In Korea, masseter Botox is an injection of botulinum toxin type A into the chewing muscle at each jaw corner that relaxes it so the muscle thins and the lower face narrows over time. The appointment usually lasts 15 to 20 minutes including assessment, and the injections themselves take a few minutes with ice or numbing cream. Recovery is usually short, though small bruises can appear for a few days and this varies by person; flying home the same day is generally possible. The muscle softens within about a week, and the slimmer outline develops over several weeks. Clinics price by toxin brand and units per side, and this page compares clinics and current prices.
Is it for you?
Who Jaw Botox in Gangnam suits, and who should wait
Masseter Botox suits adults whose square jaw comes mainly from a thick chewing muscle, often linked to clenching or heavy chewing. It is also chosen by people who want the outline of the face softened gradually rather than changed in a single step, and who are comfortable returning for repeat sessions.
It will not narrow a wide jawbone, remove fat under the chin or lift sagging jowls. Where width comes from bone or loose skin, injections give little change, and a doctor who explains this before treatment is doing the patient a favor.
Usually a good fit
- A firm muscle bulge at the jaw corner when clenching
- Square lower face mainly from muscle bulk
- Wants gradual slimming without surgery
- Can return every few months for repeats
May be better to wait
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Infection or inflamed skin over the jaw
- Neuromuscular disease such as myasthenia gravis
- Width from bone or sagging that needs surgery
Clinics in Gangnam
10 clinics for Jaw Botox in Gangnam
Every clinic below lists Jaw Botox among its treatments. Message a clinic directly.
1RE:BERRY Clinic Gangnam
2
3Muse Clinic Gangnam
4Cleor Clinic Gangnam
5POEN Clinic
6The Cell Skin Clinic
7
8Cellon Dermatology Clinic (Cheongdam)
9BetterMe Clinic Gangnam
10How it works
How a Jaw Botox session runs
Botulinum toxin type A is an injectable neurotoxin that blocks the release of acetylcholine where a nerve meets a muscle. Without that signal the masseter contracts less, and an underused muscle loses volume over the following weeks. Nerve endings slowly sprout new connections, which is why the effect fades and the treatment is repeated.
Research on the jaw supports this mechanism. In a prospective study published in the British Journal of Plastic Surgery in 2001, To and colleagues measured masseter thickness with ultrasound and muscle activity with electromyography before and after injection and recorded a reduction in muscle bulk, with activity gradually recovering over the follow-up months. The cosmetic use of the toxin itself was first described for frown lines by Carruthers and Carruthers in The Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology in 1992, where most treated patients improved for three to eleven months with mild, transient side effects.
Dose is written in units per side and varies with muscle size, brand and the doctor's plan. In Korea the toxin brand and the total units set the price, so a quote should name both.
Assessment
The doctor asks you to clench, feels both masseters and checks the bite and smile. Injection points are marked in the thickest part of each muscle, well away from the smile muscles in front. This takes about five minutes.
Numbing
A cold pack or numbing cream is applied to the jaw corners. Ice takes a minute or two; cream usually needs 15 to 20 minutes to work.
Injection
Using a fine needle, the doctor places the toxin deep into the muscle at several points on each side. Some clinics use ultrasound to see the muscle depth. The injections take about five minutes.
Check and aftercare
The skin is cleaned, small marks fade within an hour, and the clinic explains aftercare. You can leave straight away, keeping your head upright for a few hours.
At a glance
Jaw Botox facts
| Product type | Botulinum toxin type A, an injectable |
|---|---|
| Common brands | Botox (Allergan), Xeomin (Merz), Nabota (Daewoong), Coretox (Medytox), Korean general brands |
| Target | Masseter muscle at both jaw corners |
| Dose unit | Units per side, written on the plan |
| Numbing | Ice or numbing cream |
| Session length | 15 to 20 minutes, injections about 5 minutes |
| Downtime | None for most people; small marks or a bruise |
| When results show | Softer within a week, slimmer over several weeks |
| Earliest flight home | Same day, generally |
Prices
Jaw Botox cost in Gangnam
Prices below come from the listed clinics' own price lists, before VAT. 10% VAT is added at payment.
Jaw Botox · 50 units
Range across 3 listed clinics · approx. $17–$120₩24,000–₩165,000 + VATCompare clinicsSquare Jaw Botox — Korean
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $29₩40,000 + VATCompare clinicsSquare Jaw Botox — Allergan
Price at 1 listed clinic · approx. $255₩350,000 + VATCompare clinicsRecovery
What the days after look like
Needle marks and mild redness fade within hours. Keep upright, do not rub the jaw and avoid alcohol and saunas.
A dull ache or tired feeling when chewing is common. Toxin begins to act after a few days.
Chewing tough food may feel weaker. The jaw corners start to look less bulky in photos.
The narrowing is usually clearest. Doctors often plan the next session around this point or a little later.
Safety
Jaw Botox risks and limits
- Tenderness, a small bruise or swelling at injection points for a few days
- Chewing fatigue with tough foods for several weeks
- Rare: uneven smile if toxin reaches nearby facial muscles
- Rare: a hollow look below the cheekbone or a visible bulge when clenching
- With many repeat sessions, response can lessen in some people
- It does not change bone width or remove fat
Evidence
Research behind this page
- A prospective study of the effect of botulinum toxin A on masseteric muscle hypertrophy with ultrasonographic and electromyographic measurementBritish Journal of Plastic Surgery · 2001 · To E, Ho W, Wong W, Pang P, Ahuja A, Hui A, et al. · doi:10.1054/bjps.2000.3526
Measured masseter thickness by ultrasound and activity by electromyography after botulinum toxin A and found a reduction in muscle bulk with gradual recovery of activity.
- Treatment of Glabellar Frown Lines with C. Botulinum‐A ExotoxinThe Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology · 1992 · Carruthers J, Carruthers J · doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.1992.tb03295.x
An early report of cosmetic botulinum toxin A use in which 16 of 17 followed patients with frown lines improved for 3 to 11 months with minimal, transient side effects.
- Ultrasound-guided five-point injection of botulinum toxin for patients with trapezius hypertrophyJournal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research · 2021 · Chen W, Zhang X, Xu Y, Xu Z, Qin H, Zhang L · doi:10.1186/s13018-021-02758-y
In 20 women with trapezius hypertrophy, ultrasound-guided toxin injection reduced muscle thickness, with significant differences from baseline from 4 to 44 weeks.
FAQ
Questions about Jaw Botox in Gangnam
How many units go into each masseter?
The dose is set per side after the doctor feels the muscle, so there is no single number that fits everyone. Larger, stronger muscles generally receive more units than slim ones, and the brand also changes how units are counted. A good plan writes the units for the left and right sides separately. Ask for the total in writing, since it helps a future doctor repeat or adjust your dose.
Is masseter Botox in Seoul injected with ultrasound guidance?
Some Seoul clinics use ultrasound to see the masseter's depth and thickness, while many doctors inject by feel after asking you to clench. Ultrasound shows where the muscle is thickest and how far it sits below the skin. Chen and colleagues, in a 2021 study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, used ultrasound guidance for shoulder muscle injections and reported reduced muscle thickness. Ask the clinic which approach it uses.
How long does masseter Botox in Korea last?
The relaxing effect commonly lasts a few months, and the slimmer shape can hold a little longer because the muscle needs time to rebuild. Duration depends on dose, brand, clenching habits and metabolism. Many people book a second session around three to six months after the first. Results vary from person to person, so the doctor usually sets the next interval after seeing your response.
Can jaw Botox in Korea change my smile?
A change in smile is uncommon and usually happens when toxin reaches the muscles in front of the masseter. Careful marking keeps injection points toward the back and lower part of the muscle, away from the smile muscles. If it happens, the effect is temporary and fades as the toxin wears off. Contact the clinic promptly so the doctor can check the result before you fly.
Can I eat normally after the injections?
Yes, you can eat as soon as you leave the clinic, although soft foods feel easier on the first evening. Over the next few weeks, tough meat, hard bread or chewy snacks may tire the jaw sooner than usual. Gum chewing is better paused for a while. This tiredness reflects the muscle working less, and it eases as you adjust or as the toxin fades.
Do repeated sessions make the effect last longer?
Many people find that later sessions hold longer, because a muscle kept relaxed has less chance to rebuild its bulk between visits. This varies, and some people keep a steady interval for years. Doctors often lower or adjust the dose once the muscle has slimmed. Keep a record of dates, brands and units so your next clinic can plan sensibly.
Is it fine to take a long-haul flight straight after?
Flying home on the same day is generally possible after masseter Botox, since there is no wound or dressing. Keep your head upright during the first hours and avoid sleeping face down on a neck pillow pressed into the jaw. Drink water and skip alcohol on the flight. If you feel unusual weakness when smiling or swallowing after landing, contact the clinic or a local doctor.
What is the difference between imported and Korean toxins for the jaw?
Imported brands such as Botox and Xeomin and Korean brands such as Nabota and Coretox all contain botulinum toxin type A and work in the same way. They differ in maker, purification and the proteins that travel with the toxin. Clinics often list them at different prices. The right choice depends on your history with toxins and the doctor's plan, so ask why a brand is suggested.
Can masseter Botox stop working over time?
A small number of people find that toxin works less well after many sessions, sometimes because the body forms antibodies. Using the lowest effective dose and avoiding very short intervals between treatments are common ways doctors reduce this risk. Purified brands that remove complexing proteins are sometimes chosen for people who have had many treatments. Tell the doctor if an earlier session seemed weaker than expected.
Who should not have masseter Botox?
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a neuromuscular disease, or have infection over the jaw should not have this treatment. Those taking certain antibiotics or muscle-relaxing medicines should mention them, because these can interact with the toxin. Unexplained jaw joint pain is better examined first by a dentist or doctor. A careful consultation includes these questions before any injection is planned.