Masseter botox is an injection of botulinum toxin into the masseter, the chewing muscle on each side of the jaw. It reduces excessive, involuntary contraction of the muscle. It is also known as jaw botox, botox for teeth grinding or bruxism botox.

The masseter is one of the strongest muscles in the body. In people who clench or grind their teeth, it works constantly and gradually thickens. A bulky masseter widens the lower face and gives the jaw a square, angular look.

That is why masseter botox has two goals:

• Functional: to help ease jaw pain, morning jaw fatigue and tension-type headaches caused by clenching and grinding.
• Aesthetic: to gradually reduce the size of a thickened muscle, slimming the lower face toward a softer, more “V-shaped” contour.

It is most often chosen by people who clench at night and wake up with a sore jaw, have tooth wear from grinding, or have jaw joint pain or tension headaches. It also suits people whose face looks square because of muscle bulk and who want non-surgical jaw slimming. Whether width in the lower face comes from muscle, fat or bone structure is assessed at your consultation.

Masseter botox can be done on its own or planned with other treatments around the proportions of the lower face, as part of the Facial Architecture (Yüz Mimarisi®) approach of Dr. Sevgi Ekiyor.

A similar principle is used for the neck and shoulder line in trap botox, which treats the trapezius muscle.

Teeth grinding usually happens during sleep, without you noticing. Stress, sleep patterns and dental structure can all play a role. Over time it may lead to worn enamel, cracked teeth, jaw joint pain and morning headaches.

Masseter botox does not remove the cause of grinding, but it weakens the force of the muscle, reducing the load on your teeth and jaw joint. Jaw pain and muscle tension may ease noticeably, and many people start to feel a difference within the first week.

It offers more complete relief when combined with measures your dentist recommends, such as a night guard. If you also have tension headaches or migraines, migraine botox can be planned separately.

At the clinic in Nişantaşı, Istanbul, the appointment starts with an examination. You are asked to clench your teeth so the doctor can feel the size and strength of the masseter and any difference between the two sides. The injection points and dose are planned from this assessment.

1. The area is cleansed and disinfected.
2. The borders of the muscle are mapped, and the points are marked at a safe distance from the smile muscles.
3. Botulinum toxin is injected into 3–5 points on each side with very fine needles.

The treatment takes about 10–15 minutes and usually needs no anesthetic. You can return to your daily routine right afterward.

Choosing the right points and dose is what keeps the result safe and natural. Avoiding spread to the smile muscles and balancing both sides depends on a doctor who knows facial anatomy well.

The first hours and days matter for keeping the product in the target muscle:

• Don’t lie down for the first 4 hours, and don’t massage or press the area.
• Avoid intense exercise, saunas, Turkish baths and alcohol for 24 hours.
• Skip chewing gum and very hard foods for the first few days.
• Try not to sleep face down on the first night.

For a few weeks, you may notice mild jaw fatigue when chewing hard foods. This is a temporary effect of the relaxed muscle, and your body adapts quickly.

The effect on clenching and jaw pain usually begins within 3–7 days and settles fully at two weeks. Jaw slimming develops more slowly: because the muscle takes time to shrink, the aesthetic change becomes visible over 4–8 weeks and is clearest around weeks 6–8. Photos are taken before treatment so the change can be compared at your follow-up.

Masseter botox usually lasts 4–6 months. As it wears off, the muscle regains strength and clenching may return. With regular sessions, the muscle gets used to working less and becomes smaller, and some people can space out their treatments.

The lower face is not only about muscle. If the jawline is undefined because of bone structure or volume loss, chin and jawline filler may help; for fullness caused by fat in the cheeks, Agassi may be a better fit.