Botox can relax the masseter to refine the jawline, and can also soften dynamic lines. Understanding the principle, results and precautions helps slim the face and reduce wrinkles while keeping a natural expression.
Botox contains highly purified botulinum toxin type A and is a neurotransmitter blocking agent. After injection into the target muscle, it can temporarily block acetylcholine release from nerve endings, relaxing overactive muscle and reducing the frequency of contraction.
Frequent chewing of hard or chewy foods, or night-time grinding, can cause masseter hypertrophy and a wider-looking face. After precise injection into an enlarged masseter, muscle activity decreases and volume gradually reduces, helping refine the jawline. This treatment is only effective for a “muscular” wide face; if the width is due to bony prominence or deep fat, injection alone cannot achieve the desired slimming.
Dynamic lines are creases that appear when facial expression (laughing, frowning, raising the brows) pulls on the muscle, commonly seen as glabellar lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet. Micro-injection into the expression-muscle layer can moderately relax the target muscle and reduce lines. It cannot, however, improve dark circles, nor can it smooth static lines caused by collagen loss.
