Facial Slimming
Non-surgical Facial Slimming
An amazing non-surgical option to slim the face resulting in a more oval feminine face shape.
The use of botulinum toxin for facial slimming is very popular for reducing lower face and jaw size among woman with amazing results. With only just a few injections bulging muscles can be flattened dramatically and can often diminish muscle tension and symptoms such as pain, headaches, stiffness or soreness.
What is facial slimming?
Facial slimming is a procedure for the lower face jawline. By injecting botulinum toxin into the muscle we are able to reduce the size of the chewing muscle called masseters. Individuals with a square or large jaw can be because an overactive masseter muscle.
Using botulinum toxin to partial paralyse the muscle reduces muscle activity causing the muscle to reduce in size which is why the face looks much slimmer without losing any weight.
Overactive large masseter muscles are common. Especially among Asians because genetically the masseter muscles are stronger making the jaw/lower face appear larger. Facial slimming with botulinum toxin is extremely popular among Asian woman because it creates a more oval feminine face shape.
How does it work?
Botulinum toxin is injected in the masseter (grinding) muscle of the jaw to partially paralyse the muscle. The overuse of the masseter muscle can be responsible for the appearance of a large jaw and asymmetry of jaw.
The use of botulinum toxin can treat both and diminish jaw discomfort, pain, tension, stiffness or soreness, grinding, headaches, and migraines.
Botulinum toxin is injected into the masseter muscle resulting in partial paralyses of the muscle. This prevents the muscle to be continually overused preventing the muscle to grow larger.
Onset and Longevity
The masseter muscle can take 6-8 weeks for the muscle to visibly slim the lower face. The masseter muscle is larger and stronger than majority of muscle treated cosmetically and therefore needs additional time to see results.
Your first few treatments of botulinum toxin will last approximately 3-4 months. Overtime the result will last longer and usually botulinum toxin longevity can last for up to 6 months.
Risks
The most common risk is bruising which can occur to approximately 25% of patients. It is very uncommon but droop, asymmetry and effects to the smile can occur.
Patient Expectations
Facial slimming takes time for the muscle to reduce in size. You need to wait for the masseter muscle to reduce in size. Majority of patients will have 2 botulinum treatments to reach their desired cosmetic facial slimming goal. It is recommended your botulinum toxin procedures are 3-4 months apart to obtain initial facial slimming results and continue maintenance approximate every 6 months. Although treatment intervals can vary from patient to patient.
What happens during the treatment?
A botulinum toxin procedure usually takes generally less than 10 minutes of your appointment. Some patients feel a very small amount of discomfort. To improve the patient experience we use ice and vibration. Majority of patients find the treatment tolerable and often say it was much easier than they thought.
Aftercare
- Avoid for 4 hours post rubbing or massaging the treated area.
- Avoid for 4 hours hot activities and exercise.
- Use the muscle for 1 hour post treatment to encourage botulinum uptake into the muscle.