I want to begin this post by pointing out that I’m well aware of the fact that no matter how “pretty” you are on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that truly matters most!
This is exactly what I teach my own daughter and try to live by, placing other important things above vanity. With that being said, the clock isn’t slowing down and I’m here to talk about something I did for myself in attempt to reverse some of the aging on my face.
I don’t know if life is more stressful nowadays or what exactly is going on but I felt like I was at a point where I dreaded looking at myself in the mirror. It honestly felt like every time I’d look in the mirror, all I would see was stress written all over my face…in the form of wrinkles! Do you ever feel that way? If the answer is “yes”, you aren’t alone.
I couldn’t stand my wrinkles! It was as if motherhood, marriage, my job, financial stuff, current politics, and age, all got together for a collaboration..on my face! Once I hit my late 30’s, it became a race to keep up and fight the aging process. It’s the worst! 
Luckily for me, I connected with an amazing female board-certified Orange County plastic surgeon Dr. Tenley Lawton. She’s a mom, too, so she gets it. She’s practiced cosmetic surgery for years now and I actually have a couple of friends who have gone to her for reconstructive surgery after battling Breast Cancer.
During my consultation, I felt like Dr. Lawton really listened to me explain my concerns and expectations for the visit. My biggest areas of concern included:
- the crows feet by my eyes
- the wrinkle between my brows
- the wrinkles on my forehead
- the wrinkles on both sides of my nose (at the top)
Dr. Lawton gave a thorough analysis about what she could (and couldn’t) do to counter the wrinkles and other areas on my face that were bothering me. 
She suggested non-surgical options, which was fine with me because I’m not even close to ready for a face lift. Using Botox injections is very effective for the problem areas I mentioned above.
Did you know that as you age, your face loses its fullness too? As if wrinkles weren’t bad enough, now my face was falling? There’s no way I’m willing to “age gracefully”! I fully intend to fight this process and not let it get the best of me! 
In addition to some of the areas on my face with Botox, Dr. Lawton also suggested using some Juvederm Voluma in my cheeks. in the areas formerly known as the “apples” of my cheeks. 
Know before you go
If you’ve never had injections like these before, it’s usually a good idea to avoid drinking alcohol and taking Ibuprofen for the 2 weeks prior to your appointment. This is to help minimize bruising, which can happen regardless.
What does it feel like?
Both Botox and Juvederm Voluma are injected right into the areas you’re targeting. If you’re wondering whether it hurts or not, I don’t think it does. However, that’s just my opinion. The Botox just feels like a bunch of quick needle pokes. The Voluma is still a tiny poke but sits longer as the filler is injected to either build up an area or fill in a line. Again, it’s not bad at all and totally worth it! It’s obvious that Dr. Lawton has a lot of experience and knows that she’s doing, because I barely felt the injections.
How long does it take to see results?
Botox takes about 10 to 14 days to take full effect, so you won’t see immediate results from the Botox right after your visit. The Voluma is a different story though. It’s a filler so you can pretty much immediately see where it’s been injected. Voluma is great for filling in lines too, like the ones around your mouth and lips. I had some lines on my forehead too but those seemed to have gone away just with the Botox.
I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Tenley Lawton and that I had such a wonderful experience. She is passionate about her work and about her patients, regardless of what they’re in the office for. Her passion is even obvious on her social channels like her Instagram.
Having non-surgical options to help in this fight against the aging process made me feel like I could face the world again. In all seriousness though, I have more confidence now in talking to others and don’t feel the need to use so many filters on my photos. From time-to-time, we should all take the time to do something for ourselves, whatever it may be.
If you are considering taking a pro-active approach to the aging process, I highly suggest calling the office to schedule a consultation and an appointment with Dr. Lawton.
Dr. Tenley Lawton’s office is located at:
361 Hospital Rd #329
Newport Beach, Ca. 92663
949. 640.0999
To learn more about the full range of services Dr. Lawton offers, including Mommy Makeovers please visit her site here. Connect with Lawton M.D. on Facebook too.