Reshaping Your Face Without Undergoing Surgery: Study

The human shape comes with a variety of different shapes and sizes- oval, round, square, rectangle or even diamond shape as no two people have the same face shape. Many men and women who look for a V-shaped jawline opt for cosmetic surgery. Dr Debraj Shome, Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon and Dr Rinky Kapoor, dermatologist Debraj Shome at The Esthetic Clinics used a simple procedure that is Botulinum toxin type A (BTA) injections to shrink the jaw muscle and make Indian patients more attractive.

Wider lower jaw or a square jaw is always considered a big no-no when it comes to aesthetically appealing faces especially among women. The cause for such a wide or square face jaw is often attributed to masseter muscle hypertrophy (the muscle used for chewing food) or a painless enlargement of the angle of the jaw especially between the age group of 20 to 40 years. While the demand for correction of this facial flaw is immense, most Indians prefer to settle for non-invasive treatments instead of going under the knife.

The Esthetic Clinics conducted a study on 50 Indian patients above 18 years of age demonstrates the effects of Botulinum toxin type A (BTA) injections for the cosmetic reduction of the bulk and volume of the jawline muscle, thereby narrowing the width of the lower face. This study carried out by Dr Debraj Shome, Director, The Esthetic Clinics and renowned dermatologist Dr  Rinky Kapoor has been published in the September 2019 edition of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, which is one of the most respected peer-reviewed journals in plastic surgery in the USA, and is the first clinical study evaluating and analyzing the long-term effects of BTA injections for masseter hypertrophy.

Dr Debraj Shome, a renowned Cosmetic Surgeon, said, “Indians age in a different way than Caucasians (whites). The lower part of their jaw starts looking bigger as the masseter muscle thickens especially between the ages 20 to 40 years. The larger muscle in the lower part of the face makes it look wider or square which is not very desirable, especially amongst the female population. This increase in jaw muscle size alters the golden ratio of the face and makes faces look less attractive. Thus, opting for a BTA injection is much less morbid and risky and produces the same results. When injected into the masseter muscle, Botox relaxes the muscle and over time the bulk of the muscle is reduced lending to a less square jawline. BTA injections are effective in reducing the masseter muscle irrespective of age or gender, and patients have a ready and inexpensive solution to treat a square jaw.” 

Dr Rinky Kapoor, Consultant Dermatologist, Cosmetic Dermatologist & Dermato-Surgeon, The Esthetic Clinics highlighted, “The wide jaw is not only aesthetically unappealing but can also have a negative psychological impact on patients. We tested a new protocol by which the injections are given at a higher dosage and given in multiple sessions, 4 weeks apart. When these injections are given thrice, at 4 weeks apart, the results of the jaw size reduction are an astounding 40 per cent plus and the results last for more than 4 years in such cases, thereby circumventing the issue of Botox being a TEMPORARY cure! Our long-term follow-up analysis of 4 years demonstrates that a standard dosage, about three injections gives a better reduction of the muscle as compared to one or two injection sessions.”

“BTA injections are an OPD procedure with no need for hospitalization and minimal side- effects. Our technique of injecting the injections deep and into the mass of the masseter muscle makes them virtually painless,” said Dr Shome.