TMJ Botox to slim down jaw line?

Contrary to popular belief, Botox really does little to nothing to improve jawlines and is usually a waste of money.

Botox can be injected into the lower portion of the masseter muscles to provide some changes to the face but the effects are minimal and large amounts of botox are required in this area and repeated every 3-4 months.  A more permanent to create a slimmer facial appearance is to have your fat pads below the cheek removed if you are a candidate. Also, the bone beneath the masseter muscle can be contoured to provide a permanent and slimmer appearance to the jawline. 

Botox in the Masseter muscle is a great alternative to seek out prior to contemplating a permanent solution such as surgery. Each patient's needs vary and will continue to see improvement upon the continuation of the treatment. It is difficult to assess how much you need but I typically begin treating patients with 20 units per side and going from there.It's best to have a thorough in person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area to discuss all of your treatment options. Best of luck!
Dr. Dhaval M.Patel
Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Chicago-Water Tower Place, Oakbrook, Hoffman Estates, Orland Park

Thank you for your question.Yes botox can be used to slim the jawline. This is done by injecting into the masseter muscle which is just in front of the ear and is most prominent at the angle of the jaw. When prominent the face can look square as opposed to triangluar which we associate with youth.The injections need to be done consistently to cause shrinking of the muscle which means this is a gradual process over time. It can take up to a year to see significant improvement.The additional benefits of diminishing grinding and helping with TMJ symptoms such as pain and headaches can be amazing. I have clients I treat for these symptoms and it has dramatically improved their lives.Do not confuse this with buccal fat removal though. The results of that are completely different. The buccal fat pad sits below the cheek bone and gives fullness to the central cheek. Removing that hollows the central face which is far removed from the jawline.Seek out a board certified plastic surgeon to evaluate you and discuss your options.Good luck and I hope this was helpful

You will need a consultation to see if the masseter muscle is dominant and prominent and in that case using botox will help you slim the face but if the muscle is not prominent then its probably buccal fat. 

Hi NN.  Botox (Dysport) works very well for jaw slimming if the area of concern is a bulging jaw muscle.  Clenching, especially at night, can cause over development of the masseter muscle and make the jaw appear very square or wide.  To see an example of jaw slimming for an Asian patient in Orange County, click on the link below.  

Yes, Botox can be used to improve TMJ and when combined with radiofrequency can slim the face. Botox results resolve in 3-4 months. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer

Thank you for the detailed question. Botox or other neuromodulators can be used to slim down the jaw line if the issue is due to a strong masseter muscle, and it can take a few sessions (spaced three months apart) to see a dramatic difference. I recommend seeing an expert injector in-person to go over your concerns and goals to get a tailor fit treatment for you. For more information, please visit our webpage. 

Neuromodulator, such as Botox and Dysport, works well to slim the jaw line if the problem is due to muscle and not bone and fat. The effects on the muscle would be noticed immediately after the neuromodulator paralyzes the muscle, which usually optimizes after two weeks. With repeated treatments, the muscle will atrophy rather permanently. How many treatments to reach this effect depends on the muscle. 

Overuse and grinding at night causes masseter muscles to hypertrophy.  This contributes to squaring of face as we age.  Botox for masseter hypertrophy is a great non surgical option to create a youthful, heart shaped face.  You will see some results within 2-4 weeks.  By the second treatment you will see more dramatic results.  Maintenance requirements vary but every 6 months maintenance injection works for most people.
Buccal fat pad reduction is more invasive and may be a second step if you do not see results with above.
Best wishes,
Dr B