Beyond Wrinkles: Discover Surprising Benefits of BOTOX® for Trap Muscles, Facial Slimming, and Chin Dimpling
January 17, 2024
Most people know that BOTOX is the go-to solution for frown lines and crow’s feet. But…
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Mabrie Facial Institute
166 Geary Street
Floor 1300
San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 445-9513
Text/SMS: (866) 618-9459
Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
If you have ever wondered how to slim your face without surgery, you’ve found the right place. If your face is wide at the bottom or squarer than you’d like, you may have enlarged masseter muscles or parotid glands. This can add fullness to your lower face and keep your cheekbones from really “popping.” At Mabrie Facial Institute in San Francisco, we create a more V-shaped face using BOTOX or another neuromodulator to shrink the masseters or, in some cases, the parotid glands.
How To Slim Your Face: Your Treatment Options at MFI
Masseter BOTOX
The masseters are the large facial muscles toward the back of each side of the jaw. They are the main muscles used in clenching the jaw. If you grind your teeth or clench your jaw, you may have overdeveloped masseter muscles.
If an enlarged masseter muscle is contributing to your lower face fullness, we inject a neuromodulator (BOTOX, Dysport®, or XEOMIN®) into the muscle to weaken it. The muscle then shrinks, resulting in a more V-shaped face. For many people, this also helps with symptoms of TMJ.
Parotid Gland BOTOX
In some cases, the parotid gland is visibly enlarged, adding bulk to the face at the rear jawline. This saliva-producing gland is about the size of a walnut, and injecting it with BOTOX is a safe and effective treatment for slimming the contours of the jawline.
This man wanted a more defined and angular appearance. In addition to lacking strong cheekbone and chin contours, he had enlarged parotid glands. We were able to improve his look with a combination of fillers to his cheekbones and chin, and BOTOX to his parotid glands.
How Much Does Masseter BOTOX Cost?
The price of masseter BOTOX at MFI in San Francisco varies depending on the Injector and how much product is needed. Visit our site’s dedicated pricing page for updated price information on all our procedures.
Qualified borrowers may be eligible for 0% financing for 6 to 12 months through CareCredit and Alphaeon medical financing.
The MFI Advantage
MFI focuses exclusively on injectables, and has set the bar in the art and science of fillers for more than 15 years. Dr. Mabrie, trained as a facial plastic surgeon, has dedicated thousands of hours to carefully selecting and training our talented Injectors in the most innovative, effective, and safe techniques for injectables. There is no other practice in the Bay Area with the level of experience, education, and passion for injectables you'll find at MFI.
Schedule Me
The MFI Advantage
MFI focuses exclusively on injectables, and has set the bar in the art and science of fillers for more than 15 years. Dr. Mabrie, trained as a facial plastic surgeon, has dedicated thousands of hours to carefully selecting and training our talented Injectors in the most innovative, effective, and safe techniques for injectables. There is no other practice in the Bay Area with the level of experience, education, and passion for injectables you'll find at MFI.
Schedule MeWhat Causes a Wide Jaw?
Genetics/Bone Structure
You may have been born with an angular jaw and a square face shape, which we typically associate with masculinity. Your chin shape—whether broad, small, or receded— may also be preventing you from having a V-shaped jawline.
Overdeveloped Masseter Muscles
The masseters are two large muscles on the side of the face that are used for chewing. These muscles can become enlarged due to overuse by excessively chewing gum or involuntary clenching and grinding your teeth during sleep.
Enlarged Parotid Glands
The parotid glands are two large glands on the sides of the face that help create saliva. Some individuals’ parotid glands may become enlarged over time and create a diamond face appearance on frontal view. Some individuals that have Sjogren’s have been found to have large parotid glands.
Aging
With time, fat breaks down, collagen production slows, and facial ligaments lose their elasticity. This results in volume loss and tissue descent (sagging). As the face ages, a once oval or heart-shaped face may become more round as jowls form and volume shifts to the lower cheek, jaw, and neck. This is best addressed by our Marionette Lines/Jowling package.
Consultation and Planning for Your Masseter BOTOX
Your First Visit
When you come in for your consultation at our stunning San Francisco office, you’ll meet right away with your Injector. They will talk with you to discuss your aesthetic goals and expectations and answer any questions you might have. Next, we take professional-level photographs of your jawline from all angles. We refer to these photos at every visit to monitor your progress. The photos help us develop a treatment plan tailored to your anatomy and goals.
Face slimming BOTOX for the masseter and jaw is a relatively quick treatment, but we ask that you plan to spend approximately 90 minutes in the office for your first visit. This includes consultation, prep, treatment, pre- and post-treatment photography, aftercare education, and scheduling your next appointment. The injections themselves only take a few minutes and cause minimal discomfort.
Your Face Slimming Procedure
We begin by mapping the outline borders of your masseter muscles, parotid glands, and injection safety zones and determining the appropriate neuromodulator dosage for you. We then make a series of targeted injections (about 6 injections per side) using a small syringe, being careful not to inject the smile muscles.
Preparing for Your Procedure
For the best experience, follow these tips in advance of your appointment:
- A few days before your appointment, restrict blood thinners, such as anti-inflammatories, fish oil, and alcohol. Limiting these will reduce your risk of bruising from BOTOX injections.
- DO NOT discontinue prescribed, medically necessary medications.
- Eat and drink a normal breakfast or lunch prior to your appointment; low blood sugar can make patients lightheaded during treatment.
Recovery & Aftercare
With little-to-no downtime, you can return to normal activities after treatment. Discomfort during treatment is minimal. Immediately after treatment, you may experience tenderness, redness, and possibly bruising at the treatment site. Side effects can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol or Aleve. Ice can also enhance comfort and reduce swelling. These symptoms are mild and typically resolve within 24 to 48 hours.
Swelling
- While swelling from BOTOX is typically minimal, it peaks the day after treatment
- This may cause temporary asymmetry, lumps, or bumps
Bruising
- Bruising may occur but should resolve within a few days
Redness & Discomfort
- Often minimal and lasting just a few days
- Your treated areas may be tender to the touch
Downtime
- No downtime required
- May return to work immediately after treatment
- May resume normal exercise the next day
Because we know you have questions about your recovery process, we created an entire page dedicated to BOTOX and dermal filler aftercare.
Face Slimming FAQs
When will I see my jawline slimming results?
The neuromodulator will improve teeth clenching, grinding, and TMJ symptoms by about 14 days after treatment. At that time, you’ll notice you’re not able to clench your teeth or bite down hard. It takes slightly longer for the muscles to shrink and the face to appear slimmer. Most patients can see this effect by the 30-day mark.
How long will my masseter BOTOX results last?
Your results should last 3 to 6 months. If you maintain a regular treatment schedule, you’ll see continued improvement and may need smaller quantities of product over time. How frequently you schedule your touch-ups also has an impact. Patients who come in at 6-month intervals usually require more product to maintain their results than those who get touch-ups every 3 months.
Do I have to be at my “ideal weight” before treatment?
No! You can have the benefit of slimming the face with or without weight loss. Masseter reduction can give the appearance of a 5 to 10-pound weight loss (no gym required)! As a matter of fact, many patients find that after facial slimming treatments, they are more motivated to achieve their fitness goals.
We’d Love To See You
If you’re interested in face slimming with masseter BOTOX, request a consultation online, or call us at (415) 445-9513 to schedule your appointment. If you’ll be visiting us from outside the area, you’re in good company, and our Fly in for Your Procedure page was created just for you to help make planning your trip as smooth as possible.
A Reputation Built on Results
Dr.Mabrie has really good aesthetic judgment. He gave me a holistic suggestion for the entire face....
Well, Lets start with how LONG my treatments last. I went over a year between my last treatment and...
Love my experience here! My results are so natural! I really felt like they listened to my concerns...
Look…. Let’s be honest. You’re probably already getting injections and it’s hard finding a new spot....
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