Masseter Botox or buccal fat removal? (photos)

Thanks for your question. Based on your photographs, you could probably benefit from masseter injections to decrease the volume of your masseter muscle along your jawline. At the same time, I would recommend some filler to restore the youthful triangle by augmenting the cheek areas with something like Voluma or Restylane Lyft. Buccal fat removal would not correct your problem, and I feel it's a procedure that can leave you with more problems afterwards. I hope this helps...good luck!

The massester muscle helps us chew and it is located at the lower sides of the cheek.  you can feel this muscle by gently placing a hand on your lower cheek and clenching your teeth.  often times this muscle can contribute to a square appearance to the jawline and Botox can help to relax this.  The result is a subtle and natural appearance of narrowing the jawline.  Based on your photos, you appear that you would be a very good candidate for this treatment.  However, a final decision would require an office visit and evaluation.  Best Regards!

 Addressing a boxy lower face can pose a challenge to some.  I have not found much advantage to buckle fat pocket removal nor in injection of the masseter muscle with Neurotoxins.  Both of these have an inherent risk of causing some weakness to the lower face by weakening the facial nerve. In young women such as yourself, I have a look at other options which are nonsurgical. Recently there's been a technology called Ultherapy which seems to help young women in lifting the jawline and improving the appearance of the Jowls. 

Based on your photos, it does appear that your jawline appearance could be improved and tapered with Botox for masseter reduction.  It will reduce the bulkiness along the angles of your mandible (where it is starting to look square).  In person examination would be best to determine your candidacy for this procedure, as the size of the masseter muscle needs to be evaluated.Although buccal fat excision is an extremely effective surgery in the properly selected patient, you should not pursue buccal fat excision as it will make you appear prematurely aged and hollow.  

Hello,

Thank you for your question.
Based on your goals, you may want to consider masseter injections. 

I recommend you book a consultation with a
qualified injector, to ensure you're a good candidate for this
procedure. 

Take care.

I suggest the right amount of fillers on the jawline, botox for the masseter  and neck and even some skin tightening of the neck/jaw like thermage, ultherapy or thermiRF/VASER lipo you could reshape your jaw/face and give you the more "heart shape" and less prominent masculine jaw you are looking for.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photographs. I can see your area of concern, and it appears that you have a degree of masseter muscle hypertrophy or enlargement.  Non surgical treatment with Botox may be a good option.  Additionally, to help reshape the upside down triangle you describe, dermal filler placement into your cheeks would assist in recreating a heart-shaped facial shape.  Hope this helps.

Neuromodulators such as Xeomin or Botox are a great, temporary way to see if reduction in your jawline is what you are after.  The chewing muscles on the sides of your face would be weakened causing a narrowing of the lower face.  This is a popular treatment for cosmetic purposes as well as for bruxism (grinding teeth).  I would rarely recommend buccal fat removal unless a person has very fatty cheeks.  That area of fat diminishes with age and removal of the buccal pad can increase the gaunt look in a thin person.  Your best bet is to schedule a consultation to explore your options. Hope this is helpful.

Small injections of Botox into the lower masseter will reduce the muscle bulging and you can judge how you like the results in your face.  The buccal fat pad will not change with the masseter reduction, so you can judge for yourself the result.Other procedures such as Juvederm Voluma into your cheeks can minimize the upside down triangle.

Thank you for posting your photos with your questions. My approach to your natural facial rejuvenation would be to restore the lost volume and contour of your cheeks and chin. Looking at your photos, you have a youthful neck and jawline, but have lost some volume in your cheeks. At the time of your consultation, I would like you to bring a photograph of yourself from 5 years ago for comparison. Together we would analyze the subtle facial changes and I would come up with a treatment plan. Most of the volume lost in the face, between the ages of 25- 55 years old is due to bone loss! This lost volume results in the face sagging in predictable patterns. For immediate results, you could use fillers that are designed to lift and resist the compression of the cheeks and last several months and up to 1 year. These are considered high G' fillers like Radiesse, Voluma, and Restylane Lyft. For longer lasting natural results, I would suggest Sculptra Aesthetic, which is a facial volumizer, that restores the natural facial volume and contour for up to 2 years. However, Sculptra Aesthetic works by stimulating your body to produce it's own natural collagen and this takes between 4-6 weeks. BOTOX or Dysport, injections to the masseter muscles will give your lower face a more triangular appearance.  Removing your buccal fat pads will make your cheeks look hollow and I would not recommend this surgical procedure in you. Most importantly, I recommend that you have a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who is experienced with facial rejuvination with fillers and BOTOX and can answer your questions, listen to your goals and show you before and after results, before you proceed. Best wishes, Dr. Richard Swift