Injectables
Masseter Treatment and Jaw Slimming in Putney
Softening an overdeveloped jaw muscle, whether the reason is a square jawline or a lifetime of grinding.
- Appointment
- 20 minutes
- Results appear
- Tension eases in 1 to 2 weeks
- Fully settled
- Slimming visible at 6 to 8 weeks
- Lasts
- 4 to 6 months
- Downtime
- None
- Price
- £290
The masseter is the thick muscle running from your cheekbone to the angle of your jaw. It is the strongest muscle in the body for its size, and like any muscle it grows when it is overworked. Years of clenching and grinding build it up, sometimes considerably.
That causes two quite different complaints. Some people come in because their lower face has widened and squared off. Others come in exhausted from waking with headaches and aching jaws, having cracked a tooth or worn through a night guard. The same treatment addresses both.
For jaw tension and grinding
Bruxism is grinding or clenching, usually at night, usually without any awareness of doing it. The force involved is considerable, and over time it wears enamel, cracks teeth, inflames the jaw joint and produces the tension headaches that many people have simply learned to live with.
Relaxing the masseter reduces the force it can generate. You can still chew normally, because chewing requires a fraction of the force clenching produces. What stops is the sustained, damaging overnight pressure. Most clients notice the morning headaches easing within two weeks, and dentists frequently refer patients here for exactly this.
For jaw slimming
Where the concern is width rather than tension, the same treatment gradually reduces the bulk of the muscle. As it is used less forcefully it slims, and the lower face narrows toward a softer V shape.
This change is slow. There is no visible difference in the first fortnight. Slimming becomes noticeable at around six to eight weeks and continues to improve with a second treatment. Anyone promising an immediately slimmer jaw is describing something else.
It works best where the width genuinely comes from muscle. If it comes from bone structure, this will not change it, and that is established by feeling the muscle while you clench rather than by looking at your jaw at rest.
What to expect
Treatment takes about twenty minutes and involves a small number of injections into each masseter. There is no downtime. Some people notice their bite feels slightly different for the first week or two while the muscle adjusts, and occasional chewing fatigue with tough food, both of which settle.
Effects last four to six months, longer than most facial areas. Where jaw slimming is the goal, a second treatment at around four months consolidates the result, after which many clients extend to twice a year.
What to expect
Masseter Treatment step by step
Before and during your treatment
- A thorough consultation before your first treatment, during which your medical history is discussed and recorded so any contraindication is picked up before anything is drawn up
- Your lifestyle is discussed too, so expectations are managed honestly from the outset
- The procedure is explained clearly, step by step
- You and Natalja look at your reflection together, and she shows you how the result will be achieved
- Photographs are taken for your clinical record only, never used publicly without separate written consent
- You are made comfortable on the treatment couch and the area is cleansed
- You are shown the product, and the batch or vial number is recorded on your consultation form
- Natalja talks you through every step as she works, so nothing happens without warning
- The treatment is not painful. You may feel the insertion of a very fine needle
- Every effort is made to avoid side effects, and the possible ones are discussed with you at consultation
After your treatment
- Stay upright for four hours immediately after treatment
- No exercise for 48 hours
- No saunas, steam rooms or heat treatments to the face for 2 weeks
- No facials for 2 weeks
- Have treatment at least two weeks before a holiday or an event, so the result has time to reach its full effect
- Aftercare is discussed with you, and a PDF of the leaflet is emailed to you
- You are given the chance to look in the mirror before you leave
- A review appointment is made to check you have the result you wanted, with photographs taken for your record
What age can I have treatment?
We are aware of the power of influence and the harm it can do. We are happy to treat clients from the age of 21, provided we are confident it is in their best interest after a thorough consultation.
If Natalja is not confident about a request, we reserve the right to refuse treatment. We are sorry if that disappoints anyone, but the decision is only ever made for your safety.
Treatments that work well alongside
We offer a range of treatments that complement one another, including skin boosters to plump and freshen the skin, anti-wrinkle injections, polynucleotides, and dermal fillers for the cheeks, temples, tear troughs, lips, chin and jawline. That lets us build a bespoke plan rather than selling you a single treatment, and it is usually a combination that produces the result people actually want.
If you are looking for the latest and most trusted aesthetic treatments in London, Face Code Aesthetic is ready to welcome you.
Questions
Frequently asked
Yes. Normal chewing uses a small fraction of the force the masseter can produce, so it carries on working normally. Some people notice mild fatigue with very chewy food for a week or two while they adjust.
Not quickly. Tension and grinding ease within one to two weeks, but visible slimming takes six to eight weeks and improves further after a second treatment. It is a gradual change, and worth knowing before you book.
If your headaches come from clenching, frequently yes. Many clients describe waking without jaw ache and morning headache for the first time in years. If your headaches have another cause, this will not help, and it is worth seeing your GP alongside.
Over a few months the lower face narrows slightly and the jawline softens. Most people find it a flattering change. If you have a naturally slim face and only want the grinding treated, dosing can be adjusted to relieve tension with minimal slimming.
Also consider
Other treatments
Where to find us
Our clinic is based in Putney, South West London, where we carry out all of our treatments and conduct consultations.
Next step
Book Masseter Treatment in Putney
A consultation is thirty minutes and there is no obligation to book treatment on the day.