Seoul
Chief MD, Gangnam
Duk-ha Kim
The trust our patients have placed in this clinic was built on conviction and principle. We intend to hold to both, unchanged, through the next hundred years.
Botulinum toxin treatment guide
Temporalis Toxin
Temporalis toxin is an injection of botulinum toxin type A into the temporalis, the fan-shaped chewing muscle at the side of the head. None of the regulatory records cited on this page lists the temporalis as an indication — not the U.S. labels for BOTOX Cosmetic or XEOMIN, not the Korean MFDS records for Nabota or Meditoxin — so this is an off-label use. Korea’s approval for benign masseter hypertrophy applies to the masseter, in one named product, and does not carry over to the temporalis.
- Target tissue
- Temporalis — the fan-shaped chewing muscle at the side of the head
- Regulatory status
- Off-label: not listed as an indication on any record cited here
- Not the same as masseter toxin
- Korea’s masseter indication (Nabota, adults 18 to 65) covers the masseter only
- Labelling
- Boxed warning on distant spread of toxin effect; units are not interchangeable between products
What does this menu name point to, and where is the temporalis?
The temporalis is a broad, fan-shaped muscle spread across the side of the head above and in front of the ear. Its fibres converge, pass under the cheekbone arch and attach to the jaw, and it belongs to the masticatory group — the muscles that close the jaw, the same functional family as the masseter. So a menu item called Temporalis Toxin means an injection into a muscle you use to chew, not a surface treatment of the skin over the temple. Because the name alone does not say which part of the muscle is targeted or what the injection is meant to change, both belong in the consultation before anything is booked.
Sources: Aesthetic Plast Surg 2026;50(3):1320-1328 — masticatory muscle changes after botulinum toxin
How does a toxin injection change a chewing muscle?
Botulinum toxin type A blocks the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, so the injected part of the muscle contracts less. Sustained reduction in contraction is followed by atrophy of the treated fibres. Nothing is removed — no fat, no bone — and the effect recedes as nerve terminals recover. Published work on masticatory muscles describes the change as dose-dependent denervation, which is why dose and injection points are a clinical decision rather than a fixed recipe. The same pharmacology applies whichever muscle is injected; what differs between sites is the evidence that has been reviewed by a regulator, and for the temporalis there is none on the records cited here.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA)Aesthetic Plast Surg 2026;50(3):1320-1328 — masticatory muscle changes after botulinum toxin
Is temporalis injection an approved indication anywhere?
Not on any record cited on this page. The U.S. label for BOTOX Cosmetic covers glabellar lines, lateral canthal lines, forehead lines and platysma bands. The U.S. label for XEOMIN covers the three upper-face areas: glabellar lines, lateral canthal lines and forehead lines. In Korea the MFDS record for Nabota lists glabellar lines, post-stroke upper limb spasticity, lateral canthal lines, blepharospasm and benign masseter hypertrophy in adults aged 18 to 65; the MFDS record for Meditoxin lists blepharospasm, equinus foot deformity in paediatric cerebral palsy, glabellar lines and upper limb spasticity. The temporalis appears on none of them. The U.S. labelling also states under Limitations of Use that safety and effectiveness for uses other than those described have not been established, which is exactly the situation here.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA)FDA label — XEOMIN (incobotulinumtoxinA)MFDS drug product record — Nabota 50 U (Daewoong)MFDS drug product record — Meditoxin (Medytox)
Korea approved toxin for the jaw muscle — does that cover the temporalis?
No, and this is the single most important distinction on the page. The Korean MFDS record for Nabota lists benign masseter hypertrophy in adults aged 18 to 65, an indication added on 2023-08-25. Korean approval is granted per product and per named use: it names the masseter, and it names one product. Another toxin sold in the same country does not inherit it — the MFDS record for Meditoxin lists four indications and neither the masseter nor the temporalis is among them. The temporalis is a separate muscle with a separate course and attachment, and no regulator cited here has reviewed data for injecting it. A sentence like approved in Korea travels only as far as the masseter and the product actually named on the record.
Sources: MFDS drug product record — Nabota 50 U (Daewoong)MFDS drug product record — Meditoxin (Medytox)
What does the literature on chewing muscles show, and how far does it reach?
A 2026 systematic review in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery examined 14 studies of botulinum toxin in masticatory muscles — 2 in humans and 12 in animals. It reports dose-dependent denervation and reduced function of the treated muscles, and recovery after atrophy that was incomplete in the studies reviewed. The authors state plainly that the human evidence base is limited to two studies. Read the scope precisely: the review covers masticatory muscles as a group, and it did not isolate the temporalis. The temporalis belongs to that group, so the findings are relevant background rather than a measurement of this specific injection. Combined with the absence of an approved indication, that is the whole evidence picture to bring to a consultation — a documented signal, not a quantified rate.
Sources: Aesthetic Plast Surg 2026;50(3):1320-1328 — masticatory muscle changes after botulinum toxin
What does the labelling warn about, and when must the injection not go ahead?
The U.S. labelling for these products carries a boxed warning on distant spread of toxin effect: effects may occur away from the injection site, and swallowing and breathing difficulties can be life-threatening. Two contraindications are stated — known hypersensitivity to any botulinum toxin preparation or to any component of the formulation, and infection at the proposed injection site. The labelling calls for caution in neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and in people who already have swallowing or breathing difficulty. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, current medicines and previous toxin injections all have to be disclosed and reviewed. Because this site is off-label, none of those warnings is offset by trial data the regulator has assessed for the temporalis.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA)FDA label — XEOMIN (incobotulinumtoxinA)
Can you compare two products by the number of units quoted?
No. Potency units are defined by each manufacturer through its own assay and are specific to that preparation. The BOTOX Cosmetic label states that its units cannot be compared to nor converted into units of any other botulinum toxin product, and the XEOMIN label carries the same restriction. So a quote of the same number from two products is not the same dose, and there is no conversion factor to apply. Formulation differences are also not potency: XEOMIN is supplied as the neurotoxin free from complexing proteins, a 150 kDa preparation, which describes how the product is made rather than how strong a given number of units is. Ask for the product name and the dose expressed in that product’s own units together — either one alone tells you nothing.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA)FDA label — XEOMIN (incobotulinumtoxinA)
How long does the effect last?
No record cited on this page states a duration for temporalis injection, because none covers this site. What is documented is the mechanism: contraction falls as acetylcholine release is blocked, the affected fibres atrophy, and function returns as nerve terminals recover — the process described under How does a toxin injection change a chewing muscle?. The 2026 systematic review found that recovery after atrophy was incomplete in the studies it reviewed, so treat any duration a clinic quotes for this site as an estimate rather than a labelled figure. What actually decides the interval before a repeat injection is the dose given and the number of points treated, not a fixed calendar figure, so ask the clinic what dose was used, on what basis they set a repeat date, and how they will check that the intended change has actually happened before dosing again.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA)Aesthetic Plast Surg 2026;50(3):1320-1328 — masticatory muscle changes after botulinum toxin
What should you confirm and disclose before agreeing to the injection?
Confirm which product will be injected, and that the plan is understood as an off-label use rather than an approved indication. Ask for the dose stated in that product’s own units, the number of injection points per side, whether the plan covers one side or both, what the clinician expects to change and on what basis, and the planned interval before any repeat. Disclose previous toxin injections with dates and product names, any jaw pain, clicking or limited mouth opening, teeth grinding, headaches under investigation, neuromuscular disease, current medicines, and pregnancy or breastfeeding. Agree in advance which symptoms should trigger a call back — difficulty chewing, a changed bite, visible asymmetry, or any swallowing or breathing change — and who to contact if the clinic is closed.
Sources: MFDS drug product record — Nabota 50 U (Daewoong)FDA label — BOTOX Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA)
What happens afterwards, and what should be reported?
This page cannot quote an onset time or a duration for this site, because none of the cited records covers injection of the temporalis and no trial endpoint exists here to quote. In general terms it is a needle injection into muscle, so brief pain, tenderness and bruising at the injection points are possible, and the clinic that performs it should set out what to do on the day. Report anything that involves function rather than appearance: difficulty chewing, tiring quickly while eating, a bite that feels changed, or asymmetry. The boxed warning is the reason to treat swallowing or breathing difficulty as urgent rather than as something to observe, since such effects have been reported hours to weeks after injection. If you are treated during a short trip, agree before you fly home who reviews you and how you reach them.
Sources: FDA label — BOTOX Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA)Aesthetic Plast Surg 2026;50(3):1320-1328 — masticatory muscle changes after botulinum toxin
Which uses are actually on each record, and where does the temporalis sit?
Approval is granted per product and per named use. This table maps only what the records cited on this page list, so you can see why the masseter and the temporalis do not carry the same status. It is not a comparison of how well products work, and it does not rank them.
| Record | Uses listed | Masseter | Temporalis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korea — Nabota (MFDS record) | Glabellar lines, post-stroke upper limb spasticity, lateral canthal lines, blepharospasm, benign masseter hypertrophy in adults aged 18 to 65 | Listed — indication added 2023-08-25 | Not listed |
| Korea — Meditoxin (MFDS record) | Blepharospasm, equinus foot deformity in paediatric cerebral palsy, glabellar lines, upper limb spasticity | Not listed | Not listed |
| United States — BOTOX Cosmetic (FDA label) | Glabellar lines, lateral canthal lines, forehead lines, platysma bands | Not listed | Not listed |
| United States — XEOMIN (FDA label) | Cosmetic indications are the three upper-face areas: glabellar lines, lateral canthal lines, forehead lines | Not listed | Not listed |
| A product offered only under an origin tag | Unknown until the product is named — an origin tag identifies a country, not a licence | Cannot be assumed | Cannot be assumed |
Off-label use means use outside the licensed indication; it is not illegal, but it means the regulator has not reviewed data for that use, so the decision rests on clinical judgement and should be explained and recorded. This table maps regulatory records only and holds no head-to-head data between products.
Sources: MFDS drug product record — Nabota 50 U (Daewoong)MFDS drug product record — Meditoxin (Medytox)FDA label — BOTOX Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA)FDA label — XEOMIN (incobotulinumtoxinA)
Medical care at Abijou
Care is provided by the medical team at the branch you select. These clinicians lead the three branches linked from this guide; confirm the doctor assigned to your visit with that branch.
Chief MD, Myeongdong
Cheol-su Yoon
I want to be thinking about how the patient feels right up to the last moment of the procedure.
Chief MD, Hongdae
Jae-wook Kim
I will give my best with the attentiveness to catch even the smallest change.
Listed branch medical team — not a medical-review byline for this article.
Frequently asked questions
What is temporalis toxin?
It is an injection of botulinum toxin type A into the temporalis, the fan-shaped chewing muscle at the side of the head above and in front of the ear. It is an off-label use: the temporalis is not listed as an indication on the U.S. labels for BOTOX Cosmetic or XEOMIN, nor on the Korean MFDS records for Nabota or Meditoxin.
Is Temple Toxin the same menu item as Temporalis Toxin?
There is no published statement confirming that, so ask rather than assume. The two names appear on booking menus and may well describe the same area, but a menu name is not a clinical definition — it does not state which muscle is injected, which part of it, or what the injection is intended to change. Have the clinic answer all three in writing before you book, whichever name the menu uses.
Does the muscle shrink, or is something added?
The muscle. Botulinum toxin type A blocks acetylcholine release at the nerve ending, the injected fibres contract less, and reduced use is followed by atrophy of those fibres. Nothing is added and nothing is removed, and the effect recedes as nerve terminals recover.
Temporalis or masseter — is the regulatory status the same for both?
No, and that gap is the main reason to read the two menus separately. In Korea the MFDS record for Nabota lists benign masseter hypertrophy in adults aged 18 to 65, added on 2023-08-25 — an indication written for the masseter and held by that product. The temporalis appears on no record cited here, in Korea or the United States. Approval for one chewing muscle is not approval for the other, and a clinic quoting Korean approval should be asked which muscle that approval names.
How does this differ from toxin for forehead or frown lines?
The evidence base differs, not just the anatomy. Wrinkle injections target thin muscles of facial expression, and those uses are on the U.S. labels for BOTOX Cosmetic and XEOMIN, which means a regulator reviewed data for them. The temporalis is a thick chewing muscle and appears on no label cited here, so the same drug is being used without that review. Depth, dose and the pre-treatment questions are also not transferable between the two sites.
One clinic quotes a domestic product, another a German one — how do I compare the doses?
You cannot compare them by unit numbers, whatever the origin tag says. The BOTOX Cosmetic label states that its units cannot be compared to nor converted into units of any other botulinum toxin product, and the XEOMIN label carries the same restriction, so the same figure from two products is not the same dose. An origin tag identifies a country rather than a product, and country of origin says nothing about licensed indications or unit definitions. Get the product name first, then the dose in that product’s own units.
Does it hurt, and is there downtime?
It is a needle injection into muscle, so brief pain during insertion and tenderness or bruising at the injection points are possible. No trial endpoint for this site exists in the sources on this page, so no pain scale or recovery timetable can be quoted here. Ask the treating clinic what to expect on the day and what to avoid afterwards.
When would anything be visible, and how long would it last?
Neither question can be answered from the records cited here, because none of them covers injection of the temporalis. Any specific number of weeks or months you are quoted is not coming from this evidence base — ask where it comes from, and whether it refers to a different muscle or a different indication.
How often would it be repeated?
No interval follows from these sources. The systematic review of masticatory muscles reports dose-dependent denervation and recovery after atrophy that was incomplete in the studies reviewed, which is why repeat timing is a clinical judgement rather than a schedule. Bring the date and product name of any previous toxin injection to the consultation.
Who should not have this injection?
Botulinum toxin is contraindicated in people with known hypersensitivity to any botulinum toxin preparation or to any component of the formulation, and where there is infection at the proposed injection site. The labelling calls for caution in neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and in people who already have swallowing or breathing difficulty. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, current medicines and prior toxin injections must be disclosed and reviewed.
Could it affect chewing?
It is a question to raise directly, because the target is a working muscle. A 2026 systematic review of 14 studies of masticatory muscles — 2 in humans and 12 in animals — reports dose-dependent denervation, reduced function and incomplete recovery after atrophy. The review looked at masticatory muscles as a group rather than at the temporalis alone, and the authors note the human evidence is limited to two studies, so the risk is documented but not quantified for this site. Report difficulty chewing, a changed bite or asymmetry to the clinic instead of waiting it out.
Is temporalis toxin FDA-approved, and is off-label use allowed?
It is not approved: the BOTOX Cosmetic label covers glabellar, lateral canthal and forehead lines and platysma bands, the XEOMIN cosmetic indications are the three upper-face areas, and the temporalis is on neither. Off-label means use outside the licensed indication, which is not illegal — a licensed clinician may prescribe outside the label — but the U.S. labelling states that safety and effectiveness for uses other than those described have not been established, so the decision rests on clinical judgement rather than on reviewed data, and it should be explained to you and recorded.
How should I compare quotes between clinics?
Line up what each quote contains before comparing amounts: the product name, the dose in that product’s own units, whether it covers one side or both, the number of injection points per side, whether a review visit or any adjustment is included, and whether it is a single session or a package. Units are not convertible between products, so two quotes built on different products are not measuring the same dose even when the figures look similar.
Who is this suitable for, and can it be done on a short trip?
Suitability is an in-person judgement about a chewing muscle, not something to settle from a photograph, and there is no approved indication that defines a candidate group. Bring any history of jaw pain, limited opening, clicking or teeth grinding, since those change the conversation. On a short trip, give your departure date first and agree who reviews you and how you reach them if a symptom appears after you fly home.
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We started in Gangnam in 2006 and the network now runs 17 branches across Korea. The line we work to is skin transformation woven into everyday life — care you can keep up with, rather than one dramatic change.
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