Aesthetic Medicine · Face
Masseter treatment
Reduces jaw pain, headaches and tooth wear caused by clenching, while gradually slimming the lower face. A twenty-minute session, no anaesthesia, and you leave immediately. Two to three sessions are needed for the slimming effect to settle.
The treatment
What is
Masseter treatment?
Bruxism means clenching or grinding your teeth without realising it, most often at night. Many patients only discover it through the symptoms: a sore jaw on waking, headaches at the temples, teeth that wear down, clicking when opening the mouth.
This repeated clenching constantly works the masseter, the muscle on each side of the jaw, the one you feel harden when you clench your teeth. Over time it grows, like any muscle that is trained, and the lower face becomes wider.
Injecting botulinum toxin into this muscle reduces the force of clenching without stopping you chewing. Used less, the masseter gradually decreases in volume. The benefit is twofold: pain and pressure on the teeth ease, and the jawline becomes slimmer, an effect sought by patients who find their face too square.
At the Petit-Lancy clinic, the consultation first seeks to understand where the problem comes from. Bruxism has several possible causes: stress, poor sleep, teeth that do not meet correctly, certain medications. The toxin treats the effect on the muscle, not the cause. Follow-up with your dentist, with a splint and a check of how your teeth meet, often remains essential, and the physician will refer you if a specialist opinion is needed.
The effect on pain is felt within two to three weeks. Visible slimming of the face takes longer: six to eight weeks, and it is confirmed after two to three sessions. We increase doses gradually rather than treating strongly from the outset.
We also photograph the face before the first session, so that progress can be compared honestly rather than from memory.
Why choose this treatment
- Less jaw pain and fewer headaches on waking
- Your teeth, crowns and implants are under less pressure
- The lower face gradually slims: an aesthetic benefit as a bonus
- You keep chewing normally: only the force of clenching decreases
- Session of around 20 minutes, no anaesthesia and no time off
- Reversible: the physician reassesses doses at each session according to your response
- Complements the splint prescribed by your dentist without replacing it
How it works
The treatment
process.
Prior consultation
Report any pregnancy, breastfeeding, muscle or nerve condition, or known jaw joint problem. Bring your dentist's report if you have one, along with your splint. Avoid alcohol and anti-inflammatories for the 24 hours beforehand, but never stop a treatment on your own initiative: speak to your own doctor first. If you have an infection on the area, we postpone the session.
Application of the treatment
The physician asks you to clench your teeth so the muscle can be felt and its exact borders found. Points are marked in the lower, rear part of the muscle, away from the smile muscles so they are not affected. After disinfection, the product is injected deeply at two to three points on each side. It is symmetrical and takes a few minutes.
Post-Procedure Care & Follow-Up
Do not massage the area and stay standing or sitting for four hours. Eat soft food for two to three days. A feeling of fatigue when chewing is common in the first week and clears on its own. Avoid saunas and steam rooms for 48 hours. We see you again at one month to assess your response and adjust the dose next time.
Pricing
Detailed pricing
Prices in our Geneva centers
- Treatment of both sides From CHF 500
Where to get treated
Clinics offering
this treatment.
Frequently asked questions
What you'd like
to know before your session.
Masseter treatment · Aesthetic Medicine · Face
Interested by
Masseter treatment?
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