How Many Units of Botox for Masseter & TMJ?

The masseter — the thick muscle at the corner of your jaw — is one of the strongest muscles in your body, and it's the target whether you're getting Botox for TMJ jaw pain or for cosmetic jaw slimming. Because it's so large and powerful, it needs more Botox than the small muscles of the upper face. Here's the typical dosing.

The short answer: 40–60 units total

• Per side: about 20–30 units into each masseter
• Total: roughly 40–60 units for both sides
• For TMJ: sometimes a few additional units in the temporalis (temple) muscle if it's feeding your headaches

For comparison, the entire forehead is usually treated with about 20 units — so a masseter treatment uses two to three times as much, simply because the muscle is so much bigger and stronger.

What changes your dose

• Muscle size and strength. Heavy grinders and clenchers often build up a very strong masseter that needs more units; a smaller muscle needs fewer.
• Your goal. Relief from clenching may need a slightly different dose than maximal jaw slimming.
• Treatment history. A masseter that's been relaxed over several rounds gradually shrinks, so later sessions often need fewer units.

At Solas, Celeste assesses your jaw by having you bite down so she can feel the muscle, then maps your dose to your anatomy — so you only pay for what you actually need.

How soon you'll notice it

You'll feel reduced clenching strength within about 1–2 weeks. If you're after jaw slimming, that develops more gradually as the muscle relaxes and reduces in size — usually visible over 6–8 weeks. Results last about 3–4 months.