Is This the Same as Botox for TMJ?

Same muscle, same injection, different goal. If your main concern is jaw pain, clenching or grinding, read our jaw clenching and TMJ page.

Will I Be Able to Eat Normally?

Yes. You may notice slightly less power with very chewy foods for a few weeks. Everyday eating is unaffected.

How Much Slimmer Will My Jaw Get?

It depends on how much of your jaw width is muscle versus bone. People with significant masseter bulk see a clear change. People whose jaw is mostly bone see less. We'll give you an honest read at your appointment.

Is the Result Permanent?

No, but it's long-lasting. Four to six months per treatment, and the muscle tends to stay smaller with repeated treatment.

Masseter Botox for Jaw Slimming at Home, NJ

Masseter Botox for Jaw Slimming

A wide or square lower face is often not bone at all. It's the masseter, the large chewing muscle at the angle of the jaw, which can grow bulky from clenching, grinding or simply genetics. Dr. Chris Bashian or Rachel Fey, PA relaxes that muscle with Botox at your home, and over the following weeks it gradually slims, so your jawline narrows into a softer, more tapered shape.

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Chris Bashian

How Masseter Botox Slims the Jaw

Place your fingers at the back corners of your jaw and clench your teeth. The muscle you feel bulge is the masseter. In some people it's so developed that it gives the face a squared-off or heavy look at the jaw. Botox injected into the masseter reduces how hard the muscle contracts. With less work to do, the muscle slowly shrinks over the following weeks, the way any muscle does when it's used less. The jaw narrows, the lower face looks more oval, and for many people the face appears more balanced overall.

The change is gradual, which is part of the appeal.

Pricing

Product	Non-Member	Member
Botox or Xeomin	$12 per unit	$11 per unit
Dysport	$5 per unit	$4 per unit

Priced per unit. We'll confirm the count and your total before treating you. See Membership Pricing

What to Expect at Home

Dr. Bashian or Rachel Fey, PA will have you clench so they can feel the size and borders of the muscle, then place several injections on each side. The muscle is thick, so you'll feel a bit more pressure than in the upper face, but it's brief. You can go straight back to your day afterward. Some people feel a mild ache when chewing for a day or two.

How Long Results Take

This one is different from other Botox treatments. The muscle relaxes within a week or two, but the slimming you can see takes four to eight weeks as the muscle gradually reduces in size. Results last four to six months, longer than the upper face, and with repeat treatments the muscle tends to stay smaller for longer stretches. Most people treat two or three times a year.

Who It's For

Adults with a wide or square lower face caused by masseter bulk rather than bone structure. Dr. Bashian or Rachel Fey, PA can usually tell by feel at your appointment. It's also a good fit for people who want a slimmer lower face and have been told surgery is the only option. If your jaw shape is primarily skeletal, Botox won't change it, and we'll tell you so. We do not treat anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding.

Risks and Side Effects

Chewing may feel slightly weaker for the first few weeks, especially with tough or chewy foods. This settles as the treatment evens out. Rarely, the medication can affect a nearby muscle and change your smile temporarily. Very rarely, over-treatment can cause the cheeks to look slightly hollow, which is why we build up gradually rather than going for maximum effect on the first visit. Individual results vary.