Skip to main content
Genel

Masseter Botox: See the Incredible Before and After

By 3 January 2026January 18th, 2026No Comments

This gallery introduces real lower-face transformations using a targeted neuromodulator. The text explains how the injection blocks nerve signals that cause muscle contraction, a precision method described by Hee Jin Koh, MD.

Relaxing overactive chewing muscles can create a more tapered jawline and better facial balance, as noted by Elaine Kung, MD. The procedure uses a fine needle, takes only minutes, and usually involves minimal downtime.

Many patients notice changes within two to four weeks, with effects commonly lasting about three months. Slimming is most visible when the jaw muscle is enlarged, a point highlighted by Anna Karp, DO.

Expect subtle, natural results rather than dramatic shifts. The page places lower-face photos alongside upper-face work, including forehead options, to show overall harmony and planned maintenance.

For context on multi-area approaches and timelines, see a related overview at facial multiple operations, which helps set realistic expectations and clinical detail.

Key Takeaways

  • Quick procedure: a few injections, minimal interruption to daily life.
  • Gradual results: visible changes often in 2–4 weeks, peak by several weeks.
  • Temporary effects: benefits commonly last around three months.
  • Best candidates: those with enlarged chewing muscles see the most slimming.
  • Balanced plans: jawline work often pairs with upper-face treatments for harmony.

Real Patient Gallery: Subtle Jawline Slimming and Functional Relief

Sequential images reveal progressive softening of the lower face when dosing and timing are tailored to each person. The gallery focuses on clear, time-stamped frames so viewers can track change from early weeks through several months.

One patient in her 40s received 25 units of botox per side (50 total) and showed notable jaw width reduction at 3 months; dosing later decreased to 20 units per side. Another patient in her 40s had 15 units per side for two sessions and demonstrated durable narrowing at 8 months.

Case snapshots: weeks to months after treatment

  • 20s case: 54 total units of Jeuveau first, then 40 units of Botox at the second visit; visible slimming at 3 months.
  • Early 20s: 40 total units of Jeuveau across two visits, with a clear reduction by 10 weeks.
  • Late 40s: asymmetric initial dosing (20R/25L), later tapered to 36 then 30 total units, with striking change at 6 months.

How the gallery is organized by time and treatment side

The page shows one patient per frame and labels the number of weeks or months since treatment. Captions list approximate units and note side differences when asymmetry guided dosing.

Photos reflect various healing stages; individual outcomes vary. All images were used with consent.

  • Educational layout: readers see both functional relief (less clenching) and aesthetic tapering.
  • Brand comparison: Jeuveau and Botox examples appear side by side to highlight technique and dosing effects.
  • Practical notes: lighting, angles, and muscle size affect how weeks-to-months results appear.

What Masseter Botox Does to the Jaw Muscles and Facial Contour

Targeted injections work by blocking chemical signals from nerves that tell a chewing muscle to tighten. Over weeks the activity falls, and the tissue slowly reduces in size. Hee Jin Koh, MD explains that this nerve blockade causes decreased contraction and gradual atrophy.

How relaxation changes shape

As the chewing fibers lessen their workload, the lower third of the face often looks less square. Elaine Kung, MD notes that reduced activity lets the chin and cheekbones appear more balanced, improving overall contour without surgery.

Who sees the most slimming

Patients with hypertrophic masseter muscles notice the clearest change. Anna Karp, DO points out that normal-size structures may show only subtle width difference.

“Reduced clenching can ease tenderness and headache symptoms while refining the lower face.”

  • Function preserved: chewing remains effective while bulk lessens.
  • Clinical checks: bite strength and bruxism history guide dosing for even results.
  • Cosmetic gain: a trimmer mandibular border refines profile and contour.
Effect Timing Who benefits
Contraction reduction Days to weeks Overactive chewing muscles
Volume loss (atrophy) Weeks to months Hypertrophic masseter
Improved contour 1–3 months Desire for slimmer lower face

Masseter botox before and after

Clinical photo sets reveal that staged modulation produces a slimmer mandibular border with careful follow-up. Images focus on timed checkpoints so readers can link dosing to visible change.

Three-month transformations: refined, tapered jawline

At three months many patients show a clear taper from the angle toward the chin. A patient in her 40s treated with 25 units per side (50 total) demonstrated noticeable width reduction in front and oblique shots.

Eight- to ten-week changes: early contouring and reduced width

By eight to ten weeks early contouring often appears. Two sessions of 20 units per side of Jeuveau (40 total) produced visible narrowing in patients with strong bite forces.

Six-month follow-ups: maintenance plans and sustained results

Six-month views highlight how maintenance can preserve a slimmer silhouette using lower totals. A late-40s patient reduced dosing from 20/25 per side to 18, then 15 per side, with sustained narrowing.

Profiles and front views: balance, definition, and facial harmony

Front images emphasize lower-face width; profiles show improved balance with the chin and neck line. Symmetry improved when clinicians adjusted units for side-to-side strength differences.

“Photo sets help patients see why larger muscles often need more initial modulation and fewer units later.”

  • Three-month: tapered outer border and smoother cheek transition.
  • 8–10 weeks: early softening and less boxy lower third.
  • Six months: sustained contour with reduced maintenance dosing.
Timepoint Typical units (per side) Common visual change Who shows the most change
8–10 weeks 20–25 Early narrowing, less bulk Patients with strong bite
3 months 20–25 Clear taper, refined jawline Hypertrophic muscle types
6 months 15–18 (maintenance) Sustained slim silhouette Those who tapered dosing
Profile vs front Varies Better chin-neck balance; narrower lower width All candidates with asymmetry checks

When Results Show: Weeks to Months on the Jawline

Visible change in jaw contour often begins within a few weeks as treated chewing fibers relax. Most patients reported early softening on clench by the two- to four-week mark.

Onset timeline: results in two to four weeks

Initial relief and less bite tension appear first. By weeks four to eight, the lower border commonly looks slimmer as muscle activity decreases.

How long results last and when to schedule touch-ups

Peak visual change often occurred around two to three months. Effects typically lasted about three months, so many providers suggested touch-ups on a roughly three-month time frame to maintain width reduction.

  • Personalized timing: revisit schedules were adjusted for bite force and metabolism.
  • Combined visits: some patients synced jaw work with forehead care to simplify appointments.
  • Tracking progress: consistent photos at the same angles helped measure true change.

“Function and comfort improved alongside the contour, which is an important part of patient satisfaction.”

Milestone Typical time What to expect
Early softening 2–4 weeks Less clench, subtle narrowing
Peak visual change 8–12 weeks Clear tapering of jaw border
Maintenance ~3 months Touch-up to preserve width

Treatment Experience: Injection Technique, Comfort, and Downtime

Clinicians used a fine needle to place precise units into the thickest part of the lower-cheek area on each side, avoiding higher-risk zones.

Injection points were mapped by palpation to reach the belly of the chewing muscles. Providers divided units across multiple points per side to ensure even diffusion and steady results.

Most patients felt only a brief pinch. The visit took a few minutes, and many resumed regular activities the same day with minimal interruption.

Post-visit guidance stressed simple care: avoid strenuous exercise immediately, keep hands off treated skin, and watch for irritation. A short check in a few weeks helped assess symmetry and function.

“The clinical goal was to temper excessive clenching while preserving normal chewing,”

Step What to expect Downtime
Mapping Palpation to locate thickest muscle mass None
Injection Multiple small points per side with a fine needle Minutes
Aftercare Avoid exercise, hands off skin, review in weeks Minimal

Treatment Plans and Units: From First Session to Maintenance

A practical treatment plan begins with conservative units and adjusts as muscle volume changes.

Typical dosing ranges often start between 15 and 25 units per side, chosen by bite strength, tenderness, and visible bulk on clench. Common totals range from 30 to 50 units at the initial visit.

Adjusting units over time

As the chewing muscles slim over months, clinicians step down totals to maintain a slimmer border while preserving function. For example, a patient who had 25 units per side (50 total) at month zero might move to 20 per side at follow-up.

Session sequencing examples

Many plans include a reassessment at about three months to check symmetry and strength before redosing. A typical three-visit pattern: initial 20–25 per side, second visit 18–20, third visit 15–18 for maintenance.

“Careful documentation — clench photos and palpation notes — guides conservative long-term dosing.”

Phase Units per side Total units Notes
Initial 15–25 30–50 Based on bulk and bite strength
Follow-up (≈3 months) 18–20 36–40 Assess change, adjust for asymmetry
Maintenance 15–18 30–36 Lower totals once slimming occurs

Beyond the Jaw: Forehead and Glabella Results in Context

Upper-face smoothing often amplifies jawline changes by creating a cleaner visual frame for the lower third. This section shows typical unit ranges and how forehead work pairs with brow treatments to balance the whole face.

Forehead smoothing: sample unit ranges with botox and Jeuveau

Clinicians reported a wide forehead range depending on muscle strength and line depth. Examples included 16, 18, 40, and 44 units of botox and multiple Jeuveau cases at 16, 20, 25, 36, and 45 units. Pricing noted here used $12 per unit for botox and $10 per unit for Jeuveau with a nurse injector.

Glabella (between the brows): frown line softening

Glabella plans commonly spanned 10–14 units for conservative care. More robust patterns used totals such as 24 units when combined with surrounding forehead treatment. These choices reflect expression patterns rather than age alone.

  • Complete context: upper-face smoothing enhances perceived lower-face change.
  • Unit variety: mid-teens to mid-forties for the forehead; 10–14 for modest glabella work.
  • Fillers vs neuromodulators: neuromodulators relax muscle while fillers add volume.
  • Practical planning: providers often align forehead visits with jawline follow-ups for cohesive results.

Clear photos of both zones help patients understand how smoothing the upper areas affects overall harmony.

For combined planning and more clinical context, see rejuvenation of the upper, middle and lower.

How to Read Before-and-After Photos for Jawline Contouring

Careful photo comparison helps viewers tell true contour change from lighting tricks or posture shifts. Images captured at consistent distance and exposure show structural shifts more reliably than shots with different shadows.

Lighting, angles, and healing stages that affect appearance

Consistent lighting and camera distance make it easier to judge the mandibular edge rather than surface highlights. Neutral expressions keep lower-face width comparable because smiling or clenching temporarily alters shape.

Skin texture, hydration, and makeup can change brightness and perceived smoothness. Viewers should focus on structural width rather than surface sheen.

  • Labels with weeks or months guide expected time for remodeling (examples: 10 weeks, 3 months, 6–8 months).
  • Small posture shifts—chin tilt or head rotation—affect how sharp the angle looks.
  • Upper-face work, such as the forehead, can make lower-border refinement appear more obvious.
  • Knowing whether a patient had fillers or neuromodulators clarifies what to expect in the photos.
Factor Impact on photos How to judge
Lighting/Distance Alters shadows and perceived width Use same settings for true comparison
Expression/Posture Changes muscle tone and angle Compare neutral, frontal, and profile views
Healing time Results evolve over weeks to months Check captions for time and units used

For an example that pairs photo context with procedural detail, see the Katie Price new face lift coverage.

Conclusion

The gallery showed how staged neuromodulator care helped real patients achieve a subtler lower-face contour with little downtime. Results began in a few weeks and commonly lasted about three months, with dosing tailored across visits.

Clinicians adjusted units as muscles slimmed to preserve natural function. Integrating upper-face smoothing — including modest work on the forehead — and selective use of fillers supported balanced, refreshed outcomes without an overtreated look.

Readers were encouraged to use the examples to discuss goals, estimated units, and follow-up cadence with a qualified provider. Careful planning and follow-ups assured progressive, lasting harmony across facial regions.

FAQ

What changes should a patient expect in the jawline after treatment?

Most patients notice reduced muscle bulk and a softer jaw contour over several weeks. Early changes appear in about two to four weeks, with more refined tapering visible by eight to twelve weeks. Results depend on muscle size, dose, and individual anatomy.

How long do results typically last and when should maintenance be scheduled?

Results usually persist three to six months. Many providers recommend follow-up sessions every three to four months initially, then spacing treatments to every four to six months as muscles shrink and require fewer units.

How much downtime and discomfort can a patient expect during and after injections?

Most patients report minimal discomfort during treatment and little to no downtime. Mild soreness, bruising, or temporary chewing weakness can occur for a few days. Normal activity can usually resume immediately unless the clinician advises otherwise.

What are typical dosing ranges and how are units adjusted over time?

Providers tailor dosing to muscle thickness and facial goals. Initial ranges per side commonly vary; clinicians often reduce units at subsequent visits as muscles atrophy and contour improves. Exact units should be discussed during a consult.

Can this treatment also relieve jaw pain or teeth grinding?

Yes. People with bruxism or temporomandibular discomfort often experience reduced clenching and less pain after muscle-relaxing injections. Functional relief timelines mirror cosmetic changes, with improvement seen within weeks.

How should before-and-after photos be evaluated for accurate comparison?

Assess photos taken with consistent lighting, neutral expression, and the same camera angle. Look for changes at rest and during clenching to judge both cosmetic slimming and functional reduction in muscle activity.

Are results different for profile versus frontal views?

Profile shots highlight jawline tapering and posterior slimming, while frontal views reveal narrowing of the lower face and improved facial balance. Both views are important to assess overall harmony.

Will facial balance be affected if forehead or glabella treatments are performed at the same time?

Combining treatments can enhance overall facial harmony. Forehead and glabella injections use different units and targets, and experienced clinicians plan doses to maintain natural movement and symmetry while improving multiple areas.

What safety considerations should patients know before treatment?

Patients should disclose medical history, neuromuscular conditions, and medications. A qualified injector follows sterile technique, uses appropriate dosing, and provides post-care instructions to minimize risks like bruising or temporary weakness.

How soon can a patient expect functional improvement for clenching or headaches?

Functional benefits often begin within two to four weeks and can continue improving up to three months. Many patients report fewer headaches and less jaw fatigue as muscle activity decreases.