Can a Masseter Muscle Go Down on Its Own Without the Use of Botox if Hypertrophy Was Due to Clenching?

When
you do not use your muscles, they begin to relax and become smaller, a term
called atrophy. It is likely that your masseter muscles may reduce in size if
you were to decrease excessive chewing, like with gum. However, as you require
your masseter muscles for chewing food, it is not possible to completely reduce
the size on your own without Botox.



Botox
injections for Masseter reduction is extremely effective, in that it relaxes
the muscles so that they decrease in size, but still allows you to chew.

It probably won't slim down significantly. When you're sleeping, there is no way to know if you've stopped clenching unless you're wearing a guard to prevent this.

It is possible that the masseter will slim on its own but it's very difficult to completely stop jaw clenching. As long as you have any continued jaw clenching the muscle is unlikely to shrink on its own. You might want to give this 3-6 months. If you haven't seen the slimming that you desire at that point, Botox is typically a very safe and reliable option. I hope this information is helpful.Stephen Weber MD, FACS
Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon

The masseter muscle will get smaller if you can stop clenching, but usually it's not something voluntary - especially clenching and teeth grinding during sleep.  For this reason many patients find Botox for masseter reduction a very effective way to eliminate these habits.  

Masseter muscles are like any other muscle, if not used will atrophy and get smaller. Usually clenching of the masseter muscles and grinding d teeth during sleep is not a voluntary act. If you can stop clenching the muscle, you masseter muscles will eventually become smaller and if you cannot, the there is Botox to weaken the muscle and also atrophy the muscle.