Familiar Uses of Neurotoxins
We are quite familiar with the use of Botox, Dysport, and other neurotoxins for diminishing hyperdynamic facial wrinkle lines, raising eyebrows, smoothing skin, and even controlling hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). Neurotoxins are also widely used for jawline contouring and managing symptoms associated with excessive teeth clenching or Temporal Mandibular Joint (TMJ) dysfunction, such as headaches, jaw pain, and damage to dentition.
How Neurotoxins Work for TMJ and Jawline Contouring
Just like with hyperdynamic facial lines, neurotoxins are injected into the muscles that generate the most force when you clench your teeth. The majority of this power comes from the masseter muscle, which runs vertically from the angle of the jaw to the cheekbone (zygomatic arch). You can easily feel the masseter muscle when you gently clench your teeth—it’s quite powerful and large.
The Injection Process
Injecting neurotoxin into each masseter muscle requires a bit more neurotoxin than what is typically used for frown wrinkles between the eyes (the glabella). The goal is to decrease the force that this muscle generates without completely paralyzing it. After neurotoxin injections, you’ll still be able to speak and eat normally. The neurotoxin primarily works at night, when we unconsciously clench our teeth, reducing the force and thus relieving headaches and decreasing tooth injury.
Additional Benefits: Jawline Contouring
One of the added benefits of injecting neurotoxins into the masseter muscles is the potential to thin and contour a strong jawline. Neurotoxins decrease the muscle’s ability to contract, similar to how muscles decrease in size if you stop exercising them. Over time, the masseter muscles, which are often quite large in teeth-clenching individuals, will decrease in size as the neurotoxin relaxes them. The effects of neurotoxins generally begin to dissipate after about 4 months.
What to Expect After Neurotoxin Injections
Neurotoxin injections are very well tolerated, with absolutely no downtime following the procedure. Mild redness or bruising can occur at the injection site, but this is uncommon and typically lasts only a day or two.