Face Slimming
Sydney.
A softer, more defined jawline in under 20 minutes. Masseter slimming injections precisely relax the chewing muscle to gradually reduce jaw width — creating a naturally slimmer facial profile without surgery and without scars. Most people return to their usual activities straight away, and the change in jaw width is judged at six to twelve weeks rather than on the day.
Two Concerns. One Treatment.
Jawline Contouring
A hypertrophic (enlarged) masseter muscle creates a square, wide jawline that many clients — particularly those with East Asian facial structure — find disproportionate to their desired look. Masseter reduction gradually softens the jaw angle, creating a slimmer, more V-shaped facial profile that looks completely natural.
Bruxism & Jaw Tension Relief
Teeth grinding (bruxism) and chronic jaw tension are caused by an overactive masseter muscle. By relaxing this muscle with precise muscle relaxant injections, masseter treatment significantly reduces grinding force, jaw clenching, headaches, and TMJ-related pain — often improving sleep quality substantially within weeks.
Asian Facial Anatomy.
Our Specialization.
Masseter slimming is one of the most anatomy-sensitive injectable procedures — precision placement matters enormously for both safety and result quality. Incorrect injection placement can affect the smile, cause uneven reduction, or miss the muscle entirely.
At MARA.H, injectable treatments are carried out by the MARA.H clinical team, following an individual consultation and prescription by Dr Jenn Lee, an Ahpra Registered Practitioner (General Registration MED0002666421). With a Chatswood clientele that is significantly Asian, our team has accumulated exceptional expertise in East Asian facial anatomy specifically.
What to Expect.
Consultation & Assessment
Your clinician assesses your masseter size, jaw symmetry, and facial proportions to determine the optimal injection placement and dosage for your anatomy. Australian regulations require a cooling-off period between consultation and first treatment for new patients.
The Injection (under 20 minutes)
Precisely targeted muscle relaxant injections are placed bilaterally into the masseter muscle using fine needles. The procedure is quick, with minimal discomfort.
Progressive Reduction (4–8 weeks)
As the muscle gradually relaxes, it reduces in bulk over 4–8 weeks. Results are subtle and progressive — never sudden or dramatic — which is exactly what creates a natural-looking outcome.
Maintenance
Most clients maintain with 1–2 treatments per year. With repeated treatment the muscle tends to reduce in size, and the interval between treatments often lengthens. How much it reduces, and for how long, varies between individuals.
“The goal is never to remove the jawline — it is to refine it. A softened jaw angle should look like your face has always looked this way. That is the standard we work to.”
— Dr Jenn Lee · Ahpra Registered Practitioner MED0002666421
Risks, Recovery and Suitability
What most people experience
Small raised bumps at the injection points that settle within about half an hour, and tenderness along the jaw for a day or two. Bruising can occur. Many people notice their bite feels weaker or their jaw tires more easily when chewing firm food during the first few weeks, and this settles as the muscle adapts. Change in jaw width is gradual and is usually judged at six to twelve weeks, not on the day.
Less common risks you should know about
Product can affect the muscles used for smiling, giving an uneven or altered smile until the effect wears off — weeks to months rather than days. The two sides can respond differently and look asymmetric. Where a large muscle is reduced quickly, the remaining muscle can bulge oddly on clenching, and in thinner faces the mid-face can look more hollow once the jaw narrows. Repeated treatment over years affects how the muscle sits and works. Infection at an injection site, prolonged jaw ache, and difficulty chewing firm food are possible. Careful placement and dose reduce these risks rather than removing them.
Recovery and what it affects
Most people return to their usual activities straight away, but avoid rubbing or massaging the jaw, and avoid strenuous exercise and saunas for the rest of the day. Choose softer food for the first week if chewing feels tiring. Because the change builds over weeks, book well ahead of an event rather than close to it.
Results and responses vary
How much narrowing you see depends on how much of your jaw width comes from muscle rather than bone or fat. Where the width is skeletal, this treatment will not change it, and that is decided at assessment rather than after a session. Muscle rebuilds if treatment stops, so the change is maintained with repeat sessions. People treating jaw tension or grinding often notice that change before they notice any change in shape.
When this isn’t suitable, or needs assessment first
This treatment is not appropriate during pregnancy or breastfeeding, over active infection or inflamed skin in the treatment area, or where you have a neuromuscular condition such as myasthenia gravis. Certain antibiotics and muscle relaxant medications interact with it. Significant facial asymmetry, a jaw joint disorder, dental problems that have not been assessed, a thin lower face, a bleeding disorder or ongoing blood-thinning medication, and a previous unsatisfactory response all mean we assess before proceeding. Prescription injectable treatments at MARA.H follow consultation with Dr Jenn Lee, an Ahpra Registered Practitioner (General Registration MED0002666421), and suitability is decided at that consultation rather than before it.
If something doesn’t seem right
Call the clinic on 0468 358 861. An uneven smile, difficulty opening or closing the mouth, difficulty swallowing, spreading redness, increasing pain, discharge or fever should be looked at rather than waited out. If it is severe or you are worried, contact your GP or call 000.
After a muscle-relaxing injection
On the day
No makeup on the day of treatment. The friction of applying makeup with fingers or tools can move the product into areas it was not meant for; you can wear makeup again the next day. For the first four hours, do not lie flat and do not lean markedly forward, as either can move the product away from where it was placed. If swelling stays with you, a cold compress helps — rest it on the skin without pressing down.
Days 2 to 7
Keep heat-raising activity out for the first 24 hours: vigorous exercise, spas and saunas. A raised heart rate and increased blood flow can move the product and can add to swelling and bruising at the treated points. Try to sleep on your back the first night; if you normally sleep on your side, a pillow tucked against your side helps. Hold off on other facial treatments — facials, microdermabrasion, laser and massage — for one week.
Avoid throughout the recovery period
Do not apply heat to a swollen injection site, and do not reach for anti-inflammatory pain relief of the ibuprofen type to manage it — both can add to the discomfort and can move the product. If you take medication of that kind regularly, raise it with your treating practitioner rather than stopping on your own.
Sun protection
SPF50+ every day for the first two weeks, reapplied every two hours when you are outdoors, with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Hyaluronic acid products help with hydration and can be used as part of your usual routine.
When you can resume
| Activity | When |
|---|---|
| Makeup | The next day |
| Lying flat, or leaning well forward | After 4 hours |
| Vigorous exercise, spas, saunas | After 24 hours |
| Other facial treatments — facials, microdermabrasion, laser, massage | After 1 week |
| Sleeping on your side | Back-sleeping is preferred for the first night |
| Cold compress for swelling | As needed — rest it on the skin, no pressure |
| Your next treatment of any kind | Your treating practitioner will set the interval |
Call us if
Swelling that keeps increasing, spreading redness, increasing pain, or any change in how the treated area moves that concerns you. Call the clinic on 0468 358 861 and do not wait for your next appointment to raise it. Outside opening hours, or if it is severe, contact your GP or call 000.
One more thing
Your treating practitioner will give you instructions based on how you actually responded on the day. Those take priority over this page.
Face Slimming FAQ
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Learn More →This page provides general information only and does not constitute medical advice. All treatments require an individual medical consultation to assess suitability. Information about prescription-only treatments is available during consultation in line with TGA and Ahpra guidelines. Individual results may vary, and treatment carries risks that are discussed at consultation.