• Published By: Dr. K.M Kapoor
• April 02, 2018

Using Toxin for Facial Contouring & Jaw Slimming

Toxin, has come a long way since it was first FDA approved in 2002 to treat wrinkles. It is now also used to treat excessive sweating in palms and armpits, to smoothen the neckbands and also for many off-label uses. One such off-label use that has been gaining popularity is for facial contouring or jaw slimming.

Younger faces tend to be widest near the eyeline and narrowest at the jaw and chin, giving them the ‘inverted triangle of beauty’. However, many women find their muscular jaws quite bothersome and the reason is quite simple – the widest part of their face is at the jaw line making their face look square instead of oval or triangular.

While it could be because of your genetic makeup or because of excessive gum chewing, it might also be a sign of stress – which could manifest in teeth grinding during sleep. Many people are not aware of this problem and wake up every morning with a tense jaw or headaches. Excessive use of the chewing muscle- the masseter – is what makes it bulky and lends a heavy look to the lower part of your face. The good news is that it can be easily taken care of with a few shots of toxin.

The procedure itself is very quick, effective, and painless. Just about 25 Units are required on each side to relax the hyperactive muscle and give your jaw a slimmer look while preserving the function of the muscle. This leads to slight hallowing under the cheekbones, making them appear lifted and giving a more oval shape to the face and a chiseled look. The visible results of facial contouring with Toxin can be seen in 2-4 weeks. Repeat injection are required almost every 7-8 months.

Although it is a very safe procedure, wrong placement of injections could lead to complications. Moreover, if the “square jawline” is due to an angular jawbone instead of a bulky muscle, then this treatment might not produce optimum results. Clinical expertise of the plastic surgeon you choose and his sound knowledge of facial anatomy is therefore paramount before embarking on this journey.