Nonsurgical Jaw Reshaping Bay Area/Jawline Slimming San Jose
Creating a beautiful face is an art, but beauty is truly subjective. While some women may want a stronger jawline, many feel uncomfortable with having a wide or square-shaped jaw. If you want to achieve a slimmer or more v-shaped face, you’ve traditionally had two options.
The first is fairly easy and nonpermanent, but takes constant upkeep. Using contouring makeup techniques — creating highlights and lowlights to change the appearance of one’s face shape — has become increasingly trendy thanks to celebrities like Kim Kardashian. But again, it’s a lot of work! Celebrities might have makeup artists providing them with touch ups 24/7, but the average woman has to do it all herself.
In the past, the only other option available to alter the appearance of a strong or square jaw has been bone shaving. This is a procedure that is both invasive and permanent, literally removing bone to reshape the face. If you have a strong jaw due to your bone structure and are willing to undergo this kind of major surgery, it could help you. But did you know that many women actually have an enlarged jawline because of the muscles in the jaw? If that’s the case, this kind of surgery would not be correcting the problem — and even if it’s not, it’s a major commitment. There’s extensive pain and downtime, plus if you do not like the results, they cannot easily be corrected.
If you want a slimmer, more V-shaped face, there’s now an alternative that doesn’t require invasive surgery or daily upkeep. Using Botox or Dysport, Dr. Tang can nonsurgically reshape your jaw to beautifully contour your lower face and create a slimmer look without surgery. Keep reading to learn more!
What causes a strong or enlarged jaw?
While some people simply have a more square shaped face, for others, an enlarged lower face is actually the result of enlarged jaw muscles. This is sometimes the result of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ), or simply due to large masseter muscles. The masseters are bulky muscles that sit along the edge of your jawbone. They’re there to help with chewing (two others sets of muscles, the temporalis and pterygoid muscles, also serve this purpose).
Habitually clenching or grinding your teeth (a condition called Bruxism) can cause you to develop enlarged masseter muscles over time. If, for example, you grind your teeth while you sleep, you’re actually giving your masseter muscles a workout! And like any other muscles in your body, they respond to this exercise by getting larger. Some people are genetically predisposed to have larger masseter muscles, but particularly if you only clench or grind your teeth at night — a behavior that’s not uncommon, especially during times of stress — you may be changing the shape of your face without even realizing it. The only signs of this, aside from a larger jawline, are wear on the teeth or tenderness in the TMJ area (the sides of your face, beginning at the temples).
Some people do notice a heavier appearance in their lower face as they age, which is caused by increasing skin laxity that creates the appearance of jowls. If you have a large jaw that is not accompanied by skin laxity, enlarged masseter muscles may be the culprit.
How can the jawline be reduced without surgery?
Non-invasive injections with Botox or Dysport can be used to contour and slim the lower face, relaxing the appearance of a tensed, squared-off jaw. These injections have been widely used around the world as a safe, effective way to reduce the masseter muscles. The injections weaken the muscle, causing it to shrink. In addition, as a result of the weakening, the strength of grinding and clenching is reduced. In many cases, patients who have been unconsciously grinding their teeth or clenching their jaws while they sleep find that after this procedure the behavior ceases.
After determining that you are an appropriate candidate for a nonsurgical jawline reduction, Dr. Tang will map out your masseter muscles to determine the degree of enlargement and pinpoint precisely where the injections should be administered. His extensive training in both anatomy and aesthetics come into play to help ensure that you will be happy with the results. Botox or Dysport are then injected into the masseters on either side of the face. In some cases, this can be done with as little as one injection in each side of the face, while others may need injection at multiple points to achieve the desired results. This kind of nonsurgical facial contouring can also be used to correct facial asymmetry, in which case a different number of injections may be used on each side of the face.
Botox for TMJ on The Doctors
Does nonsurgical jaw reshaping hurt?
As with any Botox or Dysport procedure, if no topical anesthetic is used then there may be a slight stinging sensation. The discomfort is generally very tolerable. A topical anesthetic can be applied to the treatment area to lessen any discomfort if needed.
Are there any side effects from a nonsurgical jaw reduction?
Side effects following these injections are rare but include localized wellness or swelling. In some cases, bruising may occur. As with any injection, there is the possibility of developing an infection at the injection site, but this is extremely rare. Patients can also experience a slight increase in effort with chewing or muscle fatigue in the jaw muscles if chewing for prolonged periods of time because after all, these injections did target the muscles of mastication. Remember, normal regular chewing and eating is not affected. Also, if the Botox or Dysport is injected into the saliva glands which can cause a decrease in saliva production which could make the mouth dry or the taste of food different or difficult to swallow. All of these side effects would be temporary as the Botox/Dysport is short lived. To avoid any of these side effects it is extremely important to get treated by someone who is well trained and experienced in this area.
Is there any downtime from a nonsurgical jawline reshaping?
There is virtually no downtime at all. The whole treatment can generally be completed in just minutes, and you are able to return to your usual activities right away. This is one of the many advantages compared to a more drastic and invasive procedure like bone shaving, which requires an extensive recovery period.
What kind of results can I expect from non-surgical jaw reshaping?
You can expect to begin feeling a slimming in the masseter muscles within 1-2 weeks of treatment with the full results of facial contouring in 2-3 weeks. Although the results of this kind of facial slimming are clearly visible, this treatment will not radically alter your facial appearance or make you look like you’ve “had work done.” Instead, it’s a subtler, more natural shift. Some people describe it as looking as though you’ve lost “baby fat” from your face.
How long will my results last?
It depends on your body’s individual response. It varies from 3 months to 1 year. Generally when you’re starting out, injections should be repeated every four to six months. If you continue with treatments, over time your masseter muscles will remain weakened long enough that you will find you can maintain a slimmer jawline for longer periods between treatment. In some cases, jawline reduction is maintained after a year of treatments even if no further injections are administered.
Are there any other benefits to jaw shaping?
Patients who are also experiencing TMJ (temporomandibular) syndrome can also benefit from this procedure since it helps to decrease the tension caused by the facial muscles onto the TMJ joint. Classic symptoms of TMJ syndrome include pain, a clicking or popping sound when opening or closing the mouth, trouble chewing or a sudden uncomfortable bite, and swelling on the side of the face. It can also lessen the grinding of teeth that patients do at night time so it may prevent the wear and tear on their enamel.
How do I know if I’m a candidate for nonsurgical jawline reduction?
A strong jawline can be attributed to different causes, and so this kind of nonsurgical treatment is not appropriate for everyone. Dr. Tang can determine whether you are a good candidate for nonsurgical jaw reshaping known as jaw slimming when you come in for a complimentary consultation and assess what procedure would be most helpful in getting the results you want. If you’re in the Bay Area or near San Jose, schedule a consultation here or call Rejuvé today at 408-740-5320. Remember at Rejuvé, we have the experience, artistry, and bedside manner that will give you the possible results. We are proud to offer the best jaw slimming/nonsurgical jaw reduction cosmetic procedure to the San Jose Bay Area serving the greater Bay Area CA such as San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Aptos, and the local communities of Saratoga, Los Gatos, Campbell, Cupertino, Milpitas, and Morgan Hill.