Can I Get Botox For Masseter Muscle Swelling After Mandibular Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, A week ago I had mandibular implants placed. My jaw muscles are not extremely large and bloated. Is getting Botox so soon after surgery an option? Would that compromise the result or healing, or would it have any negative effect on the implant? 

Thanks 

A: While your questions are more appropriate for the surgeon who did the procedure and that is really his/her responsibility to answer them, I will do you the courtesy of providing an answer.

Aesthetic recovery from jaw angle implants takes a full three months to see the final result. It would be completely expected to have swollen jaw angle tissues at this early point after surgery. The use of Botox injections would be both biologically and medically the wrong thing to do and could well end up infecting the implants. Time is the answer to your facial swelling issues and there is no easy and simple method to expedite that process.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana