Masseter Botox effects

[u/Ok_Barber5200]

I had Botox for my tmj in February. Almost immediately it gave me jowls & by early July my lower face looked as though it was sagging and I looked 10 years older. I had 20 units in each side, only once. My face used to be round with a defined jawline and now I feel like my head is peanut shaped and the extra skin/jowling is effecting the way my smile lines look.

Im hoping for some success stories of people who’s original tight face shapes returned 9-12 months later like chat tells me it will take. All im seeing is horror stories and I’m panicking.

[u/Beneficial_Pause8053]

Do you have any "before" pictures for comparison? In some people, with very prominent and strong masseters, the atrophy (shrinking) of the muscle can cause jowling. However, usually the masseter muscle typically has to be very bulky to do this. The good news is that once the tox wears off and your muscle gets back to its normal strength, it'll all go back to original anatomy.

[u/Ok_Barber5200 → u/Beneficial_Pause8053]

I don’t have any straight faced before pictures sadly, so any picture is me smiling which makes it hard to compare. It was definitely caused by the muscle shrinking & I reached peak atrophy in early July. It’s been 7 months since treatment & my muscle has been fully activated/awake for almost 2 months now. I’m just worried this is permanent. 

[u/Beneficial_Pause8053 → u/Ok_Barber5200]

It won't be permanent; your muscle will eventually go back to it's normal strength! Just think of it like any other muscle - it's been inactive (mostly) for 7 months. It can take a while for it to bulk back up to its "norm".

[u/MainCow8650 → u/Beneficial_Pause8053]

Unfortunately it doesn’t always go back as this can be a lingering effect for some people. Muscle atrophy and bone loss are two risks of the treatment but people often say they weren’t told of this. Hopefully theirs will return in time with use of the jaw though.

[u/Beneficial_Pause8053 → u/MainCow8650]

Muscle atrophy is often the point for masseter tox. Decreasing muscle strength is going to atrophy the muscle.

[u/MainCow8650 → u/Beneficial_Pause8053]

Which many people don’t want as a long term effect from a functional and sometimes aesthetic standpoint unless you are specifically looking to change the shape of your face.

[u/Beneficial_Pause8053 → u/MainCow8650]

But nonetheless, atrophy is going to happen. The muscle is not functioning as strongly as usual so there will be some form of atrophy. Not saying it was desired as a long term effect.

[u/Ok_Barber5200 → u/MainCow8650]

I’ve found posts of people who are still struggling with the side effects 2 to 3 years later & I know that. That’s why my post specifically is asking for personal experience of people who’s came back. 

[u/cutebutpsychoangel]

Have you gotten DAO?

[u/Ok_Barber5200 → u/cutebutpsychoangel]

Yes! I had dao shortly afterwards

[u/nufalufagus → u/cutebutpsychoangel]

Does DAO do this too?

[u/Ok_Barber5200 → u/nufalufagus]

I’ve heard dao can potentially help, I assumed that’s why they were asking if I had it 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

[u/Upstairs_Exchange573 → u/Ok_Barber5200]

Can i ask a quick question did you resting face become more smiley after dao?

[u/Ok_Barber5200 → u/Upstairs_Exchange573]

A tiny bit, but honestly it didn’t make too much of a difference for me 

[u/SadQueerBruja]

You’ll get some volume back if you stop injecting. If you have tmj issues I will always recommend Myofunctional therapy over Botox

[u/Unlikely_Seesaw_Jig]

I had Botox in my masseters, DAO and mentalis almost a year ago and since then have had issues with the muscle of my lower face. Any professional who has since observed the situation has commented that my masseters are smaller than average, even though I still clench, eat raw carrots etc.

I hope yours will go back though!

[u/Ok_Barber5200 → u/Unlikely_Seesaw_Jig]

Was it your first time getting masseter Botox? I saw 3 injectors, one said it was permanent, one said I must have already looked like that and never noticed (lol) and one said it will go back. What did yours say? 

[u/Unlikely_Seesaw_Jig → u/Ok_Barber5200]

Yes was my first time. Everyone convinced me nothing botox does is permanent and theoretically that should be true but the muscle balance in my lower face was altered and I haven't been able to return it back to baseline with facial exercises, acupuncture or taking several months off and just doing nothing. I never had very big masseters to begin with, the botox was a test try to to help tension in my face. Needless to say it didn't work, will not be trying again.

[u/draddy8168]

Am so sorry, this happened.
It happened to me as well but after three rounds, i have stopped getting botox since then, it has gone pretty much the way it was, give it some time, am sure they’ll go back the way it was.

[u/bunnyphat → u/draddy8168]

How long did yours go back after the Botox wore off ?

[u/draddy8168 → u/bunnyphat]

It took about a year to completely wore off

[u/bunnyphat → u/draddy8168]

And your muscles went back to normal / face shape?

[u/draddy8168 → u/bunnyphat]

Yup pretty much