📚 Contouring Your Facial Space · Series Table of Contents

• 1. Understanding Facial Space

  • 1.1 Self-Diagnosing My Facial Space

• 2. Frame Created by Muscles

  • 2.1 Masseter & Temporalis Botox (Current Article)

  • 2.2 Salivary Gland Botox

• 3. Frame Created by Fat

  • 3.1 Sagging Fat & Ulthera

  • 3.2 Fat Dissolving Injections

• 4. Designing Your Look

  • 4.1 Steps to Designing Your Facial Space

When clients visit saying, "I want to slim down my jaw fat," we often find upon examination that it is actually muscle rather than fat. If you clench your teeth tightly, you can feel a firm bulge at the corners of your jaw.

That is your chewing muscle. The extra width created by this muscle cannot be reduced through dieting. There is a specific way to slim it down.

In short, the firm mass you feel at the corner of your jaw when clenching is the chewing muscle. Since dieting won't reduce it, we use Botox to shrink its volume and refine your facial outline.

A square jaw is often muscle, not bone

While people often associate a square jaw with the jawbone itself, it is very frequently caused by enlarged chewing muscles that make the face look angular. The primary muscle involved is the ※ Masseter.

Habits like grinding teeth, clenching, or routinely eating hard, chewy foods can develop the masseter muscle much like an athlete's muscle. This makes the lower face appear wider and more angular, making the entire face look larger.

* Masseter: A strong chewing muscle that runs from below the cheekbone to the angle of the lower jaw. Frequent use increases its volume, making the jaw look angular.

If the bone structure itself is large, it falls under surgical contouring. However, if muscles are the cause, we can reduce the volume beautifully without surgery. That is why a proper evaluation comes first.

How Botox works to slim muscles

Botox does not excise the muscle; rather, it is a treatment that gives the muscle a temporary rest.

Muscles move by receiving ※ Acetylcholine signals sent by nerves. Botox temporarily blocks these signals. Unsupported by these movement signals, the unused muscle naturally and gradually slims down over time. It is the same principle as any unused muscle becoming thinner.

* Acetylcholine: A substance used by nerves to signal muscles or glands to "work." Botox temporarily blocks this pathway.

Because of this process, the results are not instant; the change in volume unfolds gently over 2 to 6 weeks. If treated regularly, the muscle gradually becomes smaller, offering a cumulative effect that makes maintenance easier.

Botulinum toxin is widely discussed in professional societies as a versatile non-surgical contouring and wrinkle treatment, so its safety guidelines are very well established. However, because the diffusion radius can vary slightly depending on the brand, we carefully select product types with minimal diffusion for areas where precise placement is essential.

Treating only the masseter leaves the temporalis behind

There is one detail that is easy to miss: the masseter is not the only muscle involved in chewing. The fan-shaped ※ Temporalis muscle on the temple area works right along with it.

* Temporalis: An auxiliary chewing muscle located from the temple to above the ear in a fan shape. If overdeveloped, it can make the upper face look wide.

If you only slim down the masseter, the relatively untouched temporalis muscle above can sometimes stand out more. That is why, in my clinical experience, I always evaluate the balance between the lower jaw and the width of the temples together.

Reducing only the bottom leaves the top prominent, and reducing only the top leaves the bottom prominent. Finding the perfect harmony between these two areas is the key to a beautifully natural contour.

Timeline of results and key considerations

The slimming effect typically begins to show 2 to 4 weeks post-treatment and lasts for about 4 to 6 months. This is because the blocked nerve signals gradually return on this cycle. Retouching around that time allows for a lovely cumulative effect.

During your first session, going too strong can weaken your bite or lead to temporary hollows in the cheeks. Because of this, we carefully customize the dosage according to your muscle thickness. Rather than aiming for a drastic change all at once, adjusting as we observe your journey is the safest way to a beautiful result.

Another detail to note is that when the masseter muscle is reduced, the cheek volume that was previously supported by that muscle can sometimes appear slightly lax. Whether you should combine this with a non-surgical lifting treatment is decided based on the actual degree of skin elasticity. If the widening is purely muscular, Botox alone is perfect, but if there is any sagging mixed in, designing the treatments in sequence is highly recommended.

While muscle-related fullness is beautifully resolved with Botox, we must look at the whole picture if skin laxity or fat is also present. The very first step is to evaluate how much of your facial frame is due to muscle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Does receiving Botox make chewing uncomfortable?

With an appropriate customized dosage, there is almost no impact on daily dining. You might feel a slight tightness for the first few days, but you will adjust quickly. Since chewing power can be affected if too much is administered, precise dosing is key.

Q. Once I start, do I have to keep receiving treatments forever?

The smoothing effect lasts for 4 to 6 months. With repeated sessions, the muscle gradually shrinks, allowing many clients to naturally space out their treatments longer. If you stop, the muscle will gently return to its original shape, but it won't suddenly grow larger.

Q. Do I absolutely need to get the temporalis treated as well?

If your temporalis is not particularly developed, focusing solely on the masseter is more than enough. We decide after checking the lateral width together during your consultation. We never suggest this as an essential set for everyone.

Recommended Reading

• For those who hoped jaw Botox would last a lifetime after one session

• I experienced cheek hollowing after jaw Botox—why did this happen? | Hongdae Beauty Stone

• What exactly happens in the muscle when you get Botox? | Hongdae Beauty Stone

• How do jaw and calf Botox reshape your contours? | Hongdae Beauty Stone