in this large muscle, the expense must be outweighed by the benefits.

Hi CS,
Most of the initial reports of narrowing a round face were based on the injection of Botox into the masseter (chewing) muscles bilaterally in Asian patients. It must be done most carefully as you want to be able to still chew your food after the treatment, otherwise more than just your face will be thinner. Good luck and be well.
Dr. P

Yes there is a treatment where we inject wrinkle injections into the masseters muscle. This can indeed help create a thinner face. 
At Star cosmetic medicine, Jawline Slimming is charged at $9.90 per unit.
Depending on how strong your muscle movement is the average person needs 25-30 units in each side. The stronger your muscles are the more botox you will need.
Price is one factor, but of course it should not be the determining variable. The practitioners at Skin Deep are all very experienced and mentor other doctors in some of the more complex cosmetic procedures.

By injecting Botox into the “chewing” muscles – otherwise known as the masseters – the muscles will relax enough that they look less bulky and the face appears more slender. These effects will vary depending on your anatomy. In cases where the masseter muscle is overdeveloped, the relaxing effect of Botox will make the jaw look softer and more feminine. Please consult a board-certified dermatologist who has expertise in slimming the jawline with Botox.