Botulinum Toxin
Botulinum toxin by area: wrinkles, square jaw, salivary glands, trapezius and more
Botulinum toxin is an injection that temporarily weakens muscles to soften expression lines on the forehead, between the brows and around the eyes, and to reduce the bulk of well-developed muscles such as those of a square jaw.
Botulinum toxin is considered when the cause is muscle, such as expression lines or a square jaw.
Botulinum Toxin at a glance
- Procedure time
- About 10 minutes
- Anesthesia
- Numbing cream
- Onset
- After 3–4 days
- Duration of results
- 4–6 months
- Swelling & bruising
- Within 1 week
- Return to daily life
- Right away
These may vary depending on the area, dose and the individual.
Quick answer
When is botulinum toxin recommended?
Botulinum toxin is considered when you want to soften expression lines on the forehead, between the brows or around the eyes, or reduce the bulk of well-developed muscles such as those of a square jaw. The treatment takes about 10 minutes under numbing cream, and you can return to daily life right away. When an area lacks volume, such as hollow under-eyes or a low nasal bridge, dermal fillers are considered instead.
What Is Botulinum Toxin Treatment?
Botulinum toxin is an injection that temporarily reduces the nerve signals that move a muscle, weakening that muscle. As the muscle weakens, expression lines on the forehead, between the brows and around the eyes soften, and well-developed muscles such as the masseter or trapezius shrink in bulk, which can make the jawline and neckline look smoother. We use authentic Korean-made products at the full labeled dose.
When Botulinum Toxin May Help
- Expression lines on the forehead, between the brows or around the eyes
- A prominent square jaw from well-developed chewing muscles
- Enlarged salivary glands that make the area under the jawline look full
- Downturned mouth corners that make you look sad at rest
- Well-developed trapezius muscles that make the neck look short
- Well-developed calf muscles that look prominent
Botulinum Toxin by Area
Forehead & Frown Lines
Softens the horizontal forehead lines and vertical frown lines between the brows that form with facial expressions. If droopy eyelids make you use your forehead muscles to open your eyes, the eyes may feel heavier after forehead injections, so caution is needed.
Temporalis (Temples)
Reduces muscle bulk and tension when a well-developed temporalis muscle makes the sides of the head look wide, or when teeth grinding or clenching makes the muscle tight.
Crow's Feet
Can help soften the lines that form beside the outer corners of the eyes when you smile. For lines that remain deep even at rest, skin treatments may be considered as well.
Under-Eye Fine Lines
Can help soften the fine lines that form under the eyes when you smile.
Bunny Lines (Nose Bridge)
Can help soften the horizontal lines that form on the bridge of the nose when you smile or frown.
Nostril Flaring
When the nostrils flare and widen when you smile or breathe, reducing the strength of the muscle that spreads the nostrils can make them look narrower.
Nasolabial Folds & Gummy Smile
Can help when a strong muscle that lifts the upper lip during a smile deepens the nasolabial folds or causes a gummy smile.
Mouth Corners
Reduces the strength of the muscle that pulls the mouth corners down so the corners can look more lifted, and is often combined with mouth corner filler.
Square Jaw (Masseter)
Reduces the bulk of the chewing muscle (masseter) to slim the jawline, with results appearing gradually over 4–8 weeks. Injections for teeth grinding (bruxism) are also placed in the same masseter muscle.
Cobblestone Chin
When the chin muscle tenses as you close your mouth and the chin skin looks bumpy, relaxing the muscle smooths the chin. As the upward pull on the chin eases and the chin line becomes clearer, it can help a receding chin look less set back.
Salivary Glands
Reduces the size of the salivary glands when enlarged glands below the ear or under the jaw make the area under the jawline look full. If the line under the jaw is still not defined after masseter injections, enlarged salivary glands may be the cause.
Neck Lines
Can help soften horizontal neck lines and the vertical muscle bands that stand out at the front of the neck when you lift your head, and is usually done together with filler.
Trapezius
When a well-developed trapezius muscle between the shoulders and neck makes the neck look short or the shoulders look raised, reducing the muscle bulk smooths the neckline and shoulder line.
Calves
When well-developed calf muscles look prominent, reducing the muscle bulk can help the calves look slimmer and their line smoother.
Botulinum Toxin Aftercare and When Results Appear
Botulinum toxin results usually begin to appear 3–4 days after treatment, become most noticeable at around 2 weeks, and in many cases last about 4–6 months. You can wash your face and wear makeup from the same day.
Same day
- Face washing and makeup allowed
- Avoid rubbing the treated area firmly for about 4 hours
First 2–3 days
- Avoid alcohol, saunas and strenuous exercise
3–4 days
- Results begin to appear
2 weeks
- Results are most noticeable
- Deep facial massage allowed from this point (avoid it before then)
4–8 weeks
- For muscle-slimming treatments such as a square jaw, muscle bulk gradually decreases
Botulinum Toxin Side Effects and Resistance
What are the side effects of botulinum toxin?
After botulinum toxin, besides temporary bruising, swelling and pain at the injection site, facial expressions may look unnatural or the two sides may look asymmetric depending on the area. The brows may droop or the eyelids may feel heavy after forehead injections, and chewing may feel weaker after masseter injections; in most cases these resolve as the effect wears off.
Why does botulinum toxin resistance develop?
Botulinum toxin resistance occurs when the body makes antibodies to the toxin, so the same dose works less or for a shorter time. It is known to be more likely with frequent injections at short intervals or high doses at once, so it is important to use only the dose needed at appropriate intervals.
Botulinum Toxin FAQ
How many masseter botulinum toxin treatments do I need for a square jaw?
Masseter botulinum toxin slims the jawline by reducing the bulk of the chewing muscle (masseter), with results appearing gradually over 4–8 weeks. Treatments are usually given every 4–6 months at first, and in many cases the interval can be extended as the muscle shrinks with repeated treatment; the dose is decided based on the size and strength of the muscle.
How is botulinum toxin different from fillers?
Botulinum toxin reduces muscle movement to soften wrinkles or reduce muscle bulk, while dermal fillers add volume to hollow areas. Fillers are considered when an area lacks volume, such as hollow under-eyes or a low nasal bridge, and botulinum toxin is considered when the cause is muscle, such as expression lines or a square jaw.
Are there differences between botulinum toxin products?
Botulinum toxin products differ by manufacturer in aspects such as purity and how far they spread, and both Korean-made and imported products are available. We use authentic Korean-made products at the full labeled dose.
How is the cost of botulinum toxin determined?
The cost of botulinum toxin depends on the treatment area, the product used and the dose. Because the dose needed varies with the area and muscle condition, an exact cost can be given after a consultation.
Your doctor
Dr. Dahan Kim
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Medical Director, Steady Plastic Surgery
Steady Plastic Surgery is an eye-focused plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam (Sinnonhyeon), Seoul. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Dahan Kim personally sees every patient from consultation to surgery and follow-up, focusing on double eyelid surgery, double eyelid revision, under-eye fat repositioning, lower blepharoplasty and middle-aged eye surgery.
- M.D. and master's degree, CHA University School of Medicine
- Plastic surgeon, CHA Bundang Medical Center
- Member, Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons · Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery · Korean Association of Plastic Surgeons
Have questions?
References
- 대한미용성형외과학회. 미용성형외과학 1. 보완판. 군자출판사; 2019. ISBN 979-11-5955-430-8. [in Korean]
- 이수근, 윤춘식, 김현조, 외. 보톡스와 필러의 정석. 제3판. 한미의학; 2025. ISBN 979-11-94456-15-5. [in Korean]
- 홍기웅. 필러·보톡스 실전 노하우. 엠디월드; 2017. ISBN 978-89-91294-88-2. [in Korean]