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Hannah Berner\u2019s candor has officially come for cosmetic treatments. The comedian and Giggly Squad<\/em> co-host, 34, is known for her unfiltered humor alongside Paige DeSorbo, 33, but this week, the duo\u2019s latest topic hit a little closer to the treatment chair: Berner\u2019s recent masseter neurotoxin mishap.<\/p>\n During the Friday, June 26 episode of Giggling About an Emergency Press Conference<\/em>, Berner was, in fact, the emergency. She opened the episode by explaining what happened: Two weeks earlier, she had \u201cinnocently\u201d gone in for masseter neurotoxin injections for TMJ\u2014a popular off-label treatment that can help relax the jaw muscles and ease clenching, grinding and jaw tension.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI did not know there were risks to this procedure,\u201d Berner told her co-host, admitting that she could have done more research before the appointment, which was with a new provider she hadn\u2019t seen before. A few days later, she said she woke up, tried to smile and noticed her mouth felt \u201ckind of tight.\u201d She later realized she couldn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Most likely, the neurotoxin affected the risorius, a nearby muscle involved in smiling, making Berner\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Unlike filler, neurotoxin can\u2019t 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, \u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n That said, saline isn\u2019t 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. \u201cWhile I haven\u2019t ever had to use saline for this purpose in the masseter area, it does seem promising for other areas like the forehead,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n All of which is to say, maybe don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n \u201cFor this reason, if someone is going to be at a very significant event, like a wedding or reunion, it isn\u2019t a great idea to get the masseters done within a week or two before it,\u201d he says. \u201cIt generally resolves, but can take a little time.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019re rare. Berner made the whole thing funny, because of course she did, but it\u2019s a reminder to know who is injecting you, ask about placement and dosing and maybe give your face the same level of research you\u2019d give a dinner reservation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhat May Have Happened to Berner\u2019s Smile<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Can Unwanted Neurotoxin Effects Be Reversed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How Long Might Her Neurotoxin Effects Last?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What to Take Away From Berner\u2019s Experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n