Got jawline Botox, but this time it didn’t work?

It may be because of the parotid gland.

When you look at your side profile in the mirror, there are men whose area just below the ears looks especially full. You may notice it when you see a side photo taken at a company dinner and your jawline looks rounder than you want. So you try jawline Botox, but even after a month, the contour barely changes.

[Source: exists in photo]

The short answer. That area may not be the square jaw at all, but the parotid gland, a salivary gland. Different area, different treatment.

The square jaw and the parotid gland are not the same area

Jawline Botox is a procedure injected into the masseter, the chewing muscle. If you clench your back teeth tightly and feel a firm bulge near the corner of the jaw, that is the masseter.

The parotid gland sits higher than that, right below the ears and along the side of the cheek. If your side profile looks round even though you do not grind your teeth severely, there is a chance the parotid gland is enlarged rather than the masseter.

For men, it is not uncommon for the parotid gland to become more prominent due to a habitual tight bite, preference for hard foods, and repeated salivary gland swelling after drinking. This area usually does not shrink much with jawline Botox.

How to tell which part is adding volume to your side profile

You can roughly tell at home too. Clench your back teeth tightly. If the inner area of the jaw corner becomes firmly pronounced and easy to feel, the masseter is likely developed. In that case, jawline Botox is appropriate.

On the other hand, if that area does not feel very firm when you clench, but the area just below the ear — from behind the earlobe up to above the jawline — is already full even at rest, there is a greater possibility of parotid gland enlargement.

Of course, it is also common for both areas to be developed. That is why, during consultation, the doctor should feel both areas separately by hand to determine which is the main cause; this is what determines whether the procedure succeeds.

What people worry about most: recovery and facial expression

Men usually hesitate about Botox for two reasons: whether it will be noticeable at work, and whether their facial expression will look awkward when they smile.

Parotid gland Botox uses a fine needle to distribute small amounts into the gland, so bruising or swelling right after the procedure is minimal. Many people get it done during lunch and head into afternoon meetings.

In terms of facial expression, it is generally safer than masseter Botox. If the dose is too high with masseter Botox, the corners of the mouth may look awkward when smiling. The parotid gland is a different area from the facial muscles, so the effect on expression is minimal. However, if the dose is excessive, saliva production can be reduced too much and cause dry mouth, so it is important to confirm that the doctor follows an appropriate dosage.

When the effect appears and how long it lasts

Parotid gland Botox tends to show results later than jawline Botox. Volume starts to decrease 2 to 4 weeks after the procedure, with the maximum effect appearing around 1 to 2 months. The point when you look in the mirror and think, “Oh, it does seem slimmer,” is usually about a month later.

The maintenance period is usually 5 to 7 months. It tends to wear off sooner in people with severe teeth grinding, frequent hard foods, or heavy drinking. Many people end up getting it twice a year.

Simply increasing the dose at one session does not make the effect last longer. In fact, it only increases the risk of expression and salivary side effects, so it is better to stay on a regular schedule.

What to ask during your consultation

If you are getting a Botox consultation because of side-profile fullness, check these three things.

First, whether the doctor examines by touching the area directly and determines if it is the masseter or the parotid gland. If they simply say, “Get jawline Botox,” based only on a photo, they are skipping the diagnosis of the actual area.

Second, whether both areas need to be treated at the same time. If both are developed, treating both areas together creates a more natural line.

Third, the dose tailored to you. Rather than asking, “How many units is typical?”, ask, “How much do you recommend based on the size of my muscle and salivary gland?” Side effects such as drooling or awkward facial expressions are usually dose-related.

This article is for general information. The actual decision to proceed and the dose should follow the judgment of the doctor who examines you in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I get jawline Botox and parotid gland Botox at the same time?

A. Yes, if both areas are developed, they are sometimes treated together. However, since the total dose increases, it is safer to receive treatment from a clinic where the doctor adjusts the distribution based on the size of your muscles and salivary glands.

Q. When can I resume company dinners, exercise, or sauna after the procedure?

A. On the day of treatment, it is best to avoid strenuous exercise, sauna, and alcohol. From the next day, you can return to your normal routine, and company dinners are usually fine.

Q. If I do not feel the effect, can I increase the dose at the next treatment?

A. Rather than increasing the dose blindly, the first step is to reassess the treatment area. If the effect was weak, we should also consider whether the injection site was incorrect, or whether the cause was something other than the salivary gland, such as subcutaneous fat or skin laxity.

Read also

• Jawline Botox vs. chin filler: how are they different in defining the line?

• Men with stubborn double chin fat: can exercise alone solve it?

• Botox side effects: does your expression really become frozen? — The truth about dosage

• When men also need lifting: signs of contour changes in the late 30s