Chipmunks, no matter how cute they are is not a look or a face shape anyone would aim for, most people would prefer a tapered face shape. Yet we all know, people come with varying face shapes depending on genetics and habits.
The Masseter Muscle
What exactly is a masseter muscle? It is a facial muscle that connects the lower jaw to the cheek and is one of several muscles responsible for chewing. These muscles can become enlarged due to teeth grinding or clenching and can greatly alter the shape of the lower face. Genetics also plays a great role in determining your face shape.
Enlarged Masseter Muscle
Masseter muscle enlargement is not typically caused by normal jaw movement. It is formed rather, through how you normally develop your muscles — through exercise. As you exercise your muscles, they get bigger and these jaw muscles are no exception.
Clenching and grinding your teeth is the most common contributor to an enlarged masseter. You might be doing these things unconsciously under stress, or even while you are sleeping.
These behaviors are hard to notice, and they can be even harder to unlearn.
The Twofold Benefits of Botox for Masseter Muscle
BOTOX® injections of the masseter muscles (Masseter De-Chipmunk) works by relaxing the muscle thereby limiting its movement. After Botox is administered and the muscle is relaxed, preventing it from working so hard and exerting a lot of pressure. There will be no hindrances on the jaw movements, you will still be able to chew, and make normal facial expressions after the treatment.
Slim Down Your Jawline
As the jaw muscles are no longer overworked, it can shrink back to their regular size. This will improve the proportions and balance of your face by slimming down your jawline. Injections on these particular pair of jaw muscle can make women’s lower face look tapered and more feminine.
Prevent Teeth Grinding
Patients would not be able to clench, grind, or bite down as hard after administering botulinum toxin injections in the masseter muscle to relax it. The relaxation of the muscle would result in its thinning, which in turn would produce thinning of the face and alleviation of the teeth grinding. Stopping teeth grinding which in turn might be the cause of possible tension headaches.
Is Masseter Botox (Masseter De-Chipmunk) for You?
Masseter BOTOX® or Dysport® injections are extremely beneficial to a patient who would like to slim down and make the lower face more angular. It offers jawline slimming to those persons who don’t like the shape of their face, maybe because of a square or thick jawline and they aspire for a more feminine look.
To determine the relative thickness of someone’s masseter, the injector feels for the patient’s outer jawline as they bite down hard. A good candidate for masseter muscle injections is someone with a masseter that is rock hard or appears enlarged as their teeth are clenched.
Masseter BOTOX® or Dysport treatments are beneficial for people who suffer from migraines or tension headaches that had resulted from teeth grinding. This is because overall tension in the face is greatly reduced by relaxing the masseter muscle.
The procedure was discovered and first came into prominence in Asia and China where it is very popular.
Pre-Treatment Tips
- Avoid taking aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as these may cause an increased risk of bleeding and bruising at the treatment sites.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages for 24 hours prior to the procedure as this can increase the risk for bleeding and bruising at the treatment site.
- Avoid waxing, bleaching, tweezing, or the use of hair removal creams in the area to be treated.
- Stay fresh-faced, avoid applying facial products on the day of your appointment
- Inform your injectables expert of any history of cold sores (herpes simplex)
- Avoid prolonged sun exposure.
- Make sure to eat at least a small meal or snack before your appointment.
- Inform your medical professional of ALL medications, including supplements you are taking and medical history
Treatment Procedure
It is a fairly fast and almost painless procedure. Your skin will be cleansed, felt and marked for injections. Your injectables expert would determine the required amount of Botox for the treatment.
How much Botox is needed?
It may take between 15-50 units of Botox injected on each side of the face, depending on the thickness of the muscle.
After Treatment Recovery and Care
Immediately after the Botox injections, there can be temporary soreness, redness and bruising. Don’t lie down or manipulate the treated area, try to relax, and avoid strenuous activities as well.
You may return to work right after the procedure if you feel up for it. It may take a few weeks to see visible results.
Botox injections’ effects are temporary and usually lasts from 3-6 months depending on the individual.
Choosing the Best Injector
At James Christian Cosmetics you are assured that our professional injectors have years of actual experience and are licensed and qualified to inject. Set up an appointment today, call or text our 24/7 Cosmetic Concierge line at 917-860-3113 for our New York offices and 305-849-0307 for our newly opened Miami office.
*Information in this article is not medical advice and may not be factually accurate. It is intended for entertainment purposes only. Consult with a physician before attempting any tips in this blog post and to get the most up to date factual data about any procedure or treatment.
