A square jaw caused by having a bulky muscle mass (masseter muscle) over the angle of the jaw is not often a desired trait by many females. It is particularly common in people of Asian descent. It can be a genetic trait or it can be due to bruxism (a condition characterized by teeth grinding, especially at night during sleep).
The most popular treatment to correct this is non-surgical. This involves the use of specific products into the muscle mass. This results in a thinning of the muscle and a reduction in the squareness of the jaw, creating a gentler slimmer lower face.
It typically involves at least 25 units of product to each side. There is very little downtime by way of bruising and swelling and discomfort can occur when chewing hard foods such as steak for several weeks.
It starts to work in 1 week but becomes more noticeable after 4 to 6 weeks, lasting up to 6 months. Over several treatments you typically achieve longer lasting results.
Treating the jaw muscles is also a very useful treatment for individuals who grind their teeth whilst asleep, a condition called bruxism. This is often a condition diagnosed by your dentist as it tends to cause significant wear and tear damage to your teeth and often jaw joint (TMJ) pain – treating the masseter muscles can be effective in treating this condition.
Normal activities can be resumed soon after your treatment. However, you should avoid strenuous exercise or massaging the area for the first 24 hours after treatment.
Every procedure involves a certain amount of risk, and it is important that you understand these risks and the possible complications associated. Majority of patients do not experience the following, but you should discuss each with your physician to ensure you understand.
Common side effects may occur immediately or may be delayed.
Pain, burning, stinging, bruising, swelling or redness at the injection site; local muscle weakness including drooping eyelids or eyebrows; swollen eyelids, skin tightness, itching or aching forehead, headaches, nausea and/or flu like symptoms.
Although exceedingly rare, in some cases the effect of this muscle relaxant may be observed beyond the site of injection and the following symptoms may occur – loss of strength and muscle weakness, drooping surrounding facial muscles, double or blurred vision, trouble speaking, constipation, aspiration and trouble swallowing. These symptoms can happen hours to weeks after injection and are more likely to occur in patients treated with high doses or who have underlying conditions that would predispose to the above.
What to Expect
The following are very common side effects after treatment and should resolve with time.
Final Results
You may notice the effects of your treatment within 2 – 4 days. It can take up to 14 days for the full effect. You may require further treatments to achieve your desired results.
Aftercare
Please contact the clinic immediately 1300 373 662 if you experience any inflammatory reaction and/or side effect. If necessary, additional treatments, medications and/or surgery may be necessary.
Avoid touching or massaging the treatment area. Avoid facials, waxing, chemical peels, IPL, laser or any other skin treatments for at least 2 weeks after treatment.