The masseter muscles are located on either side of the lower jaw. They are used for the movement of the mandible for mastication (the chewing movement).
Many physical problems can arise from issues with the masseter muscle, one of which being teeth grinding. However, there can also be aesthetic problems too.
Fortunately, Botox can be used to address these issues. For medical professionals who still believe that Botox is just an ‘anti-wrinkle’ treatment, then our Botox training courses can enlighten you to many other uses for the toxin and teach you how to safely and effectively treat patients using Botox.
What is masseter Botox?
Masseter muscle Botox involves injecting Botox into the masseter muscle to slim the face or prevent teeth grinding.
You may also hear masseter muscle Botox referred to as face slimming Botox, or specifically jaw slimming Botox. Both of these descriptions are accurate, however only for patients who have an overdeveloped masseter muscle.
When the masseter muscle is overused, it can strengthen and thicken. This creates the appearance of a strong, bulging muscle in the lower jaw that squares the face. This can be a problem for female aesthetics as women generally prefer a slimmer face and a square jaw is associated with masculinity.
If your masseter muscle is not overdeveloped and you want to receive masseter Botox regardless, then you will see no positive effects. You may, in fact, have trouble chewing or using your jaw if your masseter muscle is so weak that it cannot function at all.
What does masseter Botox do?
There are a number of functions that masseter Botox has, the most common that we see are: face slimming, halting teeth grinding, and reducing headaches and migraines.
When Botox is injected into the masseter muscle, the toxin causes the muscle to relax and stops it from contracting. Because the muscle is no longer being used as much, it will shrink in size and stop being problematic.
This reduction in size slims the lower half of the face and can result in much more appealing aesthetics, especially so for female patients who prefer a heart shaped facial structure or a thinner face.
The decline of use of the muscle is the reason that Botox can be used as teeth grinding injections when placed into the masseter muscle. Teeth grinding can be a side effect of nerves, or it can simply be a bad habit, but either way it is performed by the involuntary contraction of the masseter muscle. Once this contraction stops, so will the grinding of your teeth, therefore keeping your teeth in a better condition and requiring less trips to the dentist.
Lastly, strong contractions in the masseter muscle can actually cause headaches and migraines, especially so in the mornings just after you wake up. This can either be as a result of a build-up of pressure or a side effect of teeth grinding. If your headaches are found to be related to your masseter muscle, then a reduction in strength of the muscle will solve your issues.
How long does masseter Botox last?
Botox is not usually a permanent fix. Patients should expect Botox to initially last for approximately 3-4 months when injected into the masseter muscle.
However, when receiving recurring treatments, it is possible that patients will notice more long-term results. This is because they are preventing the muscle from strengthening and returning to its pre-Botox thickness.
The more treatments a patient has, the higher the likelihood that their masseter muscle will remain at a smaller size permanently. This will be very beneficial for the patient and mean that they have to return to the clinic for top-up treatments less and less in the future.
Botox courses at the Dr Hennessy Academy
At the Dr Hennessy Academy, we teach medical professionals how to safely inject Botox and dermal fillers so that they can change careers or begin working part-time in a lucrative industry to supplement their income. Our cosmetic courses, like our Botox courses, can provide you with this.
We provide answers to questions like can you have Botox in your neck and what alternative treatments can Botox be used for, to add value to our students once they finish our course.
If you would like to become a trained Botox practitioner, then get in touch with our training academy and book your place onto one of our incredibly popular foundation courses so you can learn from the best.
