Masseter Botox For Facial Pain and Tension

Masseter Botox For Facial

Masseter Botox is a neuromodulator that has been FDA approved and, when performed by a skilled injector, is very safe. It essentially ‘freezes’ targeted facial muscles and causes them to relax. Over time, the muscle will shrink, causing the facial contour to improve, and relieving tension in the jaw and neck.

Many patients come to Dr. Biesman seeking treatment to slim the look of their face, especially the lower half of the face and jaw area. This is particularly common with women who want to achieve a more feminine appearance. Masseter Botox injections also help relieve clenching and grinding of the teeth, or bruxism, which can lead to TMJ pain, headaches and tooth damage.

Bruxism is a condition that occurs when people unconsciously clench their jaw, typically while they are awake but sometimes even while they sleep. This can cause TMJ pain, headaches, and damage to the teeth or ear. Botox Masseter can be injected directly into the masseter muscle to help prevent this.

Masseter Botox For Facial Pain and Tension

The injections also help alleviate stress-related bruxism by relaxing the muscle, so you can’t grind your teeth as hard. This is a great treatment option for patients who have tried other treatments, like mouth guards, but didn’t find relief.

Another reason for Masseter Botox is to prevent a “squared off” or widening of the jawline that occurs naturally with aging. The masseter muscles can become overused, which leads to a squared or wider appearance of the jawline that many people dislike. The injections can help prevent this, and the effects last for 3-6 months.

Injections are very quick, painless and simple. Before the injections, your practitioner will clean the skin and may apply a topical anesthetic to minimize the risk of discomfort. They will then use a small needle to inject the Botox into your masseter muscle, and may repeat on the other side of your jaw. The process usually takes less than 15 minutes and can be done in a doctor’s office or other private setting.

After the treatment, you can resume your normal activities, though it’s important to avoid rubbing or clenching your face, which could spread the toxin to other areas of the face and affect your results. You should also avoid saunas or strenuous exercise for the first 24 hours, as these can cause the Botox to move to areas where it shouldn’t go.

The results of Masseter Botox will fade over time, so touch ups are recommended to maintain the benefits. During these appointments, your practitioner can add more Botox to the masseter muscle, or change the placement of the injections to help you get the results you want. Continuing to receive touch up treatments will also train your muscle to respond better and more effectively, so you can extend the time between treatments. If you are interested in learning more about how Masseter Botox can benefit your face, please contact us today to schedule a consultation! We would be happy to answer your questions and help you get the best results possible.