If you’re looking to slim your lower face, treat a square jaw, balance facial proportions, or alleviate teeth grinding and jaw clenching, facial slimming is an option you should be considering. Unlike treatments that add volume and structure, facial slimming works by relaxing the masseter muscles to reduce their size and strength.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about facial slimming–from what it is and how it works, to before and after results, risks, costs, downtime, and guidance on how to know if you’re suitable. Additionally, you’ll also gain access to detailed sub-guides focusing on specific topics, allowing you to understand every aspect of the treatment.
What is facial slimming?
Facial slimming, sometimes known as masseter injections and jaw slimming, is a highly sought-after treatment for people who want to refine their jawline, soften a square-shaped face, or alleviate jaw tension.
The procedure works by relaxing the masseter muscles—the strong chewing muscles at the back of the jaw. Overdeveloped masseters can make the lower face appear wide or bulky, and may also contribute to issues such as jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and tension-related discomfort.
Masseter slimming is popular because it offers subtle, natural refinement of the jawline without surgery or extended downtime. It helps create a smoother facial contour, enhancing facial balance while maintaining your natural expression.
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How facial slimming works?
At its core, facial slimming involves treating muscles that contribute to a wider, squarer, or heavier lower face. The muscle targeted by facial slimming is know as the masseter, a powerful chewing muscle located at the angle of the jaw.
When the masseter muscles are enlarged, either genetically or through habits such as clenching or grinding, it can cause your face to look square. Facial slimming treatments reuce excess muscle activity, allowing the masseters to gradually decrease in bulk over time. As the muscles soften, the jawliune appears slimmer, the lower face looks more tapered, and facial proportions become more balanced.
Importantly, facial slimming does not remove fat or bone, and it does not involve surgery. Results occur gradually, reflecting the underlying shift in muscle behaviour.
For a square or wide face caused by fat, bone, or loose skin, other treatment methods to slim your face may be required.
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The science behind facial slimming
The muscles of the face respond to stimulation and workload in the same way as muscles elsewhere in the body. When a muscle is used frequently or forcefully, it can enlarge. When its activity is reduced, it can gradually reduce in size.
Facial slimming treatments work by temporarily reducing overactivity in targeted muscles. This leads to:
- Reduced muscle contraction strength
- Decreased muscle workload
- Gradual reduction in muscle bulk
From a scientific perspective, this is a process of functional muscle modulation. The muscle remains intact and functional, but its contribution to facial width and tension is reduced.
What this means for you
For patients, this means facial slimming is best understood as a progressive refinement, not a dramatic transformation. Changes develop over weeks, not days, and often feel more noticeable than they look in the early stages.
Many patients describe benefits such as:
- A softer, less angular jawline
- Improved facial balance in photos
- Reduced jaw tension or facial fatigue
- Less clenching or grinding discomfort
Because facial slimming addresses muscle behaviour, it often delivers both aesthetic and functional improvements simultaneously.
Natural facial slimming options
Alongside medical treatments, there are several natural methods people use to promote a slimmer, more toned appearance of the face. These include facial massage techniques aimed at relieving muscle tension and promoting lymphatic drainage, targeted facial exercises designed to tone jaw and cheek muscles, and lifestyle habits such as maintaining a healthy diet and proper hydration to reduce overall facial puffiness and fat.
While these natural approaches can contribute to a more defined and refreshed look, their effects tend to be very subtle at most, (except for reducing facial fat through weight loss).
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Who is facial slimming for?
Facial slimming is suitable for many people, but it is not appropriate for everyone. A thorough assessment is essential to determine whether muscle-based slimming is the correct approach to address your concerns or achieve the aesthetic look you want.
Medical indications
Facial slimming treatments are commonly used in patients with:
- Jaw clenching or teeth grinding
- Facial muscle tension or fatigue
- Temporamandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort related to muscle overactivity
- Headaches linked to jaw muscle tension
Aesthetic indications
From an aesthetic perspective, facial slimming may be appropriate if you have:
- A square or wide lower face because of muscle bulk
- Facial asymmetry related to uneven masseter muscle size
- A desire for a softer, slimming jawline
- A square or full lower face despite low body fat
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Benefits of facial slimming
The benefits of facial slimming extent just beyond pure appearance alone, which is why it is a popular treatment for both medical and cosmetic reasons.
Key benefits include:
- Very quick treatment time (less than 2 minutes)
- No downtime after the procedure
- Simple aftercare instructions
- No change to the underlying structure of function of the muscle
- Gradual softening of the lower face
- Balanced facial proportions
- Reduced jaw clenching and tension
Because results develop gradually, facial slimming looks natural, and is hard for other’s to detect as being a result of a cosmetic treatment.
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Facial slimming before and after results
Before and after results for facial slimming require careful interpretation. Unlike treatments that produce immediate volume changes, facial slimming results develop gradually over time.
Most visible changes occur within 6 weeks, with continued refinement possible with maintenance sessions. Results are influenced by muscle size, treatment plan, and whether treatments are repeated.
When reviewing before and after images, it is important to consider:
- Camera angle and head position of the person (tilting the chin up or down can accentuate the result)
- Distance between the camera and the person (closer photographs make the face look wider – compare the appearance of the ears to see if the distance is comparable)
- Time elapsed since treatment, number of sessions, and any other adjunct treatments that can accentuate the changes.
Results are assessed by a combination of aesthetic change, muscle feel and symmetry, and reported improvements in tension-related comfort.
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Facial slimming treatment process
Understanding what to expect during a facial slimming treatment will help you better prepare should you wish to proceed.
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Planning
- A qualified practitioner assesses your lower face, including the bone, fat and masseter muscles, to determine your suitability
- If deemed suitable, the next step is selecting the appropriate treatment strength. This depends not just on the size and strength of the muscles, but also on your result preferences
- Expected outcomes, number of sessions, costs, and potential risks are discussed
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Treatment
- Numbing can be applied, although most people find the treatment very tolerable with only a small scratch sensation
- The area is cleaned, and injection sites are marked
- The treatment is administered using extremely small needles
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Post-treatment care
- Discussion of aftercare instructions, including what to avoid, and next steps for follow-up and maintenance
Discomfort: Most patients experience very minimal discomfort during the treatment, similar to a sharp scratch. This discomfort is only experienced during the injection. Once complete there should be no sensations felt.
Duration: Each facial slimming session typically takes less than 2 minutes.
Number of sessions: Most patients see results with one session. To maintain your results, repeat treatments are typically scheduled every 3-4 months, however results can start to last longer with consistent maintenance. Some people find after a few treatments, they only need maintenance every 6-12 months.
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Downtime, aftercare & recovery
What to expect after treatment
After facial slimming, most people experience very slight redness at the back of the jaw for 15-30 minutes. Tenderness and bruising are uncommon, and the area typically heals quickly.
Downtime & recovery
There is no true downtime after facial slimming. You can return to normal activities in the same day.
First 24-48 hours
During this period, any redness or tenderness will settle. You should avoid applying pressure to the area for a few hours.
Day 7-14
You may begin to notice a reduction in muscle tension.
Week 2-4
Day-by-day, your jawline will gradually slim as the masseter muscle bulk reduces.
Facial slimming aftercare guidelines
- Do not apply pressure to the jaw for 4 hours
- Avoid makeup, smoking, alcohol, and hot environments until the next day.
- Your practitioner may provide additional instructions depending on your personal needs.
Recovery expectations
- You can return to normal activities immediately after the treatment (while adhering to the standard aftercare guidelines).
- Results develop over 2-6 weeks, and further refinements may be possible with repeat treatments.
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Facial slimming cost & price in Australia
Understanding the cost of facial slimming helps you plan for treatment and make an informed choice about whether it is worth investing in. Most people opt to try the treatment once to see if they enjoy the results, and if so, then plan how often they are happy to maintain the effects, based on their ongoing needs and budget.
Typical price ranges
Facial slimming costs vary depending on the treatment extent. Pricing is most commonly based on the amount of product required.
Muscle Size/Strength Price per Session (AUD)
Standard $600-900
Large/strong $800-$1100
At Cosmetic Connection, we charge an all-inclusive flat-fee for facial slimming treatments that target the masseter muscles. This is to help you make informed treatment decisions with certainty over what the costs will be, rather then vague pricing around treatment extent, which you never fully know until you start treatment.
Factors affecting cost
Costs is influenced by:
- Muscle size and strength
- Whether one or both sides are treated
- Number of sessions required
- Clinician expertise and clinic location
Cost comparison
Compared to surgical jaw reduction, facial slimming is significantly more affordable, and carries far less risk, and no downtime. This means you don’t need time off work to have the treatment.
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Facial slimming side effects & risks
Facial slimming is considered a safe and non-invasive treatments when administered by qualified medical professionals. However, like any procedure, mild side effects can occur.
Common, mild side effects
- Temporary redness at the injection sites
- Minor bruising or tenderness
Rare or uncommon reactions
- Temporary smile asymmetry, which resolves on its own
- Temporary masseter muscle bulging, usually treatable with a touch-up
- Accentuation of pre-existing jowls (Note that the treatment does not cause jowls, rather it can make existing ones more noticeable. This resolves as the treatment wears off).
Safety considerations
- Facial slimming should only be administered by trained, licensed medical practitioners or registered nurses.
- Treatment should be avoided in people with active skin infections or flaring autoimmune skin conditions in the treatment area.
- Pregnant patients may be able to have treatment, with clearance from their obstetrician.
Minimising risks
- A pre-treatment consultation to assess suitability is mandatory
- Strict hygiene and aseptic technique during injections reduces infection risk
- Following aftercare instructions carefully helps speed up healing, and reduce side effects
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Facial slimming vs other treatments
When someone thinks their face looks too wide or square, one of the most important things to know is which treatments are available. Causes of a wide lower face include large masseter muscles, excessive facial fat, large buccal fat pocket, and a wide jaw bone.
Knowing the specific causes in your case is vital to ensure the correct treatments are recommended. During your assessment, clinicians look and feel the jaw to work out what is actually causing your lower face to appear wide.
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Treatment timeline & results expectations
Facial slimming works gradually, slimming the masseter muscles over time. Understanding the treatment schedule and expected outcomes helps manage expectations.
Timeline:
- Immediately after treatment: Minor redness and tenderness; usually resolves within 24 hours.
- 1-2 weeks: Relaxation of the muscles, with alleviation of tension and related concerns.
- 4-6 weeks: Slimming of the lower face and jawline.
Treatment course:
- Most people only require 1 session to achieve satisfactory results. Occasionally for larger muscles, gradually slimming over two sessions may be needed.
- Results emerge gradually, delivery subtle and natural-looking changes.
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Facial slimming FAQs
Is facial slimming safe?
Facial slimming is classified as a safe treatment when performed by a qualified medical practitioner, although there are possible side effects.
How long do results last?
Results typically last 3-6 months, although longer lasting effects are possible with regular treatments.
What does it feel like?
Most people experience a slight sharp scratch during the treatment. Once complete, there should be no discomfort.
Who is it suitable for?
Facial slimming is suitable for people with a square jaw or tension-related concerns that are caused by enlarged masseter muscles.
What is the downtime?
Facial slimming has no downtime.
Is facial slimming the same as jaw contouring?
No, facial slimming slims your jawline by reducing the size of your masseter muscles. Jaw contouring focusses on adding volume and structure to define the jawline.
Does facial slimming improve jawline definition?
No, facial slimming reducing the width of the jawline, but does not improve definition. Treatments for jaw structure are necessary if you wish to define your jawline.
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Facial slimming in Australia
Facial slimming is a highly popular treatment in Australia, especially in Sydney and Melbourne, due to its combined aesthetic and medical benefits.
Searching online for a “facial slimming treatment near me”?
Curious about whether facial slimming treatment is right for you? Explore our facial slimming treatment page.
Citations
DOI:10.1016/j.jaad.2024.10.064
DOI:10.1093/asjof/ojad005
DOA:10.3390/dj12060156
