Using Botox® to smooth out lines and wrinkles is a trusted, minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure that’s been around for years and considered to be an FDA-approved, safe and effective treatment. You might know people who’ve had it done or have even had a Botox treatment yourself before. Whether it’s your first time or tenth, you might have a few questions about Botox. We’re here to help answer those questions.  What is Botox?Rather than assume that you know what Botox is, let’s just run through a simple explanation of what causes wrinkles and how Botox smooths them. Basically, the more muscles you use in your face—from smiling to frowning, raising your eyebrows to furrowing your forehead—wrinkles will result eventually. How many and where depends upon the person and that person’s skin and skin regimen.Botox Cosmetic is derived from Botulinum toxin, a neurotoxic protein produced by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum (we promise, this is as technical as we’re going to get). Botox is injected just beneath the surface of the skin to temporarily reduce the underlying muscle activity that causes the wrinkles, making them visibly smoother.Botox works by blocking the signal from a nerve to a specific muscle, which stops it from contracting. Because the muscle relaxes, there’s less stress on the skin that could cause wrinkles.In 2018, Americans received about 7.4 million injections of Botox and 2.5 million injections of dermal fillers, according to the latest statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Botox and dermal fillers were the top two most popular minimally invasive cosmetic procedures in the United States.Before you get BotoxThe success of a minimally invasive Botox treatment depends in large part upon the skills of the cosmetic surgeon that you choose. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons advises being familiar with your surgeon’s credentials. Dr. Mikel Lo of About Faces Cosmetic Surgery is one of the most experienced injectors in Tucson, having performed Botox procedures for more than two dozen years. Dr. Lo is a licensed vendor for Botox. Rather than search for a photo of a certain celebrity you would like to look like, experts recommend bringing in a good photo of what you looked like in your 20s, which is when faces are their fullest. Also, be open to other procedures that may give you the look that you’re going for. Dr. Lo is skilled in many techniques, both surgical and minimally invasive/non-surgical for faces.Besides Botox, there are other botulinum toxin injectors on the market including Dysport® and Jeuveau®, both of which Dr. Lo is skilled at injecting. About Faces Cosmetic Surgery also has two nurses expertly trained in injections.How much time does Botox take to inject? The good news is, it’s so quick, you can have a Botox injection over your lunch hour! You don’t need to prep for Botox beforehand. Afterward, you should try to keep your head elevated and avoid vigorous exercise for about four hours after your treatment. You might have a few small bumps in the skin where the Botox is injected, but they’ll be gone soon, maybe even before you leave the office. There might be some mild bruising that will go away in a day or two. Dr. Lo will provide you with post-procedure instructions.Before and after BotoxWhen will you see Botox results? You should notice in about a week’s time the muscles that were targeted by Botox begin to relax. If you need more immediate results, you can talk to Dr. Lo about injectable fillers to plump the skin right away.How long will Botox results last? Everybody’s different, but in general, you can expect the results to last about three or four months. If you like the results, you’ll have to repeat the procedure. But if you don’t like the results, you don’t have to live with them for the rest of your life. Botox isn’t immediately reversible, but it eventually wears off without repeated treatments.Dr. Mikel Lo, his experienced staff and his two trained nurse injectors at About Faces Cosmetic Surgery are happy to answer any questions you have about Botox or other injectables. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation.