Salivary gland hypertrophy in Suwon: why does the area under the jaw swell, and how does salivary gland Botox work?

If the area under your chin looks thick or the area below your ears bulges even though you have not gained weight, it is worth first checking whether the bulge comes from the salivary glands. Salivary gland hypertrophy is a condition in which the parotid gland below the ear or the submandibular gland under the jawbone enlarges, making the area below the ear bulge or the area under the chin look thick like a double chin.

Salivary gland Botox works by reducing the secretion signals sent to the salivary glands to lower their activity, and while that state continues, the volume of the glands gradually decreases. At FACE FILTER Clinic Suwon, the consultation first determines whether the bulging area is a salivary gland, chewing muscle, or fat, and then the glands to be injected are chosen.

This article covers, in order, the causes of salivary gland hypertrophy, how to distinguish it from double-chin fat and square-jaw muscle, the injection sites and process for salivary gland Botox, timing of effects and aftercare, and side effects.

Salivary Gland Hypertrophy: Key Points

• Salivary gland hypertrophy arises from a combination of constitution and habits that stimulate the salivary glands, such as eating tough, hard foods, frequent drinking, and vomiting.
• If it rises when you clench your teeth, it is likely muscle; if it is soft, fat; and if you can feel round lumps on both sides under the chin, it may be the submandibular glands.
• Salivary gland Botox is injected into an enlarged parotid or submandibular gland to reduce secretion signals, and the volume decreases gradually.
• The salivary glands return to their original size over six to eight months, so for ongoing care the treatment is repeated every four to five months.

Why does salivary gland hypertrophy occur?

There are three pairs of major salivary glands that produce saliva: the parotid glands, which spread widely from just below and in front of the ears toward the back of the cheeks; the submandibular glands, located on both sides under the jawbone; and the sublingual glands under the tongue. It is mainly the first two that affect the facial contour. The more stimulation the salivary glands receive, the more they work and the larger they become; typical stimuli include a habit of frequently eating tough, hard foods, spicy and salty foods, frequent drinking, and repeated vomiting, and a constitution that naturally produces a lot of saliva also plays a role.

If only one side suddenly swells and hurts, you have a fever, the area repeatedly swells and subsides with every meal, or you can feel a hard lump, it may be a condition such as sialadenitis, a salivary stone, or a tumor. These symptoms call for an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) examination before any cosmetic procedure.

How is salivary gland hypertrophy distinguished from double-chin fat and square-jaw muscle?

There are several reasons why the area under and beside the jaw can look thick, and the right approach differs depending on the cause.

If fullness below the ears remains even after square-jaw Botox, we check whether the parotid gland is contributing. When several causes are present, a single treatment cannot address all of the fullness, so separating the right method for each cause and setting the order makes the result easier to predict.

Salivary gland Botox: injection sites and treatment steps

How salivary gland Botox works and where it is injected

Saliva is produced in response to a signal called acetylcholine released from autonomic nerve endings. When botulinum toxin blocks this signal, the secretory stimulation reaching the salivary gland decreases, and as the period of reduced activity accumulates, the volume of the gland tissue gradually decreases.

Injection sites depend on which salivary gland is enlarged. The parotid gland sits in front of and below the ear, covering the back of the chewing muscle, and lies close to the nerve that moves facial expressions, so we adjust the depth carefully; for the submandibular gland, we inject directly into the glands felt on both sides under the jawbone. Salivary gland Botox does not shrink the facial bones or the muscles as a whole; the change is limited to the width below the ears and the lower jawline where the salivary glands are located.

Treatment steps at our Suwon clinic

1. Personalized Consultation
2. Design
3. Disinfection
4. Treatment

The procedure takes about 10 minutes, and you can return to daily life right afterward. It varies with muscle mass and lifestyle, but the salivary glands gradually return to their original size over 6 to 8 months, so for ongoing care, injections are repeated every 4 to 5 months. Whether to treat the parotid or the submandibular gland is decided by feeling the size and position of the glands and looking at the angles from which the fullness shows.

View salivary gland Botox treatment information

When salivary gland Botox takes effect and aftercare

• You can wash your face and wear makeup starting 2-3 hours after treatment.
• For 3 to 7 days after treatment, avoid heavy drinking, smoking, saunas and Korean bathhouses, hot baths, and strenuous exercise.
• Do not rub the treated area hard, and avoid strong massage or meridian massage for one month.
• Forced vomiting can shorten how long the effect lasts and can cause pain, so avoid it.

Right after the procedure, there is little change in contour, and you may first notice less saliva; changes in volume usually begin to appear gradually after 1 to 2 weeks and continue until a little over a month later. When judging the change, compare under the same lighting and head angle, and distinguish it from temporary swelling caused by salty food or lack of sleep. Repeating injections at intervals that are too short can reduce the drug's effectiveness, so it is best to keep to the recommended interval.

Side effects and precautions of salivary gland Botox

Mild bruising and swelling may appear at the injection sites, but they are slight and soon subside. The treated area may feel stiff after the procedure, but this is temporary, and as saliva decreases your mouth may feel drier than usual. The degree of effect and reaction varies from person to person.

In rare cases, if the drug spreads to surrounding areas, chewing or swallowing may feel uncomfortable or your expression may look uneven on one side, so for sites close to nerves, such as the parotid gland, we set the depth and dose carefully. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a neuromuscular condition such as myasthenia gravis, or are taking antibiotics that affect muscle signaling, please let us know before the procedure.

If you have difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, dry mouth severe enough to make eating hard, or noticeably uneven expression on one side, please contact the clinic right away.

What is checked before salivary gland Botox?

If these apply to you, start with a salivary gland examination

• The area under your chin looks thick compared with your body weight.
• The area running from below your ears back toward your cheeks bulges.
• Fullness below your ears remains even after square-jaw Botox.
• You often eat chewy or salty food and drink alcohol frequently.

If two or more apply, it is best to first check whether the fullness comes from the salivary glands or from muscle or fat. Whether to proceed, and the method and extent of treatment, are decided together in consultation after the medical team's examination.

In short, the key to treating salivary gland enlargement is first determining whether the salivary glands are the cause of the fullness, injecting according to the enlarged gland, and then maintaining care at proper intervals.

FAQ

Q. When does salivary gland Botox start to take effect?

A. Right after the procedure there is little change in contour; changes in volume usually start to show gradually after 1 to 2 weeks and continue until a little over a month later. The extent of change varies from person to person depending on how enlarged the salivary glands were before treatment.

Q. Where is salivary gland Botox injected?

A. We inject whichever is enlarged: the parotid gland in front of and below the ear, or the submandibular glands on both sides under the jawbone. Because the parotid gland is close to the facial nerve, we adjust the depth carefully, and we decide the injection sites after feeling the glands to confirm which one is the cause and checking its size and position.

Q. Does salivary gland Botox make your mouth very dry?

A. You may feel that less saliva is produced, but it rarely interferes with eating, and it returns as the drug wears off. Drinking water often can help, and if dry mouth is severe enough to make eating difficult, please do not put up with it and contact the clinic.

Q. Can I get square-jaw Botox and salivary gland Botox on the same day?

A. The chewing muscle and the salivary glands are different tissues, so they are sometimes injected together on the same day. We first check whether the fullness comes from the muscle or the salivary glands, then set the injection range and dose for each area along with the expected swelling schedule.

Q. Is Botox the only treatment for salivary gland enlargement?

A. Botox is mainly used to adjust salivary gland volume for cosmetic purposes. If there is pain or fever, if only one side swells suddenly, or if you can feel a hard lump, it may be a different condition, so it is best to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist first.

Q. How can I find out the cost of salivary gland Botox?

A. The cost depends on the areas and extent of injection. We explain it after confirming in consultation whether you will treat the parotid or submandibular gland and whether you will also get square-jaw Botox, and you can also check it on the treatment information page.