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Turns out,stresshas a way of presenting itself in our jaws.

image of woman looking at the camera while a syringe is held up close to her face

Photographed by Huy Luong

The interest in the noninvasive procedure isn’t exactly surprising to a lot of dermatologists and plastic surgeons.

(Again we say… A lot of us don’t even realize we’re clenching our jaw when we’re stressed.

“The masseter jaw muscle enlarges when people clench or grind their teeth.”

before and after images of woman after getting masseter botox treatment

Courtesy of subject

And that enlarged muscle starts to hurt, which can, in turn, cause headaches, too.

And these solutions can be just fine and simple enough fixes for a lot of people.

That’s where the injections come in.

“This makes the face look wider, but also leads to jaw tension.

Botox treats both.”

What is masseter Botox?

It can also be done with Jeauveau, Dysport, Xeomin, and Daxxify.

But wait, what is the masseter?

The masseter is the very powerful muscle along your jaw that helps you chew.

What are the benefits of masseter Botox?

The two main benefits of masseter Botox are released tension in the muscle and a reshaped jaw.

The two often go hand in hand, with most people seeking both results.

“As this happens, it gives almost instant symptom relief” and your jaw should feel more relaxed.

Plus, the dose is not high enough to completely eliminate the function of the masseter.

Often masseter issues require a holistic approach because there can be multiple causes.

You might be stressed.

You might have TMJ because of your genetics.

You might simply just grind your teeth while you sleep.

If you stop doing curls, your bicep is not going to be as big."

How is masseter Botox performed?

First, your doctor will examine you to confirm you’re a good candidate for masseter Botox.

or, Do you have any before and afters and testimonials I can see?

to see to it the doctor is the right fit for you.

Youll probably also need to have a dental exam to determine if you’re a candidate.

(If youre pregnant or breastfeeding,you should avoid Botoxcompletely.)

Your doctor will then examine your jaw in greater detail.

They may ask you to clench your teeth, for example, says Dr. Marchbein.

These will serve as her guidelines for where to inject.

If you’re particularly squeamish about needles, this is something to consider when choosing your injector.

“I typically start with only 15 units per side,” says Dr. Marchbein.

“I have patients who need 25 to 30 per side.”

What is recovery like for masseter Botox?

you’ve got the option to do everything normally afterward, says Dr. Soni.

What are the risks of masseter Botox?

These side effects can last from a few weeks to months, depending on the person.

“So, theoretically, diminishing the size of the masseter can potentially contribute to jowling.”

Therefore, with enough support, the chance for jowling is low.

Relatively often, videos pop up on social media showing extremes of incorrectly done procedures.

What is the cost of the procedure?

Some injectors charge by units of neuromodulator, while others have different fees for different areas of the face.

On average, masseter Botox costs between $750 and $1,000.

She was looking for a way to stop clenching her jawand the pain she experienced along with it.

I was waking up with headaches and a sore jaw, says Cruel.

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