One of my masseter muscles is larger than the other, is there any way of increasing the size of the smaller muscle? I believe the asymmetry is due to chewing with the left side of my mouth all my life.
Answer: Botox to masseters Hi Mason330, great question! It's very common for individuals to have asymmetrical masseters. This is something that can be fixed with Botox. Injecting Botox into the muscle weakens it, and over time while the muscle is weaker it atrophies (decreases in size), providing the slimming effect. Once the effects of Botox wear off, the muscle will begin to function more frequently and regain its strength, slowly increasing in size again, which is why I recommend treatments every 6 months initially. Many patients report that with time they need treatments less frequently.
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Answer: Botox to masseters Hi Mason330, great question! It's very common for individuals to have asymmetrical masseters. This is something that can be fixed with Botox. Injecting Botox into the muscle weakens it, and over time while the muscle is weaker it atrophies (decreases in size), providing the slimming effect. Once the effects of Botox wear off, the muscle will begin to function more frequently and regain its strength, slowly increasing in size again, which is why I recommend treatments every 6 months initially. Many patients report that with time they need treatments less frequently.
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July 18, 2014
Answer: Options for Jaw/Masseter Asymmetry Botox works very consistently and well in this area and it is a very effective way of improving (notice I didn't say curing!) the asymmetry. Of course, it is important to be evaluated by someone with experience in both operating and injecting in this area because other anatomical variants can also demonstrate themselves in this manner. Once this is confirmed to be the case, however, a moderate amount of botox injected into the LARGER or bulkier muscle is very helpful to treat it. The botox may wear off around 3-4 months, so will likely need reinjection a few times a year to maintain results.Alternatively, if you would rather increase the size of the smaller muscle, there are a few options. One is to have fillers injected deeply onto the bone to help volumize the smaller side. Some patients choose to have Sculptra injected (which works by stimulating collagen over time) and others choose fillers like radiesse or juvederm to achieve this result within a shorter period. There are no FDA-approved injectables for this area, so it's important to use someone with plenty of experience.Finally, there are jaw implants that are permanent and can be placed through incisions in the mouth to help improve symmetry on the smaller side. Most patients prefer to use injections initially, and if they are happy with the symmetry, and need a more permanent solution, will have an implant placed.Best of luck in your quest!
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July 18, 2014
Answer: Options for Jaw/Masseter Asymmetry Botox works very consistently and well in this area and it is a very effective way of improving (notice I didn't say curing!) the asymmetry. Of course, it is important to be evaluated by someone with experience in both operating and injecting in this area because other anatomical variants can also demonstrate themselves in this manner. Once this is confirmed to be the case, however, a moderate amount of botox injected into the LARGER or bulkier muscle is very helpful to treat it. The botox may wear off around 3-4 months, so will likely need reinjection a few times a year to maintain results.Alternatively, if you would rather increase the size of the smaller muscle, there are a few options. One is to have fillers injected deeply onto the bone to help volumize the smaller side. Some patients choose to have Sculptra injected (which works by stimulating collagen over time) and others choose fillers like radiesse or juvederm to achieve this result within a shorter period. There are no FDA-approved injectables for this area, so it's important to use someone with plenty of experience.Finally, there are jaw implants that are permanent and can be placed through incisions in the mouth to help improve symmetry on the smaller side. Most patients prefer to use injections initially, and if they are happy with the symmetry, and need a more permanent solution, will have an implant placed.Best of luck in your quest!
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