Botox is a type of medication which is injected right into a muscle. It helps to relax the affected muscle and is most often used as a treatment for wrinkles on the face. The way Botox works is quite simple: it prevents acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for signaling between muscles and nerves, from being released and contracting the muscle.
While Botox treatment is often used for the treatment of wrinkles, it has other uses as well. Some patients would like to change the shape of their face to make itnarrower. In some cases, they feel that the size of their jaw has grown bigger. Such a change is often caused by the masseter muscle found inside the jaw. It naturally changes the appearance of the jaw when clenched, but just like any other muscle, it can grow in size when used repeatedly.
It is possible to inject Botox into the masseter muscle to make it weaker. This causes the muscle to relax, thus reducing the size of the jawline. As the muscle becomes weaker and is used less frequently, it will decrease in size over time.
Botox facial reshaping will typically last around 4 months. For best results, treatment is done a few times per year to relax the masseter muscle. As this muscle shrinks when not used, this will lead to an improvement over the longer term.
At your first consultation, Dr. Bobby Buka will take a look at your face’s shape to determine whether Botox can help you reshape your face. The treatment can be done in his New York City offices on the day of the first consultation and takes around 15 minutes to complete. It is a simple procedure with low amounts of discomfort and you can return to your regular activities afterwards. The effects will start appearing approximately 2 weeks later.
