I got 100 units of Botox (50 each side) injected into my masseter muscles 5 weeks ago. My masseters have definitely gotten softer (when I clench my teeth), but I haven't seen any muscle shrinkage yet. Is this normal? I'm starting to get nervous, as I feel like I should be seeing at least a little muscle atrophy by now.
December 12, 2015
Answer: Masseter results Thank you for your question. Photographs would definitely be helpful to assess your concerns in more detail. I would expect you to see some visible changes after 50 units on each side, as this is a fairly strong dose. There is a possibility, that the Botox is not going directly into the target muscles, but instead into the surrounding tissues. I would revisit with your injector, and follow up.
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December 12, 2015
Answer: Masseter results Thank you for your question. Photographs would definitely be helpful to assess your concerns in more detail. I would expect you to see some visible changes after 50 units on each side, as this is a fairly strong dose. There is a possibility, that the Botox is not going directly into the target muscles, but instead into the surrounding tissues. I would revisit with your injector, and follow up.
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December 12, 2015
Answer: 5 weeks post masseter Botox, is this normal? = yes it could be #fb #botox #masseterbotox #drmesa Thinning or narrowing the lower face can be achieved with Botox injections to the Masseter muscle. However, the effect won't be visible immediately since it requires multiple serial treatments and time.The masseter muscle ( masticatory muscle) gives soft tissue bulk to the lower face specially around the angle of the jaw. Botox, by weakening the masseter muscle, could decrease the bulk of the muscle that ultimately will result in decrease width of the lower face. However, this WON'T happen fast or overnight.Since the masseter muscle is used to chew food, it is being exercised everyday several times a day. Like a person that goes to the gym and has big muscles due to exercise, the fact that you stop going to the gym for few weeks ( e.g. because she/he is on vacation), doesn't mean the muscles will shrink right away during that period of time. However, if that person gets a leg fracture and has to stay away from the gym several for months, eventually her/his muscles will shrink due to lack of exercise. Therefore, in order to reduce the size of the masseter muscle, you need to put it in a "Botox cast" for several months with serial treatments.John Mesa MD
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December 12, 2015
Answer: 5 weeks post masseter Botox, is this normal? = yes it could be #fb #botox #masseterbotox #drmesa Thinning or narrowing the lower face can be achieved with Botox injections to the Masseter muscle. However, the effect won't be visible immediately since it requires multiple serial treatments and time.The masseter muscle ( masticatory muscle) gives soft tissue bulk to the lower face specially around the angle of the jaw. Botox, by weakening the masseter muscle, could decrease the bulk of the muscle that ultimately will result in decrease width of the lower face. However, this WON'T happen fast or overnight.Since the masseter muscle is used to chew food, it is being exercised everyday several times a day. Like a person that goes to the gym and has big muscles due to exercise, the fact that you stop going to the gym for few weeks ( e.g. because she/he is on vacation), doesn't mean the muscles will shrink right away during that period of time. However, if that person gets a leg fracture and has to stay away from the gym several for months, eventually her/his muscles will shrink due to lack of exercise. Therefore, in order to reduce the size of the masseter muscle, you need to put it in a "Botox cast" for several months with serial treatments.John Mesa MD
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