Is it true masseter muscle botox for jawline will create sagging from loss of volume? (Photo)

Hi @Kristifrank! Botox injected into the masseter muscle should not cause sagging. Botox injected into the masseter muscle should provide relief from painful clenching and grinding. Best of luck, Dr. Nima!

For a more defined jawline to strengthen your profile (and help prevent the dreaded jawline "jowl" sagging), we use injectable fillers like Revanesse Versa - a filler known to limit swelling and give subtle, soft enhancements - or Radiesse. Using a cannula to limit pain and swelling, we inject on the bone in strategic points to get more lift and shaping, resulting in a more contoured lower face and defined, structured jawline. I would suggest getting a formal evaluation with a facial sculpting expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Thank you for your question and photo. While it’s difficult to make a full assessment from a photo alone, it does appear you would be a good candidate for Botox injections in the masseter muscle. This treatment is used for cosmetic reasons to produce subtle narrowing in the jawline. It is also recommended for some patients that suffer from pain and stiffness in the jaw due to TMJ or chronic teeth clenching. 
I would suspect you won’t have a problem with skin sagging after your treatment, however, the masseter muscle does provide support for the jawline and some patients can experience mild skin sagging. The improvement with Botox is relatively subtle, so it is likely the skin will easily conform over the new profile. If you have concerns, you can talk to your doctor about a non-surgical method of skin tightening to firm up the lower jawline to create better definition. Make sure you work with a board-certified dermatologist with experience in these treatments to ensure an optimal outcome. 

I appreciate your concern, but sagging is not something that I typically see after injecting Botox into the masseter muscle. This procedure is used to relax the masseter muscle, which offers relief from painful clenching and grinding. The treatment also reduces the muscle to create a narrower jawline. However, the reduction is minimal and the skin does not have any trouble conforming over the new contour in most cases. Make sure you work with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is also a Botox expert, as this treatment requires expertise and precision to achieve the best possible result. 

Hi,Thank you for your question and sharing your photo.Theoretically, yes, Botox can atrophy the masseter muscle, which decreases bulk/volume at the angle of the mandible, reducing support for the more distal tissues. The degree to which this happens is variable. I do caution my more mature patients regarding this possibility, especially if they have very prominent jowls but yours are very mild. Also, if your goal is functional (to reduce the clenching/grinding), you do not have to use a high number of units to fully relax the muscle. Lastly, the results will be temporary so if it does happen that you get worsening sag of the distal tissues, the Botox will eventually wear off and you can regain some muscle bulk by chewing gum.Hope that helps!

In patients that I have treated with Botox to the masseter muscles, I have never seen sagging develop from the loss of volume of the muscle.  The result would be temporary, so it certainly would be easy to try and see what result you would get.  

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph.  Theoretically yes it may result in an increase in skin sagging but rarely does this actually occur in real life.  Hope this helps.

There is a potential that Botox to the masseter muscles can impact the appearance of the jaw if you have skin laxity. You can consider other treatments to give you a more complete result such as fillers or Morpheus8. This treatment combines RF technology with microneedling to improve overall skin tone and texture. I've included a video I hope you find helpful.

Sagging is not something that is typically seen after BOTOX is injected into the masseter muscle. This procedure is used to relax the masseter muscle, which offers relief from painful clenching and grinding. The treatment can also reduce the muscle to create a narrower jawline. However, the reduction is minimal and the skin does not have any trouble matching the new contour in most cases. Also, injections of BOTOX into the masseter muscle can assist with symptoms of Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome such as grinding and soreness. If your goal is to reduce the clenching/grinding, you do not have to use a high number of units to fully relax the muscle.
 

Botox in the masseter muscle should not cause sagging from the loss in volume.  If you try the masseter Botox and don’t like the results, the Botox will wear off in about 3 months. At this point, both the muscle and surrounding area should return to normal. Should you continue to have concerns, there is no substitute for an in-person consultation with an experienced board certified provider to discuss your concerns and the best way to achieve your treatment goals.