What Hannah Berner’s Masseter Injection Mishap Can Teach Patients

Hannah Berner’s candor has officially come for cosmetic treatments. The comedian and Giggly Squad co-host, 34, is known for her unfiltered humor alongside Paige DeSorbo, 33, but this week, the duo’s latest topic hit a little closer to the treatment chair: Berner’s recent masseter neurotoxin mishap.

During the Friday, June 26 episode of Giggling About an Emergency Press Conference, Berner was, in fact, the emergency. She opened the episode by explaining what happened: Two weeks earlier, she had “innocently” gone in for masseter neurotoxin injections for TMJ—a popular off-label treatment that can help relax the jaw muscles and ease clenching, grinding and jaw tension.

“I did not know there were risks to this procedure,” Berner told her co-host, admitting that she could have done more research before the appointment, which was with a new provider she hadn’t seen before. A few days later, she said she woke up, tried to smile and noticed her mouth felt “kind of tight.” She later realized she couldn’t lift the corners of her mouth into her usual full smile. The result: a shortened, held-back smile that Berner and DeSorbo have, naturally, turned into a bit.

Ahead, we spoke with two dermatologists for their take on what may have happened, why smile changes can occur and what patients should know before booking masseter neurotoxin.

What May Have Happened to Berner’s Smile

Most likely, the neurotoxin affected the risorius, a nearby muscle involved in smiling, making Berner’s grin feel shorter than usual. Omaha, NE dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD, says masseter neurotoxin injections require particular precision because the target is the jaw, but the surrounding facial anatomy is close by, leaving little room for imprecision.

Can Unwanted Neurotoxin Effects Be Reversed?

Unlike filler, neurotoxin can’t be dissolved once it kicks in; its effects gradually wear off over about three to four months as muscle movement returns. Berner did see another provider in Westhampton, New York, who injected saline to try to help while it wore off. When DeSorbo asked if it made a difference, Berner said, “I don’t think so.”

That said, saline isn’t entirely off the table. Dr. Daniel Schlessinger says some recent evidence suggests flooding an area with saline may help with certain unwanted neurotoxin effects, particularly brow heaviness. “While I haven’t ever had to use saline for this purpose in the masseter area, it does seem promising for other areas like the forehead,” he says.

How Long Might Her Neurotoxin Effects Last?

Omaha, NE dermatologist Daniel Schlessinger, MD, says the reassuring part is that changes like this are temporary. The less convenient part for Berner: as on-air talent, she may have to make more than a few appearances while her smile looks a little off.

All of which is to say, maybe don’t schedule masseter neurotoxin right before your face has somewhere important to be. Dr. Daniel Schlessinger adds that he always tells patients their smile can look uneven for the first week or so after masseter injections, even when the treatment is placed correctly.

“For this reason, if someone is going to be at a very significant event, like a wedding or reunion, it isn’t a great idea to get the masseters done within a week or two before it,” he says. “It generally resolves, but can take a little time.”

What to Take Away From Berner’s Experience

None of this means masseter neurotoxin injections are something to fear. It means even the treatments that seem casual still deserve questions and a look at the possible side effects, even if they’re rare. Berner made the whole thing funny, because of course she did, but it’s a reminder to know who is injecting you, ask about placement and dosing and maybe give your face the same level of research you’d give a dinner reservation.