Will repeated treatment of bruxism with Botox cause more masseter reduction? (Photo)

Question

I have been injected with Botox on 31 July 2018 (with another small dose 2 weeks after). There is an improvement but not that much I would like to achieve. If I will repeat the treatment is there a chance to reduce it more? Or in my case I need to reduce mandible angle?

Steven H. Williams, MD · Answer

Hi,Thank you for your question and sharing your photo.The masseters are a very bulky muscle for patients with bruxism and can take several weeks to months to atrophy and cause facial slimming. If your primary reason for botox in the masseters is for teeth clenching, you should notice improvement within 2-3 weeks after the treatment. If your provider still notices significant masseter activity on examination, additional botox can be injected to further relax the muscle. Hope this helps!

Mabrie Facial Institute | San Francisco · Answer

Thank you for your question Mini555! Yes your masseter muscle will continue to reduce in size (atrophy) as you receive repeated treatments.
Although the effects of Botox can initially kick in around day 3-5, it takes a full 2 weeks for Botox to reach full effect. At this time you will notice the muscle weaken and you won’t be able to contract it as strongly. However, the slimming effects can take up to 30 days to see, as the muscles requires time to atrophy. The effects of Botox to the masseter muscle last an average of 6 months. Once the effects wear off, the muscle will begin to function more frequently and regain its strength, slowly increasing in size again. How quickly it regains strength and size varies patient to patient and also depends on the dose of Botox injected. I recommend treatments every 6 months initially. 
  
I’ve created a video that reviews treating the masseter muscles with Botox. I hope you find this helpful in your research!

Thomas J. Lee, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  The masseter is one of the main muscles that allow you to move the jawbone (mandible) to chew.  You can feel this muscle at the back of the jaw when you clench your teeth. In bruxism, this muscle is overactive and grows.  This is similar to how the muscles grow in body builders that constantly train.  In some patients they can get so large that they create a visual distortion of the jawline.  I inject Botox into the masseter to paralyze it.  There are other muscles that help you chew so that is usually unaffected.  If the masseter is paralyzed for a prolonged time it will shrink (atrophy) and eventually become less prominent.  This requires regular treatments to prevent the muscle from building up again.  This is like how /the muscles shrink in the legs of people that have suffered from spinal paralysis.

Blue Medi Spa - Sherman Oaks - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi, Thank you for your question. As each person requires a different amount of botox units for treatment of the masseter muscle, it is hard to tell if another treatment of botox will thin out the lower face more or not. An official consultation with your provider is needed to see if your masseter muscle has been properly treated with Botox. If it has been, there are other options to make the lower face appear thinner such as buccal fat removal or as you mentioned reduction of the mandible angle. 
Hope that helps, -Melody PAC

Shawn Tassone, MD, PhD, FACOG · Answer

Mini555-
There is a range of Botox units that is used to treat the masseters and improve bruxism and everyone requires a little bit different number of units. If you are still having problems with jaw clenching, you may add more Botox and this will help reduce the problems and decrease the strength and size of the masseter muscles. The first couple of treatments you usually will require more Botox units in order to decrease masseter strength and size until the muscle relaxes and becomes smaller. You may also pair the treatments with wearing a retainer at night to help protect your teeth and prevent jaw pain and headaches while figuring out the correct Botox units.

I hope this helps!

Will repeated treatment of bruxism with Botox cause more masseter reduction? (Photo)

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Will repeated treatment of bruxism with Botox cause more masseter reduction? (Photo)

Answers (8)

Answer: Botox in masseter

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Answer: Masseter reduction

Answer: Masseter reduction

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Everything you need to know about Botox

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