Botox for mentalis - Will muscle continue to shrink and atrophy?

Question

Ive been getting botox to shrink my mentalis muscle regularly for about a year. My question is will it continue to atrophy and shrink with continued treatment, or is there a stopping point? Im hoping that it will continue to get smaller over time.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. While Botox is an excellent solution for reducing a muscle’s activity and the aesthetic concerns caused by it, its effects are temporary. Results from Botox generally last for 3-4 months, so adherence to an adequate injection schedule is suggested to maintain the desired effect. 
I recommend scheduling an in-person consultation with an experienced expert injector. They will be able to answer any questions you may have and determine the best dosage and injection frequency for your specific needs.

James Lee, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Botox is a great way to relax targeted facial muscles. Regular continued treatment will prevent the muscle from contracting and thus prevent wrinkles from forming or deepening. If the treatment is done on a regular basis, the muscle will atrophy over time; this will be reflected as the muscle not coming back as strong over time and ultimately in less muscle bulk. Hope this helps.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Botox effects are temporary.  When treatment is received consistently for long periods of time the injected muscle may weaken, but if treatment is stopped it can strengthen again over time.  It's difficult to predict how long you'd be able to go without treatment before changes are seen.

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

The chin has many components that affect its appearance. These include bone, muscle, soft tissue, etc.
When the muscle is reduced eventually the other components become the key.

Jarrett Schanzer, DO · Answer

The mentalis muscle normally functions to elevate the base of the lower lip (everting and protruding it) as well as wrinkling the skin of the chin. When injected with neurotoxin (botox, dysport, jeuveau, Xeomin, daxxify) this activity will temporarily be reduced and the muscle will be weakened and atrophy (shrinking it). As long as neurotoxin is continued several times per year the muscle will remain in a weakened, shrunken state but at some point not get any smaller. If neurotoxin is discontinued for greater than 3-6 months, the muscle (like other muscles) will likely regain some or most of its original function.

Botox for mentalis - Will muscle continue to shrink and atrophy?

Answers (5)