MASSETER
BOTOX
Relieve TMJ Pain with Masseter Botox
Masseter Botox offers relief from TMJ Pain caused by nighttime teeth grinding and constant clinching, as well as provides a cosmetic slimming effect to the lower face. Our providers are trained in administering Masseter Botox for both medical treatments and cosmetic treatments (and often times both).
If you have been struggling with TMJ Pain or headaches associated with teeth grinding, stress related tension or clenching, and have tried multiple attempts at treatments by the dentist, them Masseter Botox may be a good option for you.
What is Masseter Botox?
Masseter Botox is a non-invasive procedure that involves injecting a neuromodulator such as Botox into the masseter muscles, which are responsible for jaw movement and chewing. By relaxing these muscles, Masseter Botox does two primary things:
1) It stops the muscle from being able to clench, thereby relieving the constant tension and inflammation that is the underlying culprit to TJM Pain.
2) It reduces the size of the masseter muscles, thereby giving you a slimmer, more contoured jawline. This treatment is ideal for individuals with large masseter muscles, that give the face a square or wide appearance.
Understanding TMJ Pain
The Temporomandibular Joint is located where your mandible (the jaw) attaches just next to your ear. It is a mobile joint that moves when you chew or talk.
The masseter muscle is one of the main muscle responsible for moving this joint, such as when you are chewing and talking. When this masseter muscle has normal function, the the joint works with no problems. However, when the masseter muscle does not work right, then pain in the TMJ joint can occur. Also, many other problems commonly go along with TMJ pain such as:
Nighttime Teeth Grinding: grinding teeth at night is caused by unconscious clenching and moving of the jaw which causes wear-and-tear on the teeth. In extreme cases, this can even break a tooth.
Nighttime Clenching: sometimes stress or other factors can cause you to clench your jaw in your sleep. Relaxing the masseter muscle with Botox can greatly reduce this unconscious tension.
Daytime Clenching: similar to nighttime clenching, many people unconsciously hold their stress in the jaw through the day. Masseter Botox helps to retrain the brain to not hold tension in this area.
Headaches: Inflammation in the TMJ joint will often trigger a headache for people.
Am I a Candidate for Masseter Botox?
Masseter Botox may be for you if you experience the following:
Jaw tension or discomfort
Headaches associated with clenching
Clicking sound when the mouth opens
Dental issues such as teeth grinding or chipped teeth.
Unsuccessful attempts to use nighttime mouth guards.
Square or wide facial appearance due to enlarged masseter muscles
Desire for a more slender and balanced lower facial profile.
Our experienced professionals will conduct a comprehensive consultation to determine if Masseter Botox is the right treatment for your specific needs and goals!
The Masseter Botox Procedure:
The masseter muscle has both a superficial and deep layer. During the procedure, both layers are injected with Botox. This is quite comfortable and requires 6-8 small pokes on each side. The injections themselves to not hurt and you will not feel the Botox itself going in.
This procedure is relatively straightforward for a trained provider and complications are rare. However, it is important that your provider inject in the right area as certain complications can occur:
Smile Changes: This happens if the Rigorius Muscle accidentally is relaxed. While this is only temporary, it changes the smile for that time which can be quite bothersome.
Paradoxical Masseter Bulging: This happens if more of the Botox is injected into the deep layer, and not enough in the superficial layer. When a person chews, the masseter muscle sticks out farther than it originally did. While odd looking, this is quickly fixed by adding a few units to the superficial layer.
frequently asked questions about Masseter Botox
How long does masseter botox take to work for TMJ Pain?
Following Masseter Botox, you may notice small bumps on the skin, which subside over the next several hours. Then it takes 7-14 days for the Botox to relax the muscle.
After the Botox “Kicks In”, you will gradually start to notice both relief from TMJ Pain over a period of about two weeks as inflammation and tension around the joint starts to resolve.
How Does Masseter Botox Slim Your Jaw?
Similar to if you were to exercise your bicep muscle, over time it would become large and defined. As soon as you stop exercising your biceps they will shrink and become smaller and less defined.
Botox has the same effect on the masseter muscle as stopping exercise has on the bicep muscle-it makes it smaller and less defined. This in-turn slims the back portion of the jaw.
how many units of botox for masseter slimming?
Typical Masseter Botox requires up to 25 units per side-although this can vary at times.
How Much does Masseter Botox Cost in Austin?
We charge a flat rate of $425 for Masseter Botox, no matter how many units you need.
How long does a Masseter Botox last? Do I have to do this forever?
On average, Masseter Botox will last 4-6 months. This means you may need 2-3 treatments per year or until the pain does not return.
The average person will not need to treat TMJ Pain permanently. Often times, with several Botox treatments, TMJ Pain will gradually resolve over time and you will no longer need to continue Botox treatments.
Are there any side effects or downtime associated with Masseter Botox?
Masseter Botox is a non-surgical procedure with no downtime. Some common side effects may include temporary swelling, redness, or mild tenderness at the injection sites. Rarely, the Botox can spread and affect muscles that are responsible for pulling the corner of the mouth up while smiling.
Interested in masseter botox injections in Austin, TX?
Contact Maui MedSpa Today
Book an appointment at our North Austin location today by clicking the button below.
Have questions? You can also give us a call at (737) 240-2212.
We look forward to hearing from you!