What does Masseter Botox do?
Masseter Botox, or jawline Botox, is an injectable treatment, but what does it do? What is the masseter, and do these anti-wrinkle injections stop the jaw wrinkling or lining? Is that even a concern?
The anti-wrinkle myth: it’s just for wrinkles
The medical grade toxin is used successfully for treating crow’s feet (creases at the outer corner of the eyes), frown lines between the eyebrows, and forehead lines visible when raising the eyebrows. These are incredibly popular treatments and very common concerns for both men and women, but Botox isn’t just used for treating wrinkles.
As we’ve explored before, you can use these injections to target excess sweating (or hyperhidrosis) and help to reduce the production of sweat in the treated area. This certainly isn’t a treatment for ‘wrinkly’ underarms or to stop these areas on our body lining or frowning… So how does this work for masseter Botox?
Masseter Botox, or jawline slimming
You may not realise this, but your jaw muscles are nearly always held in some sort of tension. This is due to your masseter muscles as they, literally, hold your mouth closed.
For some people though, these muscles can be overractive, either in clenching and teeth grinding (bruxism) or in making the lower face look ‘bulkier’ than it is. Even if you don’t feel yourself clenching, these muscles may be more prominent and therefore making your jaw look wider.
Enter: masseter Botox. Targeted injections in the masseter muscles – the same muscles you use to chew or clench your jaw – helps to relax their movements and tension.
Crucially, this doesn’t inhibit the movement or use of your jaw. You can still bite, chew, smile, and move your lower face with jawline Botox, it just helps to reduce the aggressiveness or strength of the clenching action.
Studies have shown that Botox for jawline slimming can be truly effective for women (and men) looking for a more slender jawline.
Masseter Botox for Bruxism and TMJ
This treatment can do more than improve the cosmetic appearance of the jaw; it can help treat medical conditions such as bruxism and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
Bruxism, or teeth grinding
Bruxism is a dental condition that can be caused by stress or simply just a subconscious movement. It is typically characterised by the unknowing or unintentional grinding of the teeth and jaw, or clenching your jaw.
It can cause jaw pain, headaches (especially in the temples), worn down teeth, toothache, and impeded jaw function.
It can happen when awake and asleep, the latter of which may be identified if you’re waking up in the morning with a dull yet persistent jaw ache.
Studies have shown that those experiencing nocturnal bruxism have seen notable improvement in their pain when they wake up after receiving masseter Botox injections.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder
Similarly, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder causes jaw pain, popping or clicking when opening and closing the mouth, and impeded jaw function. It can wear down your teeth and blunt them enough to make them appear shorter, flatter, and square.
It can be caused by injury, arthritis, or teeth grinding. Typically, bruxism can cause TMJ disorder, which is why treatments target the same muscles.
The same has been noted in studies for Botox and TMJ disorder, making both clinical applications for the jaw a reliable treatment option for the right client or patient.
Is this the same treatment as Jawline Filler?
No, Botox and dermal filler aren’t the same. Jawline filler and jawline slimming with Botox can be used in tandem to achieve combined results, but this depends on the patient and their intended treatment outcome.
Broadly speaking, dermal filler for the jawline helps to build the jawline into different contours.
They can help with changing the perspective of the jaw, in that small placements of filler can actually help to make aspects of the lower face (the chin or ‘double chin’, for example) look smaller.
This is because they can change the balance and shape of the jaw, drawing the eye away from these areas.
Jawline filler affects the tissues of the jaw and the skin, whereas masseter or jawline Botox affects the jaw muscles.
For any questions you have on these treatments, we’d encourage you to book a consultation with us at Pro Aesthetics in West Bridgford, Nottingham, so you can find out if these treatments are right for you!