Slims Jaw and Can Cause Sagging of Skin

I got Botox for tmj over a year ago (25 units on each side). Never had any cosmetic work/Botox done to face previously and knew little about it, but suffered from wicked headaches and jaw clenching from my tmj and my dentist told me it may help. I went with my Mother in law to her Botox appointment with a dermo who was highly reputable overall. During my mother in laws appointment to get Botox in the forehead/around eyes, I inquired about tmj Botox and the dr said she would do it for me—did not mention any negative side effects. 

Within a couple of days after, I couldn’t smile/my smile was crooked. Within one to two months later my cheeks (which were already not very full/plump) were completely narrow/hollowed out and my face looked long/haggard. I couldn’t recognize myself in the mirror and looked like I had aged 10 years within a couple of months (I was 31). It’s been some time and my smile got pretty back to normal and I got some volume back to my jaw/cheeks, but it’s not the same as before and there is still a lot of volume loss/sagging. The worst part (aside from the volume loss/saggier skin) is that I was never warned by my dr that it would cause volume loss/crooked smile/skin sagging. When my mother in law went back and mentioned it to her and showed her pictures of my emaciated face, she said I had to have lost weight and that the Botox wouldn’t do that. Hadn’t lost a pound.

I can’t go back in time and change it (trust if I could I WOULD), but hopefully I can help someone to not make the same mistake I did…it is definitely depressing to do something to yourself that changes your appearance so dramatically (for worse). Yes I no longer have pain/headaches from the TMJ, but this was definitely not worth it. I was told fillers could help, but i am terrified of causing any further damage to my face. Hoping chewing masstic gum will help build the muscles back and add some volume.