Chewing-muscle treatment with botulinum toxin · jaw slimming · bruxism
A strong chewing muscle makes the face angular and the nights loud. Relaxed in a targeted way, the contour becomes narrower — and the grinding quieter.
Treatment
What is Masseter Botox?
Masseter Botox refers to the injection of botulinum toxin type A into the chewing muscle (musculus masseter). The treatment has two aims: aesthetically it narrows a broad, angular lower facial contour caused by an enlarged chewing muscle (a V-line effect); functionally it relieves night-time teeth grinding (bruxism) and the tension in the chewing musculature that goes with it. At the Ästhetik am Isartor practice in Munich, directly at the Isartorplatz, Dr. Fabian Weinschenk, specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery (Facharzt), carries out the treatment as an outpatient procedure: the active substance is injected on both sides, in several small depots deep into the muscle. The grinding usually eases within one to two weeks; the visible narrowing of the contour develops over six to twelve weeks, because the muscle loses volume only gradually. The effect lasts four to six, occasionally up to eight months. The starting price is €250 per zone (net); the specific calculation is made in the initial consultation (€100).
Active substance: botulinum toxin type A — a prescription-only medicine licensed in Germany. We use exclusively CE-certified preparations from established manufacturers. For legal reasons — § 8 HWG (German Health Advertising Act), the ban on advertising with medicinal brand names outside professional circles — we carry no active-substance or brand advertising on this website. We hand out the mandatory active-substance information under § 8 HWG in the personal informed-consent consultation.
Suitability
Who is masseter Botox in Munich suitable for?
The masseter is the strongest chewing muscle. If it is enlarged — by predisposition or by night-time grinding — the lower half of the face becomes broader and more angular. The treatment works precisely there: the muscle is relaxed, loses volume over the weeks, and the contour becomes softer.
Suitable for
Masseter Botox is suitable for a broad, angular lower facial contour caused by an enlarged chewing muscle, where a narrower V line is wanted, for night-time teeth grinding (bruxism) with tense chewing musculature, and for a chewing muscle that is more pronounced on one side and makes the face look asymmetrical. Whether the muscle or the bone determines the width is something we check in the initial consultation by feeling the muscle while you bite down.
Not suitable for
Masseter Botox is not suitable where the width of the jaw is predominantly bony rather than muscular — relaxing the muscle then barely changes the contour. Like every botulinum toxin treatment, it is contraindicated in pregnancy and while breastfeeding, in neuromuscular disorders (e.g. myasthenia gravis, ALS), where there is a known allergy to the active substance or its components, in acute infections in the treatment area and where there is active anticoagulation that cannot be paused.
We determine the dosage and the indication together in the personal initial consultation (€100) — where there is bruxism, we recommend a dental assessment in parallel. We use exclusively CE-certified preparations; the mandatory active-substance information under § 8 HWG is handed out during the consultation.
Method
Two indications. One muscle.
Whether aesthetic or functional, the technique is the same: several small depots of the active substance deep in the masseter, on both sides, dosed individually according to muscle strength.
- Standard
Aesthetic
Jaw slimming (V-line)
- How it works
- Volume reduction of the hypertrophic chewing muscle over 6–12 weeks
- Strength
- A softer, narrower lower facial contour · without surgery
- Areas
- M. masseter · both sides
- Minimally invasive
Functional
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- How it works
- Relaxation of the chewing musculature · grinding eases after 1–2 weeks
- Strength
- Less night-time grinding and less tension in the jaw
- Areas
- M. masseter · both sides
Dosage and distribution are determined individually in the medical initial consultation (€100) — not from the table. Specific treatment and active-substance costs are calculated individually. The mandatory active-substance information under § 8 HWG is handed out during the consultation.
The muscle decides the contour. Relax it and you shape the face — without an incision.
Procedure
Masseter Botox in Munich: the procedure
Four steps — from feeling the muscle in the initial consultation, through the 15-to-30-minute treatment, to the follow-up check once the contour has changed after a few weeks.
Schritt 01approx. 45 min.Consultation & muscle history
In the personal initial consultation (€100) we feel the masseter while you bite down and clarify whether muscle or bone determines the width of the jaw. We discuss the goal — contour, grinding or both — as well as pre-existing conditions and medication. Where there is bruxism, we recommend a dental assessment in parallel. The mandatory active-substance information under § 8 HWG is handed out during the consultation.
Schritt 02Preparation
No blood-thinning medication for 7 days before the treatment (after consulting your GP). No alcohol on the day of treatment. Avoid sport for 24 hours beforehand. No anaesthetic is needed — the treatment fits into a lunch break.
Schritt 0315–30 minTreatment
Marking of the injection points while you bite down — where the muscle can be felt most strongly. On both sides, several small depots are injected deep into the muscle, with about 10 minutes of injection time alone. The dose is higher than for the zones of facial expression, because the chewing muscle is considerably stronger; even so we begin conservatively and top up the dose if needed.
Schritt 04After the treatment
Stay upright for 4 hours; do not massage the jaw or press firmly on it. No sport, no sauna and no alcohol for 24 hours. Eating and chewing are normally possible. The grinding usually eases after 1–2 weeks; the contour changes visibly over 6–12 weeks. We see you for a follow-up check after about 4 weeks.
Facts
Key facts
- Procedure
- outpatient injectable, medically performed
- Active substance
- botulinum toxin type A (CE-certified)
- Target muscle
- m. masseter · both sides
- Duration
- 15–30 minutes in total · approx. 10 min of injection alone
- Anaesthesia
- none
- Stay
- outpatient · presentable straight away
- Social downtime
- none
- Chewing / eating
- normally possible straight away
- Sport / sauna / alcohol
- avoid for 24 hours
- Grinding eases
- after 1–2 weeks
- Contour visibly narrower
- after 6–12 weeks
- Duration of effect
- 4–6 months · occasionally up to 8
- Top-up
- approx. 2× per year
- Consultation
- €100 · required before every treatment
Effect
Masseter Botox: onset, contour, top-up
DAY
0.
4 hours upright.
After the treatment, stay upright for 4 hours and do not massage the jaw. Eating and speaking are normally possible straight away. No sport, no sauna and no alcohol on the day of treatment.
DAY
1–3.
Back to everyday life.
Slight redness or small bruises at the injection sites fade within 1–3 days. A slight feeling of heaviness in the jaw is possible. Sport is possible again from day 1.
WEEK
1–2.
The grinding eases.
The muscle relaxes — night-time grinding and the morning tension in the jaw decrease. The contour is still unchanged in this phase.
WEEK
6–12.
The contour becomes narrower.
The relaxed muscle gradually loses volume — the lower half of the face looks softer and narrower. This is the period in which the aesthetic result becomes visible.
MONTH
4–6.
Top-up window.
The effect gradually wears off — typically after 4–6 months, occasionally only after 8. With repeated treatment, a subtle reduction of the muscle volume persists between the intervals as well; the contour looks lastingly narrower.
Endergebnis
The grinding eases after 1–2 weeks, and the contour becomes visibly narrower over 6–12 weeks. Duration of effect 4–6 months, with a top-up typically 2× per year.
Masseter Botox is one of the few treatments in which the aesthetic and the functional benefit coincide: whoever comes because of the grinding gets the softer contour as well — and the other way round. We dose conservatively and adjust after the first follow-up check.
Consultation
100€
approx. 45 min · medical · mandatory before every treatment (§ 8 HWG)
Let us establish the indication together.
Which method suits your situation can only be established reliably in a personal examination and consultation.
What is included
- Examination & establishing the indication
- Choice of method, risks & alternatives
- Written cost estimate afterwards
Risks
Risks & informed consent
When applied properly by a doctor, the masseter treatment is an established procedure. Because the chewing muscle matters functionally, we dose conservatively. We discuss all risks in detail in the personal informed-consent consultation in accordance with § 8 HWG.
- General
Local redness, small bruises and a slight feeling of heaviness in the jaw are part of the expected course and fade within a few days. Eating and speaking are normally possible from the day of treatment.
- Specific
Because the masseter is a chewing muscle, the force when chewing very hard food can ease off somewhat in the first weeks — that is intended and passes as you adapt. An asymmetric result where the muscles differ in strength can be fine-tuned after the follow-up check. We avoid diffusion into neighbouring muscles of facial expression, which temporarily changes the smile, by injecting deep into the belly of the muscle and by dosing conservatively.
- Very rare
We avoid temporary difficulty swallowing from too high an initial dose by dosing the first treatment conservatively and topping up at the check-up. Allergic reactions to the active substance or its components are very rare — where an allergy is known, the treatment is contraindicated.
All individual risks are documented in detail during the personal informed-consent consultation in accordance with § 8 HWG (German Health Advertising Act).
Costs
Masseter Botox costs in Munich
Masseter Botox at our practice in Munich starts from €250 per zone (net). Because the treatment is typically carried out on both sides, and because the chewing muscle is considerably stronger than the muscles of facial expression in the upper face, the amount of active substance needed is higher than for the forehead or the frown line — the overall package is correspondingly higher. You receive a specific, written calculation in the initial consultation (€100), depending on muscle strength and dosage; the consultation fee is credited against a subsequent treatment.
Starting price
from €250 per zone · treatment on both sides
Indications
Masseter Botox — what is treated?
| Indication | Treatment | Duration of effect |
|---|---|---|
| Jaw slimming (V-line) | both sides · several depots deep in the muscle | 4–6 months · contour from week 6–12 |
| Bruxism (teeth grinding) | both sides · functional dosing | 4–6 months · grinding ↓ from week 1–2 |
| Starting price per zone | from €250 net | top-up approx. 2× per year |
| Repeat treatment | volume stays reduced between the intervals | contour lastingly narrower |
Dosage and distribution are determined individually by the doctor — not from the table. You receive the specific treatment and active-substance costs in the initial consultation (€100). The mandatory active-substance information under § 8 HWG is handed out during the consultation.
All starting prices are net · plus 19% VAT · excluding clinic fees for anaesthesia and overnight stay. Individual cost estimate in the personal initial consultation (€100).
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is masseter Botox?
Masseter Botox is the injection of botulinum toxin type A into the chewing muscle (m. masseter) — both for an aesthetic indication (jaw slimming where the chewing musculature is enlarged, a V-line effect) and functionally to treat bruxism (night-time teeth grinding). The active substance is injected on both sides, deep into the muscle in several small depots. Over 6–12 weeks there is a measurable reduction of the muscle volume and a softer lower facial contour.
Does masseter Botox help against teeth grinding?
Yes — relaxing the chewing muscle reduces the force with which you grind at night, and with it the morning tension in the jaw. The grinding usually eases within one to two weeks. The injection does not treat the cause of the bruxism (stress, misaligned teeth, a sleep disorder); we therefore recommend a dental assessment in parallel, with a bite splint where appropriate.
How long does masseter Botox last?
Masseter Botox lasts longer than classic indications for expression lines — typically 4 to 6 months, occasionally up to 8 months. The reason: the chewing muscle is considerably larger than the muscles of facial expression in the upper face, and the higher dose accordingly lasts longer. With repeated treatment there is also a lasting, subtle reduction of the muscle volume — the contour looks narrower even between treatment intervals.
What does masseter Botox cost in Munich?
Masseter Botox at our practice in Munich starts from €250 per zone (net). Because the treatment is typically carried out on both sides and the chewing muscle needs more active substance, the overall package is often higher than for zones of facial expression such as the forehead or glabella. You receive a specific calculation in the initial consultation (€100, creditable).
When will the result be visible?
In two steps: the grinding and the tension ease after 1–2 weeks. The visible narrowing of the contour takes longer — the relaxed muscle loses volume only over 6–12 weeks. We see you for a follow-up check after about 4 weeks; the dose can then be topped up if needed.
Can I eat and chew normally after the treatment?
Yes, eating and speaking are normally possible from the day of treatment. In the first weeks the force when chewing very hard food can ease off somewhat — that is intended and passes as you adapt. On the day of treatment please do not massage the jaw, and stay upright for 4 hours.
Is the jaw slimming permanent?
A single treatment works for 4–6 months; after that the muscle builds volume again. With repeated treatment at regular intervals, however, a subtle reduction of volume persists between the intervals as well — the contour looks lastingly narrower, and for many patients the gaps between top-ups become longer.
When is masseter Botox not suitable?
Where the width of the jaw is predominantly bony rather than muscular — we check that in the initial consultation by feeling the muscle while you bite down. Like every botulinum toxin treatment, it is contraindicated in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, in neuromuscular disorders (e.g. myasthenia gravis, ALS), where there is a known allergy to the active substance, in acute infections in the treatment area and where there is active anticoagulation that cannot be paused.
Does health insurance cover masseter Botox?
Aesthetic treatments are self-pay services. Whether a functional bruxism treatment is reimbursed in an individual case is something you should clarify with your health insurer in advance — we issue the documents needed for that. We cannot give any assurance.
Why don't you show before-and-after photographs on your website?
For two reasons — one legal, one ethical. First, the German Heilmittelwerbegesetz (§ 11 HWG, the Health Advertising Act) prohibits advertising surgical plastic procedures with before-and-after photographs on publicly accessible websites — a rule in force since 2012 that protects patients from distorted promotional depictions. Second, we respect our patients' privacy: even where written consent exists, many would rather intimate photographs of their body did not circulate on the open web. What you can expect instead: in the personal initial consultation (€100) we show you anonymised examples from our own practice documentation — matched to your indication, your build and your aesthetic goal. Those images are shown with the written consent of the patients concerned, exclusively within the protected setting of the consultation, and are never published online. You get a realistic sense of what to expect without anyone having to give up their privacy for someone else's advertising.
What should I look for when choosing a doctor for aesthetic plastic surgery in Munich?
Three objective criteria help you get your bearings. First, the specialist qualification: "Facharzt für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie" is a legally protected German specialist title requiring several years of specialist training — unlike general, unprotected descriptions such as "cosmetic surgeon". Second, membership of a medical professional society such as the DGPRÄC (the German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons), which requires binding professional standards and continuous further training. Third, the quality of the consultation: a reputable practice takes its time, is honest about risks, alternatives and realistically achievable results, and does not push you towards a decision. At Ästhetik am Isartor the medical direction lies with Dr. Fabian Weinschenk, specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery (Facharzt) and a member of the DGPRÄC. Procedures are carried out personally by the specialist, and every treatment is preceded by a detailed medical informed-consent consultation (chargeable at €100).
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In the consultation we establish what is possible — and what is not. In person at the Isartorplatz, unhurried, with no sales pressure.
Dr. Fabian Weinschenk
Specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery (Facharzt)