Hannah Berner’s 11-Week Smile Update: Before and After Her Dysport Reaction
By Alexander Ross
The anatomy of the lower face leaves zero margin for clinical error. The masseter is a massive, thick muscle positioned deep beneath layers of fascia. Resting immediately superficial and anterior to it sits the risorius, a thin, highly variable ribbon of muscle that tethers the corner of the mouth to the cheek tissue.
Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) has distinct molecular characteristics compared to Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA). Clinical literature demonstrates that Dysport features a slightly wider halo of diffusion due to differences in protein complexes and diluent volumes. When an injector inserts the needle too close to the anterior border of the masseter, or fails to inject deeply enough into the muscle belly, the neurotoxin seeps through the fascia into the risorius.
The result is instant functional paresis. The patient tries to laugh, but the zygomaticus pulls upward while the deadened risorius fails to pull outward. This creates an unnatural, snarl-like deformity. Studies in aesthetic surgery indicate this specific complication occurs in 2% to 5% of masseter injections, making it the most frequent adverse event associated with jawline contouring.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
