Newport Beach

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Read more news directly from Dr. Lawton! Below are a few of her recent articles:

SEP
10
2014

“It’s only a matter of time before more people feel more comfortable talking about their cosmetic procedure choices.”

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. | PRNewswire

In 2013, 15.1 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. That’s nearly one procedure every two seconds. And, in January 2014, First Lady Michelle Obama, about to turn 50, made headlines by telling People magazine she isn’t ruling out plastic surgery or Botox as part of her beauty routine in the years to come.

So why is cosmetic work still such a taboo topic? People feel they have to hide from what’s now known as “cosmetic surgery shaming.”

“Beauty is such a highly personalized and individualized matter,” says Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon Dr. Tenley Lawton. “Yet it’s also a matter of intense scrutiny, for people of all types and ages. It’s no more acceptable for a celebrity to have plastic surgery, for example, than it is for an everyday person. But, the fact is, people from all walks of life are having it done.”

The effects of cosmetic surgery shaming, says Dr. Lawton, are unfortunate. People hide their work from the ones they love, even their spouses in extreme cases, and from the world at large. All in fear of being judged harshly and unfairly.

“Society has come a long way in celebrating different types of beauty and individuality, but that doesn’t yet apply to cosmetically enhanced beauty,” says Dr. Lawton. “It’s a shame. People who are 60 and feel youthful may choose to have a neck lift, for example, in order to bring their looks in closer alignment with their vitality, and that’s a personal choice for them. It’s a way of celebrating themselves, and they shouldn’t be shamed for that.”

With cosmetic procedures showing no signs of slowing down, the practice will become more and more acceptable, especially as more people talk openly about it.

“It’s only a matter of time before more people feel more comfortable talking about their cosmetic procedure choices,” says Dr. Lawton. “Whether they choose to be open about it or to keep it private, they shouldn’t be judged either way. Let’s accept all forms of beauty, and the personal choices that take us there.”

SEP
29
2014

“A smile says so much about the individual.”

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. | PRNewswire & USNewswire

A simple smile—there’s hardly a better way to show the world who we are. Yet, for many people, their smile is, well, nothing to smile about. It’s too gummy, leading to the catchphrase “gummy grin” and, recently, to an innovative, non-invasive treatment by way of occasional Botox injections.

We’re talking about smiles that show a lot of gum above the upper teeth. These gummy grins have a variety of causes, from teeth that are too short to an upper lip that lifts too high. And, while expensive surgical options, such as reducing the gums or severing upper lip muscles, were once the main avenue for treatment, now, as the New York Times has noted, Botox is igniting a paradigm shift in how we deal with gummy grins.

“A smile says so much about the individual. Yet those with gummy grins keep a tight lid on their smiles, making sure to keep their lips pressed closely together rather than flashing a full, genuine smile,” says Dr. Tenley Lawton, a Newport Beach plastic surgeon. “Likely these individuals have been self-conscious about their smiles for years, maybe decades. Now Botox offers them a simple solution that’s easy, affordable, non-invasive and, most importantly, allows them to finally smile without inhibition.”

By relaxing certain muscles in the upper lip, Botox prohibits the lip from lifting so high that it creates a gummy grin. The result is a smile with no more than two millimeters of gums showing—the ideal in studies cited by the New York Times.

While surgery can rack up $15,000 in out-of-pocket expenses for individuals, a Botox session costs roughly $300. Most patients with gummy grins are looking at twice yearly injections. It’s a small commitment that will have gummy grinners smiling from ear to ear.

JUN
09
2014

“Post childbirth, there’s a loss in breast volume that leads to sagging.”

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. | PRNewswire

It’s no longer DDs or bust for women seeking breast augmentation surgery. For many women today, a little lift is all it takes.

In fact, the number of breast lift procedures performed grew by 70% from 2000 to 2013, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Even in a locale like Southern California, where breast implants have long been in vogue, Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon Dr. Tenley Lawton has taken notice of the big trend to go small.

“I’m doing more breast lifts on patients who haven’t previously undergone any cosmetic surgery, and I’m seeing a major increase in women seeking breast reductions and implant removals,” says Dr. Lawton. “DD used to be the only cup size that anybody wanted. Now I’m getting requests for perkier Bs and smaller Cs as well.”

Women ages 30 to 54 are driving the increase in breast lift procedures. During these years, women begin to notice the sagging effects of pregnancy and breastfeeding.

“Post childbirth, there’s a loss in breast volume that leads to sagging,” says Dr. Lawton. “Breast lifts remove excess skin to lift the breasts back up to where they should be.”

Women who are considering a breast lift can conduct a simple test at home to see if they are a good candidate. If a pencil stays in place after being placed under the breast, then sagging is occurring. A breast lift can remedy this effect and help women look and feel like their younger selves.

NOV
03
2014

“Fat grafting corrects that by moving fat to a place where it can be more beneficial.”

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. | PRNewswire & USNewswire

Got fat? Then you’ve got what you need to reverse the effects of aging on your face and hands or to plump up a lackluster bootie or breasts.

Whether the aging process has taken toll or Mother Nature has left little in the way of curves, fat grafting is a safe, long-lasting pick-me-up. Fat grafting transfers fat cells from an area that has too many to an area that has too few. The result? Reclaimed youthfulness or new-found curvaceousness.

“It turns out the key to age reversal and shapely curves has been inside us all along – it just might be in the wrong place,” says Dr.Tenley Lawton, a plastic surgeon in Newport Beach. “Fat grafting corrects that by moving fat to a place where it can be more beneficial. And, by injecting fat from your own body, fat grafting makes use of something familiar rather than introducing a foreign substance to your body.”

No wonder fat grafting, also known as fat transfer or fat injection, is gaining in popularity. According to Dr. Lawton, it’s easily tolerated with natural-looking results that outlast temporary fillers.

So who’s a good candidate for fat transfer? The first criterion, of course, is having a little excess fat to spare from the abdomen, thighs or another area. That fat is then removed and transferred drop by drop to:

  • Rejuvenate wrinkly hands.
  • Fill in creased, scarred or sunken facial areas.
  • Modestly increase breast size.
  • Reconstruct breasts following a lumpectomy or mastectomy.
  • Create a fuller rump.
  • Fix breast implant irregularities.

If any of the above are on your beauty wish list, fat grafting may be the right solution for you. A consultation with your plastic surgeon will help you better understand what you may be able to expect from fat grafting. In general, the smaller the area, the more successful fat grafting is.

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About Dr. Tenley Lawton

Located in Newport Beach, Calif., Dr. Lawton is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in an array of services, including liposuction, breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, and facelift procedures. Renowned in Orange County for her expertise in cosmetic surgery, Dr. Lawton is an active speaker locally and nationally, sharing her experience in plastic and reconstructive surgery. For more information on Dr. Lawton, or to schedule a consultation please contact (949) 640-0999.