How much can botox shrink my masseters?

There is no way to give you an accurate answer to your question as individual results will vary. Botox is commonly used in the masseter muscles to slim the appearance of the jawline. The treatment results are temporary and will need to be repeated every 3 to 6 months to continue the effects. With long term use muscle atrophy may occur of these muscles. See an expert injector near you to learn more.

The effects of Botox do wear off over time, however the masseter muscle will atrophy with repeated treatments and decrease in size. In one study people were treated 3 times over 9 months, and they had up to 46% decrease in masseter size. At year 4, people maintained an average volume decrease of 40%, meaning that after a series of 3 treatments in those initial 9 months, you may not need another treatment again for many years.

The amount of Botox required varies per patient and an in-person assessment would be required to accurately answer this question. An average range could be anywhere from 10-20 units of Botox per side. I have found that the muscle tends to shrink in size after 1-2 treatments. The masseter will not get bigger if you keep up with the Botox injections every 4-6 months.

Thank you for your question! In our office the typical standard amount of Botox for the masseters is 20 units per side. This can be customized depending on a patient's specific needs. Botox relaxes the muscles, rather than causing atrophy. There is no guarantee that the muscles will shrink. We recommend that you schedule a consultation with a provider near you for a customized treatment. Best of luck!