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There are four muscles of mastication that aid the jaw in the chewing of food. One of them is called the masseter muscle. Depending on the biting force, types of food consumed, and habits such as teeth grinding, clenching, or other temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, the masseter muscle can vary in volume and width from person to person. The enlargement of one or both masseter muscles is a condition known as masseter muscle hypertrophy (MMH).
Modern beauty standards favor smaller and slimmer faces with a triangular shape for females, and a wider, square shaped jawline is considered attractive and more masculine for males. The masseter muscle is responsible for causing a square like appearance on the jawline, and many females seek advice on treatment for aesthetic concerns, however, other associated symptoms such as pain in the TMJ, headache, or trismus (lockjaw) can accompany MMH.
Benefits of Masseter Botox® Injections
Historically, the treatment for MMH was surgical resection of the mandibular bone, resection of the masseter muscle, or liposuction of the subcutaneous fat. Recent non-surgical advancements have shown botulinum toxin injections into the masseter muscle to be a safe and effective treatment for MMH. The toxin works by reducing the size and boxy appearance of the masseter muscle by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. The effects of the toxin injection cause temporary paralysis of the muscle and require another series of injections every 3-6 months to maintain long-term results. Not only do the toxin injections help reshape the jawline by reducing the muscle bulk of the masseter muscle, but patients also find that their pain, teeth grinding, and clenching symptoms are greatly improved.
How to Inject Botox® into the Masseter Muscle
Adverse reactions to using botulinum toxin as treatment for MMH have been reported and are most likely due to the improper placement or dosage of the botulinum toxin. These adverse reactions include asymmetrical smile, reduced chewing force, bruising, jowl sagging, bulging of muscles, sunken cheeks, or herniation of the parotid gland. These can be avoided by using ultrasound guidance to be sure that the proper injection technique is used. More information about ultrasound can be found in our article, Ultrasound Guided Applications in Aesthetics.
The dosage of botulinum toxin to treat MMH can vary from 15-100 units per side. The dosage will depend on the thickness of the muscle and needs to be tailored to each individual patient on assessment. The thickness of the muscle will also require the proper needle length to ensure proper placement into the masseter.
Trust Air-Tite with Your Masseter Injection Products
At Air-Tite, we carry a wide range of needle brands, gauges, and lengths. Many of our customers prefer to use a 13mm (1/2”) needle for masseter injections. We recommend the TSK Low Dead Space 33g x 13mm needle for patient comfort and product savings. A perfect syringe to pair with the TSK Low Dead Space Needles is our new MinimLL Syringe, a 0.5mL Low Dead Space Luer Lock Syringe. This allows for easy-to-read graduation markings for accurate dosing, more product savings with the reduction in hub space, and a Luer lock tip to ensure a secure fit for the low dead space needle to reduce the risk of needle pop off.