Shindang-dong Dental Clinic: Symptoms That May Appear After Jaw Botox Injections (Square Jaw, Masseter Muscle, 'Candy Ball' Phenomenon)

Hello.

I am Dr. Kim Tae-young, director of Bareunyoung Dental Clinic in Shindang-dong.^^

At our dental clinic, Botox is used not only for cosmetic purposes but also

when chewing force is too strong,

which can lead to tooth fractures due to excessive tooth movement,

or to alleviate temporomandibular joint pain or headaches

caused by active masseter muscle movement.

We frequently perform Botox treatments for therapeutic purposes.

For masseter Botox, in dentistry,

it is effective when injected into both the masseter muscle of the lower jaw and the temporalis muscle near the temples.

Today, we will discuss

a phenomenon that occasionally occurs after masseter Botox injections,

where the cheek area protrudes like a 'candy ball' in the mouth.

Generally, for jaw Botox,

we recommend injecting 25 units of Botox into one side of the jaw per session.

After that, if the muscle is thick or more volume is needed, another Botox injection may be required.

A friend of mine

had a square jaw + developed masseter muscles.

For this reason, to control chewing force,

after receiving jaw Botox,

they mentioned that their jaw area would bulge out, as shown in the picture, every time they chewed.

Let's find out the cause of this phenomenon.

The masseter muscle is divided into two layers,

and these two layers have ligaments

that act as a membrane, keeping them separated.

When Botox is injected into the masseter muscle,

the injection is typically placed into the deepest layer of the muscle.

Botox generally spreads to the shallower layers,

affecting both the shallow and deep layers.

However, if the membrane is tough and rigid,

or if the muscle is excessively overdeveloped,

Botox may not spread sufficiently to the shallow layers.

This can cause the jaw to bulge out during chewing activity.

The solution to this is simple.

We observe the progress to see if the Botox can spread further.

If it remains the same over time,

an additional Botox injection into the affected area will resolve it.

Today, we discussed phenomena that can occur after jaw Botox injections.

Jaw Botox is more widely known for its cosmetic purpose of making the jawline slimmer,

so even when recommended to middle-aged and older adults with strong chewing forces,

some people may have reservations about Botox.

However,

Botox treatment

reduces the chewing force applied to the teeth,

thereby controlling harmful stimuli to the teeth,

such as tooth fractures or the induction of cracks.

Therefore, it is a very effective treatment method.

Thank you.^^

Frequently Asked Questions

Is jaw Botox only used for cosmetic purposes?

No, jaw Botox is frequently used for therapeutic purposes in addition to cosmetic ones. Dentists may perform Botox treatment to alleviate temporomandibular joint pain or headaches, or when there is concern about tooth fracture due to excessively strong chewing force.

Why do cheeks protrude after jaw Botox?

The phenomenon of cheeks protruding like a 'candy ball' when chewing after jaw Botox can occur when Botox acts only on the deep layer of the masseter muscle and does not spread sufficiently to the shallow layer. This is more likely to happen if the muscle is overdeveloped or the membrane is rigid.

How can the protrusion of cheeks after jaw Botox be resolved?

If cheeks protrude after jaw Botox, we first observe the progress to see if the Botox can spread further. If it remains the same over time, an additional Botox injection into the affected area can resolve it.

What are the benefits of receiving jaw Botox at a dental clinic?

Receiving jaw Botox at a dental clinic offers not only the cosmetic effect of a slimmer jawline but also therapeutic benefits for dental health, such as reducing the chewing force applied to the teeth, which can prevent tooth fractures or cracks.

Is there a recommended dosage for jaw Botox?

Yes, generally, for jaw Botox, a 25-unit injection into one side of the jaw is recommended per session. If the muscle is thick or additional volume is needed, another injection can be given.