Do I qualify for botox of the masseter? (photos)

Yes, you appear to be a candidate for botox to the masseter. It takes 1-2 weeks for final results with Botox. I recommend getting a consultation with a cosmetic dermatologist. Hope this helps.

Yes, you can have Botox to the masseter to slim the jawline. Botox results resolve in 3-4 months. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer

The quick answer to your question is that Botox (as well as Dysport and Xeomin) properly injected, in the appropriate locations, and employing the required concentrations for this region, can work quite well for reducing masseter muscle hypertrophy and discomfort form bruxism (teeth grinding). While I do see the clear asymmetry in the photo, the best way to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for you is an in-person examination to ensure that masseter hypertrophy is indeed the primary problem, and if so, what amounts and concentrations of Botox each area would need to get the job properly done in order to improve the bruxism and achieve greater symmetry. Make sure to consult with a board certified aesthetic physician. Best of luck.

Hello and thank you for your question.  The
best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  If you have hypertrophy of your masseter muscles, then botox can be an excellent treatment.  This decision should
be based on a detailed discussion with equal input from both you
and your surgeon.   Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The most
important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend
that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who
can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.  FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Hello, Thanks for your question!
It is hard to tell from the photos, we would need to asses in person to get a better idea, however most patients are candidates for this treatment. It can slim the jaw as well as weaken the masseter muscle so that it reduces your chances of grinding your teeth. It also helps with pain! Keep in mind that this does not affect your ability to chew or smile! It is important to get it done by a professional, give us a call if you are interested in a consultation!
Kindly,
Dr. Rivkin

Looking at your pictures, it would seem that you would benefit from some Botox in the masseter.  I would recommend you see a doctor that is experienced in this type of injection though so they can go over pros and cons and do a proper in person exam.  Good luck.

The masseter muscles can be felt in front of the angle of the jaw when you bite down.  It does get enlarged from overuse in people who grind their teeth and it can be enlarged in TMJ.   Regardless, by weakening the muscle, injection of botulinum toxin (Botox, Xeomin, Dysport) in the masseter muscles can both reduce teeth grinding and improve the appearance of the muscle (as an enlarged area and/or very square jaw).  Do be aware that it takes up to 2 weeks after treatment to see the improvement.  Also, when it first kicks in, some patients do find some difficulty chewing or may even notice a subtle difference in their smile which does return to normal in a few weeks. Most patients repeat at 6 month intervals but over time, it may lengthen to a year as the muscles weaken.Whether your masseter is the cause of the one-sided enlargement and 'clicking' in your jaw would need to be determined by your physician. Since it is on one side only, it would be important to rule out other possibilities like a benign or malignant tumor of the parotid gland which is also in that region.  Your doctor may be able to assess that just by physical exam or with a radiologic exam.I hope this answer was helpful. Best wishes.

Botox is a fantastic way to treat the masseter muscle and you appear to be a perfect candidate for this treatment.  I would put more Botox in the larger side of the masseter muscle than the smaller one and it will be highly effective.  Please consult an expert in Botox for the best cosmetic results.  Best, Dr. Green

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photographs anon123456321. I understand your concern. Botox is a purified protein used to address wrinkles associated with facial expression. When injected into the skin Botox will relax the muscles and smoothen out the overlying wrinkles. The most common areas of treatment are in the upper face. These include the horizontal lines seen on the upper forehead when one raises the brows, the vertical lines seen between the brows when one frowns (frown lines), and the crow's feet seen around the eyes when one smiles.It is difficult to make an assessment without a formal exam in the office where I can view the skin in multiple angles and observe wrinkles formed with facial expression. However, I hope the information provided here is useful.Botox can be placed in the masseter muscle in the lower face to contour the lower face and address pain associated with TMJ. In this area 20-40 units of Botox are used per side. Depending on the reason for the enlargement of the muscle, permanent results may be achieved. For example, some people have a habit of grinding, clenching, or biting their teeth subconsciously. Often times this happens in their sleep when they are not aware of it. Botox placed in this muscle will relax the muscle and the grinding, clenching, and/or biting will decrease. This will reduce the size of the muscle. If the brain gets accustomed to this and the person stops grinding, clenching, or biting, then the muscle will not become enlarged or as enlarged again. However, if the habit starts again, the muscle will likely get larger.To determine if someone is a good candidate for this treatment it is necessary to look at a person’s lower face when biting and comparing it to when the person is not biting. If a bulge is seen on the outer portion of the jawline, then the person is likely a candidate. It can also be felt with the fingers when biting.If I had a patient who looked like the person in theses photographs I would want to perform the exam described above to determine if she is a good candidate for this treatment.With any injection, there are risks such as pain, bleeding, bruising, redness, swelling, tenderness, and infection. We take special precautions to minimize these risks such as using a painless technique. We also treat bruises with a laser as early as the next day. Bruises usually resolve within two weeks if untreated. After a laser treatment bruises usually resolve in 1-3 days, but may still take two weeks for full resolution. In addition to these risks, with Botox there is also a risk that the product spreads or diffuses to nearby structures. Spread to nearby muscles can lead to side effects such as the temporary appearance of droopy eyelids or a temporary asymmetric smile.After a Botox treatment, I recommend that my patients avoid heat exposure, alcohol consumption, and strenuous exercise for 24 hours and not lie down flat for four hours. This is because all of these activities may possibly lead to the movement of the product and consequent side effects such as droopy eyelids as described above. Although there have been no definitive studies shown that these actually occur and some physicians do not provide such aftercare instructions, in the absence of data I err on the side of caution and recommend that my patients avoid such activities.Please consult with a doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!

Neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport are a great treatment option for masseter muscle enlargment in patients who grind and clench their teeth. It's hard to tell based on your photos whether you are a candidate for treatment. I recommend you schedule an in person consultation with a local aesthetic physician to discuss the treatment.