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Wrinkles & Contour
Botox (Botulinum Toxin)
It relaxes the muscle that makes a line or squares a jaw. It does not fill anything, and it wears off — which is the point.
Procedure time
About 10–15 minutes
Anaesthesia
Usually none; ice or cream if preferred
Onset & duration
Starts 3–7 days, lasts 3–4 months
Downtime
Little to none; occasional small bruise
What it is
A muscle relaxer, not a filler
Botox is a purified botulinum toxin type A. Injected in tiny amounts, it briefly blocks the signal a nerve sends to a muscle, so that muscle stops pulling as hard. Where the pulling made a line, the line softens. Where an over-developed muscle widened a jaw, the jaw slims as the muscle rests.
It treats movement, not tissue. A line that is only there when you frown responds well. A line etched in at rest, or a face that has lost volume, is a different problem — often better answered by a collagen stimulator or a filler, and we will say so.
The effect is temporary by design. That is a feature: dose and placement can be adjusted at the next visit, rather than committing you to something permanent.
How it works
Three things happen, in order
Understanding the order explains why it is not instant, and why it does not last forever.
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Placed into the target muscle
A very fine needle delivers a measured dose into the specific muscle. Which muscles, and how much in each, is the whole skill — too little does nothing, too much or the wrong spot looks unnatural.
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The signal is dialled down
The toxin blocks the release of acetylcholine, the messenger the nerve uses to tell the muscle to contract. Over the next few days the muscle relaxes, so it pulls less on the skin above it. This is why the change appears over three to seven days, not the same day.
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The nerve recovers
The block is not permanent. The nerve gradually forms new endings and the muscle regains its pull, usually over three to four months. That is why maintenance is a repeat visit rather than a one-off — and why a result you dislike will fade on its own.
Treatment areas
Where it is usually placed
Two different jobs share the same molecule: softening expression lines in the upper face, and slimming or calming an over-worked muscle. Which areas suit you is decided after your face is examined.
Frown lines
The vertical “11” between the brows — the most studied area for this treatment.
Forehead lines
Horizontal lines, dosed carefully so the brow still moves and does not drop.
Crow’s feet
The creases that fan out beside the eyes when you smile.
Masseter · jawline
Relaxing an enlarged chewing muscle to slim a square jaw, and to ease clenching or grinding.
Around the mouth & nose
Bunny lines, a gummy smile, or a subtle lip flip — small doses, precise placement.
Neck bands
The vertical platysma bands that stand out with age or tension.
Who it is for
A good fit when movement is the problem
It suits some concerns and not others. Better to hear that at consultation than to be talked into it.
- Lines that appear with expression and ease when the face is at rest
- A square or heavy jaw from an enlarged chewing muscle, or jaw clenching and grinding
- Anyone who wants softened movement, not a frozen face
- People starting early, to keep dynamic lines from etching in
- Anyone able to return for maintenance every few months
- Visitors who can allow three to seven days for the effect to appear
Not suitable, or not yet
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: there is no safety data
- Myasthenia gravis or another neuromuscular disorder
- Active infection or inflamed skin at the injection site
- Allergy to a previous botulinum toxin injection
- Deep lines that stay at rest: these often need a collagen stimulator, a filler or resurfacing instead of, or alongside, toxin
Booking before a wedding or a trip? Allow at least two weeks, so the result has settled and any small bruise has gone.
Planning it around a trip
Getting Botox in Seoul: what visitors usually want to know
If you are flying in from the US, you are probably fitting this into a week or two. Here is how it tends to work, so you can plan your days around it.
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Day one: consult and treat
You will usually see the doctor and be treated in the same visit. The appointment itself is short, so it fits easily around sightseeing. Come without makeup on the area if you can, and tell us about any medication or recent treatments.
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Days three to seven: it starts to show
Wrinkle treatments begin to soften within a few days and settle at around two weeks. Jaw slimming is slower: the chewing muscle relaxes first, and the visible change in face shape usually takes about four to six weeks — often after you are home.
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Before you fly home: a quick check
If your stay allows, a review around day 10 to 14 lets the doctor check symmetry and make a small adjustment. If it does not, we plan the dose conservatively and you can send photos from home.
Which brands are used in Korea?
Korea makes several well-known botulinum toxin products — you may see names like Botulax, Nabota (sold in the US as Jeuveau), Letybo and Innotox — and imported products are also available. They are all botulinum toxin type A, but they are not interchangeable unit for unit, and they differ slightly in how they are prepared. What matters more than the label is a licensed product, correct storage and an experienced injector. We tell you exactly which product is used before treatment, so you have it on record for your doctor at home.
Muscle Botox vs. “skin Botox”
Standard Botox goes into the muscle to soften lines that form when you move — frown lines, crow’s feet, a clenching jaw. Skin Botox (sometimes called micro-Botox) places tiny, diluted amounts just under the surface instead, mainly to make pores look smaller, calm oiliness and give that smoother, glassy finish Korean clinics are known for. They answer different concerns, and some people have both.
Jaw slimming and teeth grinding
Masseter (jaw) Botox is one of the most requested treatments by visitors. Besides softening a square jawline, relaxing the muscle can ease clenching and night-time grinding (bruxism) and the jaw tension that comes with it. If grinding or jaw pain is your main reason, mention it — it changes how the dose and placement are planned, and true joint problems (TMJ disorders) should also be looked at by a dentist or specialist.
About price
Many people come to Korea partly because treatment here is often less expensive than at home. The actual cost depends on the area, the amount needed and the product used, so we give you a clear quote after the consultation, before anything is done.
Flying and aftercare
For the first few hours, stay upright, avoid pressing or massaging the treated area and skip hot saunas or hard workouts for the rest of the day. Flying a day or two later is generally fine for most people. Small bruises can happen, so if you have photos or an event planned, leave yourself about two weeks.
Skin Guide
Botox guides by area
Each area has its own dose, timing and risks. These guides go into one area at a time.
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Jaw slimming
Masseter Botox for jaw slimming
How a square jaw slims over about two months, who it suits and the timeline.
Read now → -
Jaw · safety
Masseter Botox side effects
What is normal after jaw Botox, what is not, and when to contact the clinic.
Read now → -
Eyes
Crow’s feet Botox
Softening eye lines while keeping a natural smile.
Read now → -
Brows
Glabella Botox for the “11” lines
Typical units, onset and how a natural brow is kept.
Read now → -
Nose
Bunny lines Botox
The nose wrinkles that show when you smile.
Read now → -
Neck
Neck Botox for platysmal bands
What it can and cannot change in the neck and jawline.
Read now → -
For men
Men’s Botox
Same medicine, a different plan: stronger muscles and a flatter brow.
Read now → -
Visiting Seoul
Botox in Gangnam as a visitor
Five questions to ask any clinic, brands and how to time it on a trip.
Read now →
Go deeper
Related at Maylin
Botox answers movement. When the concern is skin quality, volume or laxity, these are the treatments it is usually weighed against or combined with.
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Skin quality
Juvelook skin booster: collagen, not filler
For thin or crepey skin and lines that stay at rest — a different job from toxin.
Read now → -
Lifting
Ultherapy Prime: focused ultrasound for laxity
When the concern is a dropped line or early sagging rather than muscle movement.
Read now → -
Pigment
Laser toning for melasma and tone
For pigment and uneven tone, which toxin does not touch.
Read now → -
Evidence
The research behind our practice
Peer-reviewed papers our doctors have authored, with study types labelled.
Read now →
Questions
Asked most often
When will I see the result?
It is not the same day. Softening usually starts within three to seven days and reaches its full effect at around two weeks. If anything needs a small adjustment, that is the point to review it.
How long does it last?
For the upper face, about three to four months. The jaw muscle can hold longer, and with repeated treatment the muscle stays smaller, so touch-ups are often needed less often over time.
Will I look frozen?
That comes from too much product or the wrong placement, not from the treatment itself. The aim here is softened movement — the line eases, the expression stays. If a very still look is what you want, that is a separate conversation.
Does jaw (masseter) Botox affect chewing?
You may notice mild chewing fatigue in the first week or two while the muscle adjusts. Normal function returns, and the visible slimming builds as the muscle rests over the following weeks.
Is it safe to keep repeating it?
Botulinum toxin has been used cosmetically for decades with a well-documented safety record at these doses. A small number of people gradually respond less over many treatments; if that happens it is discussed and managed.
Can I combine it with other treatments?
Often, yes. Toxin for movement, a booster or filler for skin quality and volume, a device for laxity or pigment — these address different things. What to combine, and in what order, is decided at consultation.
Is Korean Botox safe, and which brand will you use?
Licensed Korean botulinum toxin products are widely used and several are approved in other countries too — Nabota, for example, is sold in the US as Jeuveau. Safety depends far more on a genuine, properly stored product and an experienced doctor than on the country it was made in. We name the exact product before treatment so you can share it with your doctor at home.
How much does Botox cost in Korea?
It depends on the area, how much is needed and the product used, so there is no single price. Many visitors find it lower than at home. You get a clear quote after the consultation, before any treatment.
Can masseter Botox help with teeth grinding or jaw pain?
Often, yes. Relaxing the chewing muscle can reduce clenching, night-time grinding and the tension headaches that come with it. Let us know if that is your main goal, because it affects the plan. Ongoing joint problems should also be checked by a dentist or TMJ specialist.
What are the downsides of masseter Botox?
The most common are mild tenderness or a small bruise, and your jaw may feel tired chewing hard food for the first week or two. Less often, the smile can look slightly uneven if the product spreads to nearby muscles, which is why dose and placement matter. The effect is temporary, so it needs repeating to keep the result.
How many units will I need?
There is no fixed number. It depends on the area, the strength of your muscles and the product, since brands are not dosed the same way. The doctor assesses this in person and starts on the conservative side, especially if you cannot return for a check.
Can I fly home right after treatment?
For most people, flying a day or two after Botox is fine. Avoid lying flat, rubbing the area or heavy exercise for the first few hours. If you want a review before you leave, book your treatment early in your stay.
Evidence
What the published work shows
These are the papers behind the statements on this page. Each note says what the study covers and where it stops short, because the toxin, dose and area vary from study to study.
Show the papersHide the papers
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A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of glabellar lines
The pivotal randomised trial for frown lines: a single 20-unit treatment produced a significant, well-tolerated improvement in glabellar lines compared with placebo. It is the basis for treating this area.
What it does not show
it studies one toxin (onabotulinumtoxinA), one area and one dose. It is not evidence for every brand, every area, or the exact plan chosen for your face.
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A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Repeated OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatments in Subjects With Crow’s Feet Lines and Glabellar Lines
Supports the point that the treatment can be repeated: across multiple upper-face treatments, efficacy was maintained and no new safety concerns emerged.
What it does not show
it covers the upper face (crow’s feet and glabella), not the jaw or lower face, and it is a defined study protocol rather than long-term routine practice.
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Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Botulinum Toxin A for Masseter Reduction: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Optimal Dose-Finding Study
A randomised trial for the jaw: botulinum toxin significantly reduced masseter thickness against placebo, with the effect depending on dose and building over about 12 weeks.
What it does not show
it tests a specific product to find an optimal dose; it does not prove any single fixed dose is right for every jaw, and individual muscles differ.
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Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin in Treating Asian Patients with Masseter Hypertrophy: A 4-Year Follow-Up Study
Long-term data for jaw slimming: with repeated sessions, masseter reduction was maintained over four years, and the interval between top-ups lengthened over time as the muscle stayed smaller.
What it does not show
it is an observational follow-up in one population, not a randomised comparison, so individual results and intervals will vary.
General mechanism and duration statements reflect established, well-documented pharmacology of botulinum toxin type A. Brand and dose available in Korea differ by country and are chosen at consultation. The full list of our doctors’ own publications is on our Journal Articles page.
Links checked 22 September 2026.
From our channels
YouTube · from our channel
Choosing a toxin when melasma is also a concern
YouTube short on choosing a botulinum toxin for patients with melasma
Watch on YouTube →
Instagram · from our channel
What to do when the skin barrier is compromised
Instagram reel explaining how to treat a damaged skin barrier
Watch on Instagram →Not sure this is the right treatment?
That is what the consultation is for. We will look at your face and tell you what we would recommend and what we would leave alone — including if the honest answer is that toxin is not what you need.
Book a consultation
General information, not medical advice for your individual case. Botulinum toxin products are licensed for use in Korea; licensing and brand names differ by country. See our Medical Disclaimer and Medical Review Process.
Medically reviewed by Hyoung Moon Kim, MD, PhD on 22 September 2026.
Maylin Apgujeong is a doctor-led skin clinic in Gangnam: the doctor who examines you plans and carries out the treatment. More in About Maylin Clinic Apgujeong.