How would I know if/when I need more Botox in my masseters?

Question

I got 20 then 10 units each side and I can already see the slimming effect on my face, but I can feel no difference in my bite strength. My question is, if I can't feel a difference in my muscles, and I don't want to wait to see the masseters get bigger again, is there another method to indicate when the botox is wearing off? Also, I want to maximize the atrophy/slimming of my masseters. Should I gradually inject more and more until I notice slight difficulty in chewing and stop there?

Douglas Wu, MD · Answer

Botox in your masseter muscles should not affect chewing, so don't try to use that as a sign for whether you need another treatment or not. Botox in the jaw can last up to six months or more, so I would let that serve as a guideline. Every person is different, and so you will have to pay attention to how your face looks. You may find the effects wear off after about 4 months, or they may last til almost a year. A safe bet is to re-treat biannually. You should be able to maintain good results without spending too much time in the dermatologist's office. Consulting your board-certified dermatologist will allow the two of you to develop a schedule for your Botox maintenance.

Sean Doherty, MD, FACS · Answer

I would suggest that you schedule a maintenance visit in 6 months. This is when most patients find that they need a touch up. Hope this helps.

Jessica H. Kim, MD, FAAD · Answer

Botox and other neurotoxins are used on the masseters to slim the face.  Treatment should not affect  chewing.  For the initial treatment, you may require more than 20 units per side to see the desired results.  However, once the desired results are seen you will typically require less for maintenance and less frequently (every 6 months) than for other areas on the face.  Consult with a board-certified and experienced cosmetic physician.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Most patients do not see a bit problem after injection. Your goal is to see a change in the thickness of the muscle. This may take several treatments. Good luck.

Faiyaaz Kalimullah, MD, FAAD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  The masseters are very strong muscles, and most patients do not notice any difference in their bite strength even after much higher doses of Botox.  The muscle shrinkage after a Botox injection typically lasts anywhere from 6-12 months, and I usually recommend that patients return for treatment every 6 months to prevent regrowth of the muscles.  I hope this helps!

How would I know if/when I need more Botox in my masseters?

Answers (7)

Answer: Masseter and bite

Answer: Masseter and bite

Answer: Botox for the masseters

Answer: Botox for the masseters

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How would I know if/when I need more Botox in my masseters?

Answers (7)

Answer: Masseter and bite

Answer: Masseter and bite

Answer: Botox for the masseters

Answer: Botox for the masseters

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Botox

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.