Botox, or botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxic protein that smoothes wrinkles by temporarily relaxing muscles. It is often used to minimize small wrinkles and make skin appear younger.
Botox treatment is commonly used by adults (in 20s, 30s to 60s), people who want face contouring, and people who have certain medical conditions that cause persistent headaches, excessive sweating, or muscular spasms. Each of these people has a specific reason for getting botox, such as decreasing wrinkles or preventing them from appearing in the first place.
However, there is a similar treatment for jawline slimming known as masseter botox. When botox is injected into the masseter muscles (the muscles used for chewing), the jawline can appear thinner and more defined. In this article, we’ll look into masseter botox and its impact on jawline slimming.
Masseter Muscles and Their Role
The masseter muscles are found on each side of the face, connecting the lower jawbone (mandible) to the cheekbone (zygomatic arch). They help you chew and clench your teeth.
If these muscles get bigger, which can happen if you chew a lot or grind your teeth, your jaw can look wider and more square-shaped. This makes your face look more angular and less oval or V-shaped.
How Masseter Botox Works
We mentioned earlier that botox works by relaxing muscles. Basically, it blocks signals from nerves that tell muscles to tighten up or contract.
During the treatment, a doctor injects small amounts of botox right into the masseter muscles on both sides of your face. The shots are fast and usually don’t hurt much.
Afterwards, the botox makes the masseter muscles less strong for a while. This helps slim down the jawline because the muscles aren’t as active as before.
Effects on Jawline Slimming
When botox relaxes the masseter muscles, it makes them smaller over time. Here’s how it helps slim down the jawline:
- Smaller Muscles: The relaxed masseter muscles shrink because they’re not as active. This helps reduce the width of the jawline.
- Slimmer Jawline: As the muscles get smaller, the jawline gradually looks slimmer and more oval-shaped. This change gives the face a softer and more balanced appearance.
- Time to See Results: It takes a few weeks for these changes to become noticeable. During this time, the jawline continues to refine as the muscles relax more.
Conclusion
Masseter botox is a non-surgical method for slimming your jawline by relaxing the chewing muscles. However, you should be aware that the effects are not permanent. Your muscles can gradually return to their original state. You may need to have botox treatments again to maintain your jawline looking smaller.
