I want my face to appear less round - Is masseter Botox ideal for me? Suggestions? (Photos)

Question

Looking to get rid of my round face. I’m not sure if my masseters are the problem and/or i should get another procedure done to slim the bottom of my face. Ill be going to korea to get the work done.

Behnoush Zarrini, MD · Answer

Masseter Botox is absolutely the ideal first step for your facial structure because your lower face fullness appears to be driven by muscular volume rather than just bone or fat. By injecting a neuromodulator like Botox or Daxxify into the masseter muscles, we relax the tension that causes them to bulk up, leading to a significant slimming of the jawline as the muscle atrophies over the next four to eight weeks. This procedure is the gold standard for transitioning a rounder facial profile into a more refined V line shape without the need for invasive surgery. Since you are heading to Korea, you might also consider an assessment for buccal fat pad reduction or submental contouring if soft tissue persists after the muscles have slimmed down, though I find that most patients with your anatomy achieve their primary goal through masseter relaxation alone. At Beverly Wilshire Aesthetics, we focus on high precision dosing to ensure your jawline narrows significantly while maintaining a natural, balanced appearance. When you clench your teeth together tightly, do you feel a prominent, hard knot of muscle popping out at the corner of your jaw?

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

From your photos and description, I would be cautious about assuming that masseter Botox is the best solution. A round lower face can be caused by several different factors, and the treatment should be tailored to the underlying anatomy rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

Masseter Botox works by reducing the size of the masseter muscles, which are the muscles used for chewing. It tends to be most effective in people who have enlarged masseters from genetics or habitual teeth grinding and jaw clenching. If your jaw muscles are not particularly prominent, relaxing them may produce only a subtle change or no noticeable slimming at all.

In many younger patients with a naturally round face, the fullness is actually due to soft tissue volume, including the buccal fat pads, subcutaneous fat, or naturally full cheeks, rather than enlarged jaw muscles. In those cases, masseter Botox alone is unlikely to create a dramatic V-shaped appearance.

Another important consideration is your facial proportions. If the cheeks already have limited support, excessive reduction of the masseters can sometimes make the lower face appear less defined or contribute to a slightly hollow appearance over time. That's why it's important to avoid over-treating this area.

If you're planning to have cosmetic procedures in Korea, you'll likely find that many clinics offer a comprehensive facial assessment rather than recommending a single treatment. Depending on your anatomy, options that may be discussed include:

Masseter Botox, if enlarged jaw muscles are contributing to facial width.
Buccal fat reduction, only in carefully selected patients, as removing too much fat can accelerate a hollow appearance with aging.
Chin augmentation or chin filler, if the chin is relatively short or under-projected, which can create the illusion of a slimmer, more balanced face.
Skin-tightening treatments, if mild skin laxity is contributing to the facial contour.

One thing I would avoid is choosing a procedure solely because it is popular or commonly performed. Treatments that permanently remove fat or significantly reduce facial volume should be approached conservatively, especially in younger individuals, since facial fat naturally decreases with age.

Based on your photos, I think the most important step is determining whether your facial width is coming from muscle, fat, bone structure, or a combination of these factors. Once that is established, you'll have a much better idea of which treatment—or combination of treatments—is most likely to give you a natural, balanced result.

Waylon Zeng, MD · Answer

Hi there thank you for your question and sharing your photos. Yes, you would be a great candidate for masseter botox! You can see in the second photo (profile view) that you have a deep shadow at the corner of the jaw. This represents "masseter hypertrophy" or bigger masseters. If your dentist has ever said you grind your teeth at night, that would also clue you into that as well. Injection of the masseter would be beneficial to slim down the lower face. I think it would harmonize your face to give you more of a heart-shaped appearance. hope that helps!

Carl Truesdale, MD · Answer

Masseter Botox is one of the most satisfying treatments when the patient is the right candidate. The key is figuring out whether your 'round face' is actually driven by masseter muscle bulk, or by something else that won't respond to Botox.
How to tell if masseter Botox will help you:
The bite test: clench your teeth firmly. Feel the muscle bulge that pops out at the back of your jaw (just in front of and below the ear). If that muscle is large or prominent, you have masseter hypertrophy and Botox will reduce it.
The pattern: round face from masseter bulk shows widest at the lower jaw area (around the angle of the mandible). Round face from fat shows widest at the cheek or midface area.
The teeth-grinding clue: patients who grind teeth at night, clench during the day, or chew tough food often have masseter hypertrophy. If you have any of these history items, you're more likely a good candidate.
What masseter Botox does:
Injected directly into the muscle (typically 20 to 30 units per side). The muscle gradually atrophies over 4 to 8 weeks. Face becomes narrower at the jawline angle, more tapered toward the chin.
Duration: results last 4 to 6 months. Repeat treatments often give longer-lasting effect as the muscle stays smaller between sessions.
Bonus benefit: also reduces teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and TMJ pain in many patients. Useful even if cosmetic concern is secondary.
When masseter Botox doesn't help:
If your round face is from buccal fat fullness (the cheek hollow): masseter Botox doesn't affect this area.
If your round face is from cheekbone width or zygomatic bone projection: bone doesn't shrink with Botox.
If your round face is from subcutaneous fat overall (especially in younger patients with naturally fuller faces): masseter Botox won't change overall fat distribution.
What to expect realistically:
In a good candidate, masseter Botox creates 10 to 20 percent facial width reduction at the lower jaw over 2 to 3 months. Subtle but real. Patients commonly say 'my jaw looks more refined' or 'I look slimmer.'
It's not a dramatic transformation in most cases &mdash; it's a softening. Expect a refined jawline angle, not a complete reshape.
What I'd avoid:
Heavy first-time dosing (start at 15 to 20 units per side, build up if needed).
Combining with buccal fat removal until you've seen what Botox alone does.
Treatment without first checking if you actually have masseter bulk (some round faces don't).
Best move: see an injector who'll palpate your masseter while you bite down before recommending treatment. If the muscle isn't bulky, they should tell you Botox won't help and discuss other options. If your injector recommends masseter Botox without doing this exam, get a second opinion.

Kally Papantoniou, MD, FAAD · Answer

Masseter Botox can help slim the lower face, but only if the width is actually coming from enlarged jaw muscles. If your facial shape is more related to bone structure or soft tissue, it won’t make a meaningful difference. Some patients benefit more from overall facial balancing. In some cases, that's softening the lower face, but other times it’s adding subtle structure through the chin or jawline to create more definition. It really depends on what’s driving the shape.

This is one of those situations where an in-person evaluation matters, especially if you’re considering treatment abroad. You want someone to assess muscle bulk, facial proportions, and your goals so the approach is tailored rather than just defaulting to masseter Botox.

This is one of those situations where an in-person evaluation matters, especially if you’re considering treatment abroad. You want someone to assess muscle bulk, facial proportions, and your goals so the approach is tailored rather than just defaulting to masseter Botox.

Paul Flashner, MD · Answer

Hi! For slimming and defining the lower face, jawline filler can help add structure and contour, but it is something you’d need to maintain over time.

Morpheus8 is also a great option if you’re looking for more longevity—it helps contour the jawline, can reduce some fat, and stimulates collagen and elastin. Results typically last around 2–5 years.

A proper assessment would help determine if your masseters are contributing as well, but these are both great options to consider

Wipanee Akarapusit, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your photos. Facial fullness can be influenced by several factors, including masseter muscle size, facial structure, soft tissue volume, and overall facial proportions. In some patients, Masseter Botox may help create a slimmer lower-face appearance, particularly when enlarged jaw muscles contribute to facial width.
However, treatment planning depends on the underlying anatomy and the balance of the face as a whole. In some cases, a combination approach may be more helpful for improving facial contour and harmony. An in-person assessment would be helpful to better understand which approach may best match your features and aesthetic goals.
Wipanee Akarapusit, MDMember, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS)

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Yes masseter Botox should help to slim the jawline.  The treatment is done in the office with results developing over several weeks.  Be sure to see an expert injector.  I've included a video that I hope you find helpful.

I want my face to appear less round - Is masseter Botox ideal for me? Suggestions? (Photos)

Answers (8)

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