Will fat loss from bruxism resolve by itself after botox TMJ?

Question

I noticed quite a bit of fat loss in my lower part of the face over the years, resulting in sunken cheeks and gaunt apperiance. I now think that this is due to my ongoing bruxism. Will fat loss resolve by itself after the botox treatment for bruxism? I tried HA filler in the lower cheeck area but after 2 ml, the results were insignificant. I tried bottox for bruxism before but it made my face appear even more gaunt so I didn't repeat it but I was unaware that bruxism can leave to accelerat

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Bruxism can make your jaw square because it slowly enlarges your masseter muscle. This muscle, located near your outer cheek and jawline, becomes visibly bulky when overworked. Sagging, loose skin below the jawline, which most people develop with age. Aside from aging, a number of other factors can also contribute to having jowls. Both sun damage and smoking can accelerate the aging process, resulting in a loss of the skin's elasticity and collagen. One of the best fillers for treating jowls is Sculptra and Botox can help relax the muscles in your jaw.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Bruxism over time can can the masseter muscles to enlarge.  Botox to this area can slim the appearance of the jawline.  If you are concerned with a gaunt look, further Botox treatments will not resolve this.  You can consider fillers or potentially Sculptra to address volume deficiencies.

Bernard Tan, MBBS, MRCSB · Answer

Hi SophiaB1112!Fat loss in the face occurs as part of the normal ageing process, and can be accelerated due to rapid weight loss, dieting, intense exercise etc. In certain individuals this may lead to a sunken, gaunt and tired appearance. This is unlikely to be related to the botox treatment for bruxism.A treatment that would address this would be the injection of a collagen biostimulating filler such as Sculptra or Ellanse. The advantage over a "traditional" HA filler is that these fillers would stimulate your skin to produce more collagen to volumise the sunken areas gradually. In addition, the skin would appear refreshed and firmer. Results do take time (about 1-2 months for maximum results) but they are long lasting (around 2 years)!

Darice W. Fadeyi, MD · Answer

It is unlikely that bruxism alone caused fat loss in the lower face. The more probable scenario is more complex and a combination of processes is occurring over the years. The first is that bruxism caused thickening or hypertrophy of the masseters. The second is that with facial aging, there was considerable volume loss in the cheeks. This combination of affects leads to a more gaunt and less soft appearance of the lower face. The best solution here is, in fact, neuromodulators to the masseters to reduce the bulk of these thick muscles. In addition, soft tissue fillers can be used to restore volume in the cheeks. This will over time help to balance out the combination of factors leading to an overly angular appearance of the lower face.

Will fat loss from bruxism resolve by itself after botox TMJ?

Answers (4)

Answer: Fat loss with bruxism

Answer: Fat loss with bruxism

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Will fat loss from bruxism resolve by itself after botox TMJ?

Answers (4)

Answer: Fat loss with bruxism

Answer: Fat loss with bruxism

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Everything you need to know about Botox

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