What Are Salivary Gland and Temporalis Botox?
Salivary gland Botox is a procedure that injects botulinum toxin into the parotid gland (the gland below the ear) or the submandibular gland (the gland under the jaw) to temporarily reduce saliva production. People become candidates for it when they have excessive saliva, repeated swelling below the ear during meals, or when the goal is oral health care or reducing drooling during sleep.
Temporalis Botox is a procedure that injects botulinum toxin into the temporalis muscle, located at the temple above the ear, to relax its tension. When the temporalis muscle is chronically tense from a habit of clenching or from grinding the teeth during sleep (bruxism), temple headaches or facial fatigue can occur. It is used to reduce this pattern of tension by relaxing the temporalis muscle.
What Symptoms Occur When the Temporalis Muscle Is Tense?
The temporalis muscle is one of the chewing muscles that pull the mandible (lower jawbone) upward to close the mouth. If a habit of clenching hard, grinding during sleep or stress-related tension continues, the temporalis muscle becomes thicker or stays in a constant state of tension.
The resulting symptoms vary.
- Stiffness or persistent headaches around the temples
- A feeling of fatigue around the jaw on waking
- Temple pain when chewing or speaking for a long time
- Increased width of the upper face due to an enlarged temporalis muscle
Injecting botulinum toxin into the temporalis muscle relaxes the overactive muscle and may ease the tension symptoms above. However, the effect differs with the severity of symptoms, muscle thickness and whether the grinding habit continues.
Who Is Salivary Gland Botox Suited To?
A state in which the parotid or submandibular gland produces too much saliva is called "sialorrhea" (excessive salivation). A feeling of tight swelling below the ear during meals, repeated drooling during sleep, or functional over-secretion not related to certain medications or neurological problems may fall into this category.
Injecting botulinum toxin into the salivary gland area blocks the release of acetylcholine and temporarily reduces the activity of the exocrine gland. When the salivary gland itself is noticeably large, this method may also have a secondary effect on facial contour, but the main purpose of this procedure is to regulate secretion.
Because the causes of sialorrhea vary, it is recommended to discuss your current medications and overall condition thoroughly before treatment.
What Should You Check Before Salivary Gland and Temporalis Botox?
When the treatment area is wide or several areas are treated at the same time, the design of the total dose and injection sites is important. The temporalis and masseter (the muscle behind a square jaw) are adjacent, so if the injection site is not accurate, it can affect an unintended range.
The main points to check before treatment are as follows.
- Treatment is not possible if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have a neuromuscular disease (such as myasthenia gravis)
- If you are taking anticoagulants, you need to tell the clinic beforehand (higher risk of bruising and bleeding)
- If you have had an abnormal reaction after a previous botulinum toxin treatment, generally disclose it at the consultation
- For temporalis injections, check how close the site is to the muscles that lift the forehead and eyebrows
- Your mouth may become temporarily dry after salivary gland Botox
At Repic Clinic in Gangnam, the suitable injection areas and dose are decided individually through a consultation before treatment.
Can Salivary Gland and Temporalis Botox Be Done on the Same Day?
The two areas are anatomically distinct, so same-day treatment is often possible. However, because the treatment sites are concentrated around the ear and the dose accumulates, it is usual to adjust the order of treatment according to the individual's condition and dose design.
There are also cases in which masseter Botox (for a square jaw) and temporalis Botox are planned together. In that case, the dose for each muscle needs to be decided with the functional relationship between the two muscles in mind. Which area to treat first and what interval to leave are decided at the consultation.
Notice and Precautions
The effect and duration of salivary gland and temporalis Botox may differ with an individual's muscle condition, dose and lifestyle. Repic Clinic in Gangnam is located at 318 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, basement levels 1 and 2.
Official Information
You can find more details on the official website.
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※ This content is for general information only and does not replace a medical diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before any procedure. Results, downtime and side effects vary from person to person.