Botox is more than just a wrinkle-reducing and anti-aging treatment option. With its proven effectiveness and safety, a lot of people have also been getting Botox injections as an alternative to jaw surgery for facial slimming and jawline enhancement. Additionally, Botox treatments to the masseter muscles can improve the symptoms of medical conditions like temporomandibular disorders and bruxism.
So can masseter Botox injections cause or worsen ear pain and jaw pain? There’s little evidence that jaw Botox can have ear pain and jaw pain as a side effect. Most of the time, the injections actually help relieve these conditions, which are associated with TMJ and teeth grinding. If these adverse reactions occur, they may be a sign that a trigger point was activated during injections, not enough Botox units were placed, or they may be caused by other factors.
Aesthetica can assist you with all your beauty needs, helping you achieve your maximum beauty and aesthetic potential. Call or contact us today to learn more about our cosmetic services.
Masseter Botox is a procedure that involves injecting the cosmetic neurotoxin on the facial muscles located at the back of the jaw. The masseters have an important role in mastication or chewing and it helps stabilize the temporomandibular joint which is located in front of the ears.
Any pain that you feel on your ear and jaw likely originates from an injury or trauma to the masseter muscles or jaw joint. In every masseter Botox session, there’s always a slight risk that the needle may hit a trigger point and cause temporary pain in the ears and jaw muscles. Trigger points are sensitive areas in the muscles that can cause referred pain throughout the body.
A trigger point near the ears and jaw can develop due to masseter muscle overuse. It’s also possible that you’ve formed a sensitive knot or point after the injection to the masseters which can cause jaw soreness, muscle tension, and acute pain which is not associated with TMJ.
Another reason why you may have ear and jaw pain is that you didn’t receive enough botulinum toxin injections to the masseters. It’s important that you get the right amount of Botox units so that it can effectively relax the affected muscles, otherwise, the treatment will not produce the desired results and the TMJ pain and discomfort will not improve.
The good thing is that earache and jaw pain are rare side effects of masseter Botox injections. The risk for these complications is also significantly decreased as long as you consult and have your procedure done by a board-certified cosmetic professional or expert injector.
Earache and jaw pain after masseter Botox procedures should be temporary side effects and resolve on their own after a few weeks. If you experience persistent pain, you should immediately consult with a medical professional or contact your healthcare provider.
Here are some possible methods that can ease the discomfort from your ear pain and jaw pain after masseter Botox:
A provider may suggest administering extra Botox units if they think the initial injections were insufficient. Upon confirming that the existing earache and jaw pain are still related with TMJ, additional injection of botulinum toxin to the masseter may help to finally relieve its symptoms. Follow-up injections are usually done after at least two weeks from the first Botox treatment.
Drug therapy like muscle relaxants can work to decrease muscle spasms and jaw tension to relieve dull pain from TMJ. You can also use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs or painkillers like ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen to minimize discomfort from earaches. There are also available prescription ear drops that can provide relief from severe pain in the ears.
Heat therapy and cold compress are natural treatments that can provide pain relief from jaw tension and earaches. Applying moist heat can relax the jaw muscles and improve blood flow to reduce discomfort. On the other hand, cold compresses can manage swelling and inflammation to minimize the pain.
There are several physical therapy exercises that you can do at home to manage your ear and jaw pain. For example, you may try to slowly move and rotate your neck and head to relieve the tense muscles surrounding the ears and jaw. You can also do manual therapy for the masseter muscles such as side-to-side jaw movements, chin tucks, and tongue lifts.
Facial pain and aches in both the ears and jaw are not common side effects of masseter Botox injections. However, they’re not entirely a rare condition and they can be caused by several other factors. Some of the possible causes of earache and jaw pain are:
Botox is generally a safe cosmetic procedure but there are still some minor effects that can occur after injections to the masseter muscles. Here are the common side effects that a patient should expect from masseter Botox procedures:
Most of these post-Botox reactions can occur in the first few days after the procedure. They’re usually not a cause of concern and will go away on their own within a week or two.
To avoid potential complications and ensure that the Botox injections settle smoothly in the treated muscles, here are some of the best aftercare practices that patients should follow:
Masseter Botox injections offer both cosmetic and therapeutic benefits when injected to the jaw muscles. Here are some of the popular reasons why people choose to get masseter Botox treatments:
As long as the masseter Botox is done by an experienced cosmetic provider, the treatment shouldn’t cause any adverse effects like ear pain and jaw pain. Overall, masseter Botox injections are safe and they provide more benefits than risks for patients who want to enhance their jawline and improve their TMJ disorders.
Here at Aesthetica, our team of highly-trained injectors and cosmetic practitioners can help you achieve your desired jaw Botox results without the unwanted risks and complications. Your safety is our utmost concern and we strive to treat each client with the highest level of care in their visit. Call us today and schedule your Botox consultation with one of our specialists.
Aesthetica can assist you with all your beauty needs, helping you achieve your maximum beauty and aesthetic potential. Call or contact us today to learn more about our cosmetic services.
