PDF
Citation
Print
Introduction
Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), produced by Clostridium botulinum, prevents the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction and blocks muscular contraction [1, 2] BoNT is frequently used to target the mentalis muscle and diminish the appearance of the “cobblestone” or dimpled chin (Fig. 1A). The cobblestone chin results from hyperactivity of the mentalis muscle as the muscle inserts several fibers in the dermis of the chin.
Given that the mentalis muscle elevates the chin and lower lip, hyperactivity of the mentalis muscle appears in the shortened chin. BoNT injections relax the mentalis muscle, protruding the chin and leading to a more refined appearance of the chin.
The mentalis muscle is also related to the aging process as it produces a mental crease (MC) and an “orange-peel” appearance (when relaxed) on the chin. The MC is the deep groove between the lower lip and the chin prominence, formed by aging and repetitive use of the mentalis muscle. When a cobblestone appearance settles into static wrinkles, the chin can display an orange-peel appearance, with atrophy of the fat tissue and dermal collagen loss. BoNT injections in the mentalis muscle can be used to compensate for and delay this aged appearance.
BoNT injections to treat the cobblestone chin are associated with complications (such as mouth dysfunction with ptosis of the lower lip), often due to a lack of information regarding anatomical factors involved in the procedure [3]. Complications occur when BoNT is injected or diffused into muscles other than the mentalis, particularly the orbicularis oris and depressor labii inferioris. To prevent undesirable results, anatomical-based precise injection in the mentalis muscle and primary treatment with a lower quantity of BoNT are recommended.
Another factor to consider is the effect of BoNT treatments. Consecutive, short-term injections of BoNT create antibodies that result in poor treatment outcomes [4-7]. Recent anatomical studies have administered BoNT injections in specific locations of particular muscles on the basis of external anatomical landmarks (Fig. 2A) [8-30].
Clinicians treating lower facial rhytides must require a good understanding of the anatomy of the mentalis muscle; however, few anatomical findings regarding BoNT injection in the mentalis muscle have been reviewed with clinical application based on location, injection technique, and dosage.
In this study, we reviewed the anatomical morphology and location of the mentalis muscle to determine the optimal landmarks for guiding BoNT into the mentalis muscle (Fig. 2).
Review
Anatomy of the mentalis muscle
The mentalis muscle fiber originates from the alveolar bone of the anterior mandible (2 cm inferior to the intercheilion line) The anterior mandible is inferior to the lateral incisors and inserts into the dermal layer of the chin. The mentalis originates roughly 0.8 cm lateral to the midline of the chin. The insertion of the mentalis muscle is closer to the midline of the chin than to the origin of the muscle itself. Usually, both sides of the muscle bellies are separated, and fatty tissue lies between their separate origins [31-33].
As the muscle fiber is attached to the skin, contraction of the muscle forms MCs at the chin. The mentalis muscle consists of medial, lateral, upper, and lower fibers. The medial fibers, found on both sides of the mentalis muscle, descend anteromedially in a dome-shaped manner (Fig. 1B). The lateral fibers descend obliquely and attach to the skin ipsilaterally. The lateral fibers partially intermingle with the depressor labii inferioris muscles [32]. Lastly, the upper fibers run horizontally and connect to the inferior margin of the orbicularis oris. The upper fibers’ connections act to elevate the lips. Each side of the mentalis muscle belly has an average length and width of 2.0 and 1.2 cm, respectively [32]. Fig. 3 presents an ultrasonographic image of the mentalis muscle observed in the hypoechoic band.
Injection points for mentalis muscle
The type of the BoNT used was ona-botulinum toxin-A. The author diluted with 2.5 ml of normal saline to use at a concentration of 4 U/0.1 ml. Large dilution volumes are associated with easier diffusion to the surrounding tissue.
At each point, a deep injection of 3 U per side is injected 0.5 cm lateral to the pogonion (Pg). A superficial injection of 1 U per side is performed at the same injection point (Fig. 4). Injection of BoNT at the upper and lateral sides may affect the orbicularis oris and depressor labii inferioris muscles, leading to asymmetric expression changes of the lower lip or mouth dysfunction with ptosis of the lower lip [32]. Intramuscular and subdermal injections are recommended according to injection depth. The mentalis muscle has a deep muscle belly. The distance between the periosteum and mentalis muscle is 1.1 mm. After touching the mandibular bone, the needle should be slightly retracted, and 3 U of BoNT must then be injected for deep injection. After deep injection and retracting the needle, further subdermal injection of 1 U is recommended. The injection should be performed gently and slowly to prevent the diffusion of BoNTs [34].
Conclusion
Understanding of the three-dimensional morphology of facial expression muscles is necessary because the muscles are densely located in the lower face with layers without fascial structures insertion and origins. Therefore, when BoNT injections target facial muscles, clinicians should consider the delicate anatomical information of the target muscle and the adjacent muscles as well as the positional relationships of these structures.
BoNT is injected into the mentalis muscle to ease or prevent the appearance of a cobblestone chin. However, anatomical considerations for this procedure have not been well described, despite the possibility of side effects resulting from this procedure. Targeting the mentalis muscle with BoNT can cause problems (such as asymmetrical ptosis of the lower lip and dysfunctional mouth opening), which can be critical to patients [35, 36].
In treating the cobblestone appearance of the chin, BoNT diffusion does not often affect nearby muscles such as the orbicularis oris muscle and depressor labii inferioris muscle. Injection of BoNT above and laterally targeting mentalis muscle, however, may affect orbicularis oculi and depressor labii inferioris muscles. Diffusion of BoNT to these muscles may lead to asymmetric expression changes in lower facial expressions [32]. Lower facial muscles intermingle with each other and are duplicated on either side of the face; therefore, BoNT diffusion should be carefully considered during injection procedures.
Yu et al. [37] reported a patient who received BoNT injection in the mentalis muscle, which caused paradoxical bulging. The authors speculate that, when the injection of BoNT fully covers the whole thickness of the muscle, paradoxical bulging may occur. In cases of severe mentalis hyperactivity, an anatomical-based injection is required to prevent imbalanced paralysis and paradoxical chin bulging. Paradoxical bulging occurs when BoNT is unevenly injected [34].
Previous studies have proposed different injection points for the mentalis muscle. Louran [35] suggested superficial injection into the upper part of the muscle. Carruthers and Carruthers suggested the distal-most point from the orbicularis oris muscle to the mentalis muscle as an injection point [38]. Choi et al. [3] found that the mentalis muscle was located 5–10 mm from the midsagittal line and 20–30 mm inferior to the intercheilion line.
The researchers suggested that the area 5 mm lateral to the Pg had the muscle presentation with 4 mm depth of the muscle belly. At this point, the depth of the mentalis muscle to the skin was, on average, 6.7 mm deep. The mean thickness of the muscle was 4 mm, and the length of the muscle to the periosteum was 1.1 mm. The researchers’ results indicate that deep injection is important for targeting the mentalis muscle. However, the cobblestone appearance of the chin is due to the muscle fibers that attach to the skin of the chin; therefore, deep injection alone is insufficient in treating the cobblestone appearance. Superficial BoNT injection should thus be used in conjunction with deep injection to reduce the appearance of the cobblestone chin.
The practice of accurate injection points allows for lower doses of BoNT to be used during injection procedures. To achieve this, broad and thorough anatomical knowledge of the mentalis muscle is crucial. If the preferred clinical result is not achieved, further treatment should be conducted. In summary, deep and superficial injections should be administered at each injection point, lateral to the Pg. In deep injections (3 U of BoNT), after touching the mandibular bone, the needle should be slightly retracted. For superficial injections (1 U of BoNT), after needle retraction from deep injection, a further subdermal injection of 1 U is recommended. With suggested technique, BoNT can affect in resolving MC since the mentalis contraction makes chin moving upward as well as cobblestone appearance for affecting dermal attached muscle fibers.
XML Download