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The mentalis muscle is a central muscle of the lower lip, situated at the tip of the chin. It is sometimes referred to as the pouting muscle due to its role in raising the lower lip and causing chin wrinkles. Various issues can arise with this muscle, such as strain, dimpling, or genetic movement disorders. Treatments for these issues include certain medications, Botox or Dysport injections, lip exercises, and in more severe cases, surgery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Surgery | Plastic surgery is a common approach to enhancing the chin. Botox or Dysport injections can be used to relax the mentalis muscle and smooth chin dimples. |
| Medication | Certain medications, such as muscle relaxants, can help reduce muscle overactivity. |
| Exercises | Lip exercises can help relax an overactive mentalis muscle. |
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What You'll Learn
Botox injections to relax the mentalis muscle
Botox injections are a popular cosmetic procedure to relax the mentalis muscle and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the face. The injections contain a purified protein that targets specific muscles, preventing them from contracting and causing wrinkles to form. This procedure is often carried out to address chin dimpling, which can occur due to an overactive mentalis muscle. The mentalis muscle is a central muscle of the lower lip, situated at the tip of the chin, and it can cause chin wrinkles when contracted.
Botox injections are an effective way to temporarily relax this muscle and smooth out the chin, resulting in a more youthful appearance. The treatment is quick, usually taking around 10 to 15 minutes, and patients can return to their daily activities immediately after. The results become noticeable within a few days, with the full effects visible after about two weeks. The effects typically last between three to four months, and additional treatments will be needed to maintain the results.
The number of units required to treat the mentalis muscle is minimal, ranging from 5 to 20 units of Botox. The injections are generally safe when performed by a trained and qualified professional. However, it is important to disclose your medical history and any medications you are taking to ensure the treatment is suitable.
While Botox is considered the best treatment for relaxing the mentalis muscle, other options include filler in the chin region and certain medications for conditions like geniospasm, a genetic movement disorder of the mentalis muscle.
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Lip exercises to relax the mentalis muscle
The mentalis muscle is a central muscle of the lower lip, situated at the tip of the chin. It is sometimes called the "pouting muscle" because it raises the lower lip and causes chin wrinkles. A strained mentalis muscle can be temporarily relaxed with Botox or Dysport injections. However, if you are looking for a more natural approach, there are lip exercises that can help relax the mentalis muscle.
- Start with your mouth slightly open and your upper and lower lips relaxed.
- Begin to smile, stretching the corners of your mouth laterally while keeping your lips in slight contact. Hold this position for 10 seconds.
- Expand your smile slightly laterally and upward to show your teeth, controlling the parallelism of the corners of your mouth, and hold for another 10 seconds.
- Increase muscle tension by showing more teeth and exhibiting a lateral expansion of the cheeks.
- Relax the lower part of your face, keeping just the edges of your upper teeth visible, and maintain this position for 10 seconds.
- Go back to the initial position, but this time, try to keep a slight tension in your jaw for 10 seconds.
- Form a full smile and hold it while applying pressure with your fingers at each corner of your mouth.
- Try to close your smile completely by pressing your lips together in the middle while resisting with your fingers for 10 seconds. Then relax.
- For the next exercise, place your fingers at the corners of your mouth and apply lateral pressure. Try to resist the muscle pull and maintain this position for 10 seconds.
- Keep your mouth slightly open and flare your nostrils.
These exercises should be performed consistently over a few months to effectively relax the mentalis muscle and improve the appearance of the chin.
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Muscle relaxants to reduce muscle overactivity
A hyperactive, strained mentalis muscle can be temporarily relaxed with Botox or Dysport injections to help smooth a dimpled chin. Anywhere from 5 to 20 units of Botox may be administered to relax the mentalis muscle and improve the appearance of the chin.
Botox and Dysport can be administered before and/or after chin surgery. Botox is a brand name for botulinum toxin, which can be injected to partially paralyse the mentalis muscle and reduce wrinkling of the skin of the chin. This may be done for cosmetic purposes.
Muscle relaxants, or muscle relaxers, are medications used to treat muscle spasms or muscle spasticity. Muscle spasms or cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions of a muscle or group of muscles, which can be caused by too much muscle strain and lead to pain. Muscle spasticity, on the other hand, is a continuous muscle spasm that causes stiffness, rigidity, or tightness that can interfere with normal walking, talking, or movement.
Muscle relaxants can be used to treat muscle-related symptoms, like spasticity and spasms. They are prescription medications that affect muscle function. Muscle relaxants can be used to treat severe pain, discomfort, and/or functional disability due to muscle spasms or stiffness. They are generally prescribed when other treatments, such as over-the-counter medications, physical therapy, stretching, or heat therapy, have been ineffective.
Some common muscle relaxants include:
- Baclofen (Lioresal)
- Dantrolene (Dantrium)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Carisoprodol (Soma, Vanadom)
- Chlorzoxazone (Lorzone, Parafon Forte DSC, Relax-DS, Remular S)
- Cyclobenzaprine (Fexmid, Flexeril)
- Metaxalone (Metaxall, Skelaxin)
- Methocarbamol (Robaxin)
- Orphenadrine (Norflex)
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Chin surgery to fix a high-riding mentalis muscle
A high-riding mentalis muscle can occur when the muscle is not attached to the lower chin bone, either congenitally or from prior jaw surgery. As a result, the chin may take on a more blunted appearance when viewed in profile, or a "button" or ball-like shape when viewed from the front. This condition can be addressed through chin surgery, also known as chin augmentation or genioplasty.
During chin surgery, the mentalis muscle is preserved and not removed or lifted. Instead, chin implants are placed deep or under the mentalis muscle, onto the bone, allowing the muscle to slide over the implant. This approach helps to avoid postoperative problems with muscle function and reduces the risk of chin stiffness and tightness.
Prior to surgery, it is important to consider the position, size, and relative tension of the mentalis muscle, as these factors can influence the appearance of the chin. In some cases, non-surgical treatments may be recommended to address a high-riding mentalis muscle. For example, Botox or Dysport injections can be used to temporarily relax and smooth the muscle, improving the appearance of the chin. These injections can be administered before and/or after chin surgery as needed.
Additionally, exercises for overactive mentalis muscles may be recommended, such as lip exercises that focus on dissociating from the mentalis. These exercises are typically performed over a period of a few months to help relax the muscle. Keeping the lips closed is also important, as it prevents the overuse of the mentalis muscle associated with certain bite conditions.
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Medication to treat geniospasm, a genetic movement disorder of the mentalis muscle
Geniospasm is a rare genetic movement disorder of the mentalis muscle, involving involuntary, repetitive contractions of the muscle. The contractions result in rhythmic or irregular twitching, "quivering", or "trembling" movements of the chin and lower lip. The episodes can last anywhere from seconds to hours and may be triggered by stress or excitement. While the genetic basis of the disorder is not yet fully understood, it can be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern or occur sporadically.
As there is currently no established optimal treatment for geniospasm, various medications and procedures have been used with varying outcomes. One effective treatment option is the use of botulinum toxin (BTX) injections, which can temporarily paralyse the mentalis muscle and reduce wrinkling of the skin on the chin. This treatment has been shown to resolve symptoms completely without causing any adverse effects or impairing facial expression or speech. Botox® and Dysport® are brand names for botulinum toxin injections, with Botox being given in amounts ranging from 5 to 20 units.
In addition to botulinum toxin injections, certain medications have been used to treat geniospasm. These include haloperidol and benzodiazepines such as clonazepam and onabotulinumtoxinA (a type of botulinum toxin). However, the effectiveness of these medications may vary, and in some cases, patients may not require any treatment at all.
While geniospasm typically improves with age, complete spontaneous remission of the disorder is uncommon. It is important to note that due to the rarity of the condition, guidance on prognosis and management strategies can be challenging to obtain. Therefore, future studies with higher evidence levels are crucial to better understand and treat geniospasm.
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Frequently asked questions
If you have a noticeable overbite, underbite, or open bite, your mentalis muscle may be overused as you have to keep your lips closed. This can cause the muscle to be strained, which can lead to chin dimpling and a "pouting" appearance.
Botox or Dysport injections can be used to relax the mentalis muscle and reduce chin dimpling. Certain medications, such as muscle relaxants, can also help reduce muscle overactivity. For more severe cases, surgery may be an option to release part of the mentalis muscle and reduce dimpling.
Yes, there are specific lip exercises that can help relax the mentalis muscle. These exercises are meant to be performed over a few months and can be found in the MYO MANUAL.
