What Is Masseter Botox?

The masseter muscle, present only in mammals, is one of the muscles for chewing. It is one of the strongest and most obvious (due to being close to the surface of the face) muscles responsible for chewing. Botox is a toxin that is produced from the bacterium called Clostridium Botulinum. This toxin has an effect of paralysis on muscles by preventing signals from nerves. Scientiests have adapted this toxin in a way that its use has become beneficial to people by diluting and weakening it. In addition to its medically beneficial use, it is also used beneficially cosmetically, and one of the areas of it use in these both ways is its injections to the masseter muscles in the face.

Masseter muscles may be overdeveloped (hypertrophic) due to various reasons. This enlargement of the masseter muscle may create unwanted appearance in the face. Hypertrophic masseter muscles can cause the face to appear too round, puffy or square. Especially in women, overdevelopment of this muscle can create a masculine appearance. This condition can also decrease the definition in the lower face. With botox injections that can be administered to these muscles, the functionality of them can be diminished, causing them to be reduced in size. With less functionality and activity, the masseter muscles become smaller and the unwanted appearance caused by them can be improved.

As masseter muscles are related to chewing basically, intense activity of chewing can cause these muscles to become larger. The need to chew may increase when consuming food such as highly fibrous vegetables and meat. A person may genetically have a tendency to overdevelop masseter muscles. Also the activity of clenching, grinding teeth without being aware of it called bruxism, can cause the masseter muscles to become larger. People with this coniditon can benefit from botox injections to the masseter muscles. The muscles relax and the activity of clenching and grinding teeth without being aware of it, whether when sleeping or awake will be lessened. Along with its possible effects of improvement in one’s appearance, botox to the masseter muscles can be efficient in the symtompatic treatment of such a condition.

Botox injections to the masseter muscles can start to show their effects on the functionality of the muscles within a few days. It can take a few months to fully see the aimed results in terms of appearance. Depending on the patient’s needs, repeating this treatment 1 or 2 times a year may be advisable.