How to slim down a large masseter muscle
Disease description:
I am 28 years old this year. Recently, I have been feeling that my masseter muscles are somewhat enlarged, making my face appear generally rounder and giving the impression of being overweight. I want to get Botox injections for facial slimming, but I am worried about potential side effects. Doctor, I would like to ask, how can I reduce enlarged masseter muscles?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Han Xuefeng
Masseter muscle hypertrophy is usually caused by frequent chewing of hard foods, excessive teeth grinding, or genetic factors. To reduce the size of the masseter muscles, you can try the following methods:
1. **Change eating habits**: Reduce consumption of foods that require extensive chewing, such as chewing gum and hard nuts, to decrease masseter muscle usage.
2. **Facial exercises**: Perform gentle facial stretching exercises, such as slowly opening your mouth to the widest comfortable extent and then closing it gradually, repeating several times, which may help relax the muscles.
3. **Overall weight loss**: Engaging in full-body aerobic exercise and maintaining a healthy diet can help reduce overall body fat, including facial fat, indirectly making the masseter muscles appear smaller.
Note that if you experience tooth wear or sleep bruxism (teeth grinding during sleep), you should seek medical attention promptly.
