Type A botulinum toxin for the treatment of hypertrophy of the masseter and temporal muscles: An alternative treatment

The treatment of hypertrophy of the masseter and temporal muscles has to da te been dominated by conservative and surgical measures. Local therapy with type A botulinum toxin permits an alternative method of treatment. After targeted, sometimes electromyographically controlled, intramuscular i njection of the affected muscles, marked inactivity atrophy occurred in the muscles of seven patients over the course of 3 to 8 weeks. This atrophy re mained constant over a follow-up period of up to 25 months, and no side eff ects were observed. Because of its minimal invasiveness, this technique see ms to have an advantage over conventional surgical therapy. Consequently, t reatment with type A botulinum toxin can be regarded as a sensible alternat ive to surgery in cases of hypertrophy of the masseter and/or temporal musc les.