Masseter Botox for Jaw Slimming and Clenching

Softer jawline, calmer mornings.

Masseter Botox is a series of small injections into the large chewing muscle at the angle of the jaw. It relaxes that muscle, which can soften a square jawline and ease the clenching and grinding that leave you sore in the morning. Slimming starts to show in about 4 to 6 weeks, and results usually last 6 to 8 months.

Picture waking up without that tight, achy jaw, catching your profile in a photo and seeing a softer, more tapered line, and noticing you're no longer pressing your teeth together on the subway. Results build gradually, so the change looks like you, only more relaxed.

My approach to masseter Botox, in short

• I start with your anatomy. I feel the muscle while you clench before I place a single point.
• I treat the system, not one muscle. I also assess the temporalis and pterygoids so your bite and face stay balanced.
• I shape; I don't erase. The goal is a softer jawline and protected teeth, with the support your lower face needs. When it helps, I add filler to keep the jawline crisp.
• Jaw and teeth together. For clenching and grinding, I work with Dr. Michael Ghalili, DDS, MSD, a prosthodontist.

What does masseter Botox do?

The masseter is the muscle you feel bulge when you bite down. When it's overworked from clenching, grinding or simply genetics, it can look bulky and feel tight. A few precise injections relax it. Over the next weeks it does less work, the jaw feels lighter, and for many people the lower face looks slimmer.

How I keep your face balanced

The masseter doesn't work alone. Before I treat it, I also assess the muscles that work with it, the temporalis at the side of your head and the pterygoids deep inside the jaw. Looking at all of them together helps me get the effect you want and keep your bite and face in balance.

Will masseter Botox cause jowls?

My goal is never to erase the muscle. It's to shape the jawline and protect your teeth, while keeping the support your lower face needs. I adjust the plan to your face and how your skin and tissues are changing over time. When it helps, I combine treatment with filler to keep a crisp, defined jawline.

Botox for TMJ and jaw clenching: how I approach it

If you clench or grind, relaxing the masseter can ease the tension and morning soreness that come with it, and help protect your teeth. I start with the whole picture: your bite, your habits, your jaw joint and the muscles that move it. For patients whose teeth or bite need attention, I work with Dr. Michael Ghalili, DDS, MSD, a prosthodontist, so your jaw and your teeth are cared for together.

What happens at your visit?

We talk about your goals, I feel the muscles while you clench, and then I place a few small injections on each side. Afterward you can usually go about your day.

How long does masseter Botox last?

Slimming starts to show in about 4 to 6 weeks, and results usually last 6 to 8 months. I also teach simple at-home facial exercises that help results last longer.

Who is it right for?

Masseter Botox suits people of every skin tone and background who want a softer jawline, relief from clenching, or both. If another option would serve you better, I'll tell you.

Explore my other neuromodulator treatments, including a lip flip, or see all treatments.

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Medically reviewed by Doris Day, MD