At facial aesthetics london we offer Botulinum toxin, well known as Botox, injections to reduce jaw size and excessive teeth grinding (Bruxism). A wide jaw that creates a square shaped to the lower face is a largely common problem. While the square jaw may be desirable in men it is not a feminine feature required by the ladies. In the past, surgery was the only remedy but now the non-surgical jaw reduction procedure (using Botuilinum toxin) is an excellent alternative solution.
The muscle, called massester muscle, is often a primary cause of the excessive jaw width and teeth grinding. Botulinum toxin injections weakens the corner part of the muscle and improves teeth grinding. The injection can also significantly reduce the size of this muscle and narrow the lower part of the face, therefore it is also commonly called the ” Botox V shape facial contouring treatment”. An additional benefit from the side profile is that the cheeks become highlighted, adding definition and contour to the face.
Botulinum toxin weakens the injected muscle over the period of 2-4 weeks. The aesthetic effect of reducing the flared nature of the jawline is only truly appreciated in the right candidate. Your experienced aesthetic clinician will personally evaluate your face before deciding if you are suitable to have this treatment.
There are only a few injections of Botulinum toxin per side of the jaw required during the procedure and patients are reminded not rub or massage the treated area for 4 hours after the injection in order to prevent spreading of the medication. Specific after care instructions will be provided.
Common FAQs
The most important criteria to decide if you are a good candidate is the thickness of your masseter muscle (jaw muscle). The relative thickness of the masseter can be easily determined by biting down hard and feeling the outer jawline. If the muscle appears to be almost rock hard and enlarged in appearance when you clench your teeth, you may be a good candidate to have this procedure done.
Most patients do not have this problem as only corner part of the muscle will be relaxed, not all parts of the muscle. However, you may experience some tiring after chewing for a while, this phenomenon is only temporary and will go away in a short period of time, commonly within a week.
There really is no recovery period and no significant swelling or bruising. The treatment takes only five minutes as an office procedure and you may drive home thereafter. There really are no restrictions in your activity post procedure.
Generally, it will take about 3-4 weeks before you see the difference and will last typically between 3-4 months. However, at the end of the first week, you may notice that your jawline feels a lot softer when you bite down and feel it. It is recommended to evaluate the result at 3 months following the first injection in order to evaluate the full effect and see if you need the further treatment. You may need up to 3 treatments in total to achieve maximum result depending upon your jaw muscle size. Top up and follow-up treatments are recommended to maintain the initial result. Our treatment provides a long-lasting but not permanent result leaving you the option of refining your treatment in tune with changing taste and fashion.