The Basics of Botox®

Botox® has long been the most trusted, FDA-approved way to safely and effectively smooth out lines and wrinkles without surgery. You might know people who’ve had Botox injections or may have even had a Botox treatment yourself. Whether it’s your first time or have had several injections, 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 eventually result. How many wrinkles and where they’ll occur depends upon the person and that person’s skin and skin regimen.Botox is injected just beneath the surface of the skin to temporarily reduce the underlying muscle activity that causes wrinkles, making them visibly smoother.Botox works by blocking the signal from a nerve to a specific muscle, which stops it from contracting.It’s expected that Botox injections will increase greatly in the coming year, surpassing pre-pandemic numbers. Before the pandemic, in 2018, doctors administered 7.4 million injections of Botox. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that in 2020 … even despite COVID … 4.4 million Botox procedures were performed, and Botox continues to be the most popular minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure in the United States. A Wall Street Journal article from July, 2021, proclaimed that getting Botox, a procedure which years ago many people didn’t admit to having, is today no longer a secret.

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 provider 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 similar 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 prepare 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 quickly. There might be some mild bruising that will go away in a day or two. Dr. Lo will provide you with post-procedure instructions.

After Getting BotoxWhen will you see Botox results? You should notice in about a week’s time (or less) 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.How long will Botox results last? Everyone is 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. Botox eventually wears off without repeated treatments.To find out more, schedule an appointment with Dr. Mikel Lo and his talented, professional staff — including 2 trained nurse injectors and 2 certified laser technicians — at About Faces Cosmetic Surgery. They’re always happy to answer any questions you may have about Botox or other injectables. Contact them today!The office of About Faces Cosmetic Surgery continues to take every precaution to ensure the safety of all our patients and our entire staff. Please feel free to contact our office with any questions.We look forward to seeing you in 2022!