Place your fingers on the angle of your jaw and clench. The muscle that bulges is the masseter. In some people, especially those who grind their teeth at night, it grows large and gives the lower face a square, heavy look. Botox here does two jobs at once.
Slimming the jaw
Relaxing the masseter lets it shrink over six to eight weeks, narrowing the lower face and giving a softer oval. It is the most requested “contouring” treatment among our patients in Alexandria who want a slimmer face without filler or surgery.
Grinding and clenching
Bruxism wears teeth, cracks fillings, tires the jaw and wakes you with headaches at the temples. Masseter Botox reduces the force of the clench without stopping you from chewing normally. Many dentists in Alexandria now refer patients for exactly this.
What to expect
Three to four small injections on each side. Chewing hard food feels slightly weaker for a few weeks. The visible slimming appears at six to eight weeks and lasts four to six months; with repeated sessions the muscle stays smaller for longer.
Who it does not suit
If the width of your jaw is bone rather than muscle, Botox will not change it; Dr. Sara checks this by having you clench. Very thin faces and people with jaw joint instability need a careful assessment first.
Quick answers
Will I be able to chew normally?
Yes. Only the excess strength is reduced. Very hard food may feel like more effort in the first weeks.
Does masseter Botox cause sagging?
When the muscle is large and the skin is good, no. In older patients with loose skin Dr. Sara uses a smaller dose or combines it with a biostimulator.
How many units?
Usually 20 to 30 units each side, more for very large muscles. The dose is set by feeling the muscle, not by a fixed number.
This guide is general information, not medical advice; your treatment is decided at your consultation with Dr. Sara El Hamawy.