Masseter Botox is something you may have heard about for jaw pain, teeth grinding, or even jawline contouring. At first, it can sound confusing especially because people often call it a surgery. But to be clear from the start, masseter Botox is not a surgical procedure. It’s basically a non-surgical injectable treatment done on the sides of the face. To understand it properly, let’s start with the basics.
What Is the Masseter Muscle?
The masseter muscle[1] is located on both sides of your face, linking your cheekbone to your lower jaw. This muscle at the side of your face helps you in chewing.
If this muscle becomes overactive or enlarged due to stress, teeth grinding (bruxism)[2], or jaw disorders it can cause:
- Jaw pain and tightness
- Facial pain and headaches
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- A wider or more square jaw appearance
This is where masseter Botox comes in.
What Is Masseter Botox?
Masseter Botox means injecting botulinum toxin[3] type A into the masseter muscle. Botox is a muscle relaxer that temporarily blocks nerve signals to the muscle, causing it to relax.
Botulinum toxin type A is a neurotoxin[4] which is safe and is used in both medical and cosmetic treatment for many years. This is used to help in reducing forehead wrinkles, treating headaches, teeth grinding[2] and managing muscle disorders.
When Botox is injected into the masseter muscle:
- The muscle relaxes
- Jaw tension reduces
- Teeth grinding and clenching decrease
- Facial pain improves
- Over time, the muscle may shrink slightly, giving the jawline a slimmer appearance
Because of this dual benefit, masseter Botox is used for both medical relief and facial contouring.
What Is Masseter Botox Used For?
People choose masseter Botox for different reasons, including:
1. Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching (Bruxism)
If you grind or clench your teeth specially at night this treatment can help by relaxing the jaw muscles and reducing pressure.
2. Jaw Pain and Facial Tension
Chronic jaw tightness[5], facial pain, and tension headaches caused by overactive jaw muscles often improve after treatment.
3. TMD Symptoms
The temporomandibular joint[6] (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull. When problems occur in this joint, it’s referred to as TMD (temporomandibular disorder).
Masseter Botox can help relieve symptoms such as:
- Jaw pain
- Headaches
- Ear pain
- Jaw locking or stiffness
- Reduced jaw movement
4. Jawline Contouring
If the masseter muscles are bulky, they can give the face a square shape. Botox weakens the muscle slightly over time, which can:
- Slim the lower face
- Create a softer, more V-shaped jawline
- Improve facial balance
This is why masseter Botox is sometimes called jaw reduction Botox.
The Procedure: What to Expect
So if you are the one looking to get this procedure then knowing about the procedure beforehand might help you to make your expectations accordingly.
Before the Treatment
Before getting masseter Botox, you’ll have a consultation with a trained medical professional. They will ask a few questions to you about the symptoms and goal, then they will examine the jaw muscles to get the idea how many syringes are needed in the treatment. It will also help them to understand the condition of clenching and grinding.
The dosage depends on muscle strength and whether the treatment is for pain, contouring, or both.
During the Procedure
The treatment is done in a doctor’s clinic and does not require hospital admission.
Steps usually include:
- Cleaning the skin to prevent infection
- Applying a topical numbing agent
- Injecting Botox into specific points of the masseter muscle
- Repeating on the other side
The injections are quick, and the entire procedure usually takes 10-15 minutes.
After the Treatment
After the treatment you are free to return to daily life and do normal activities. As bed rest is not needed but make sure you take care of yourself for the first 24 hours. In these 24 hours you should avoid:
- rubbing or massaging the area
- heavy exercise
- applying pressure to the jaw
These precautions help prevent the toxin from spreading to other face areas.
When Will You See Results?
Results completely depend on person to person, normally results can be expected to show within two weeks but some people notice results in 3-5 days.
It is to give attention that the effects are temporary and typically last for 3-6 months. If you want to maintain results, repeat treatments are needed.
Benefits of Masseter Botox
Masseter Botox can help:
- Reduce teeth grinding and clenching
- Relieve jaw pain and tension
- Improve headaches linked to jaw strain
- Ease TMD symptoms
- Slim jawline
- Improve facial symmetry
Possible Side Effects
Masseter Botox is generally considered safe when performed by a qualified professional, but side effects can occur, including:
- Mild pain, swelling, or bruising at the injection site
- Temporary headache
- Jaw fatigue or weakness
- Slight changes in chewing strength
- Rarely, an uneven smile or drooling
Don’t worry, these effects are usually temporary.
Who Should Avoid Masseter Botox?
Masseter Botox may not be good option if you:
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have a neuromuscular disorder[7]
- Are allergic to any ingredient in the specific Botox product being used
- Have unrealistic expectations
- Are seeking treatment purely due to extreme body image distress
A thorough consultation is important before proceeding.
Final Thoughts
The masseter muscle is located on the sides of your face and helps you chew. If you’re struggling with teeth grinding, jaw pain, TMD symptoms, or facial tension or if you want to slim your jawline then masseter Botox can be an effective option.
Choose masseter Botox only if it feels right for you, for comfort, health, or confidence not because you think you need to fix yourself.
But it’s important to remember one thing. If you’re considering this treatment only because you feel insecure about your face shape, pause for a moment. You are already beautiful in your own way. Your uniqueness is your identity and that’s something no injection should try to erase.
You can also read: Liposculpture Liposuction: Procedure, Benefits, Recovery & Results
FAQs
Q1. Is masseter Botox a surgery?
No, it is a non-surgical injectable treatment.
Q2. Does it hurt?
Most people feel only mild discomfort or pressure during injections.
Q3. Will it change my smile?
When done correctly, it should not affect your smile.
Q4. How long do results last?
Typically 3-6 months.
Q5. Can I eat normally after treatment?
Yes, but some people feel mild jaw fatigue initially.
Q6. Is it permanent?
No. The effects are temporary.
References
We value truthful content. 7 sources were referenced during research to write this content.
- Mezey, S. E., Müller-Gerbl, M., Toranelli, M., & Türp, J. C. (2022, February). The human masseter muscle revisited: First description of its coronoid part. Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger. Elsevier BV. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2021.151879
- Klasser, G. D., & Balasubramaniam, R. (2015). Sleep Bruxism: What Orthodontists Need to Know?. TMD and Orthodontics. Springer International Publishing. http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19782-1_5
- Montecucco, C., & Molgó, J. (2005, June). Botulinal neurotoxins: revival of an old killer. Current Opinion in Pharmacology. Elsevier BV. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.coph.2004.12.006
- Heaton, M. B., Mitchell, J. J., & Paiva, M. (2000, April). Amelioration of Ethanol‐Induced Neurotoxicity in the Neonatal Rat Central Nervous System by Antioxidant Therapy. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Wiley. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-0277.2000.tb02019.x
- Shulman, D. H., Shipman, B., & Willis, F. B. (2008, January). Treating trismus with dynamic splinting: A cohort, case series. Advances in Therapy. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-008-0007-0
- Nozawa-Inoue, K., Amizuka, N., Ikeda, N., Suzuki, A., Kawano, Y., & Maeda, T. (2003). Synovial membrane in the temporomandibular joint-Its morphology, function and development. Archives of Histology and Cytology. International Society of Histology & Cytology. http://doi.org/10.1679/aohc.66.289
- Kraker, J., & A. zivkovic, S. (2011, September 1). Autoimmune Neuromuscular Disorders. Current Neuropharmacology. Bentham Science Publishers Ltd. http://doi.org/10.2174/157015911796558000
