Refreshed and Restored
Penny Bartol at 60

Penny Bartol is one of those amazing midlife parents you read about in magazines. She gave birth to her daughter when she was almost 42 years old. After waiting so long, Penny found motherhood to be glorious. But she wasn't prepared for some of its social ramifications.

"I never thought about what it would be like trying to fit in with the other mothers in my community, most of whom were half my age," she says. "When I brought my daughter over to play with other kids or picked her up at preschool, I felt out of place."

Finding Solutions
Eventually she found a few strategies to deal with her discomfort. She sought out friends among the older mothers in the community, women on their third or fourth child who were closer to her age. She went back to work so she could have contact with peers again.

These strategies kept her discomfort level at a dull roar - for about eight years.

Divorce Deals a Heavy Blow
Then life dealt her a real blow. Her marriage fell apart. "I got divorced in my early 50s. That can injure your self esteem at any age, but for a woman in her 50s it's especially devastating. That's the age when you're already realizing that men are looking at younger women, not you. I decided I needed to do something about my appearance."

She was 58 years old. She came in for a consultation with me.

Our Consultation
Frankly, when I saw her I thought Penny was an unusually pretty woman who, with makeup, looked quite wonderful for someone aged 58. I did notice that her upper face had developed a heaviness to it, giving her a harsh, angry expression. Also, the corners of her mouth had started to turn down, and she'd begun getting those "lip lines" that pull lipstick into small crevices and destroy the clean line of the lips. Her facial skin was showing the signs of age, too, but not to the extent that she needed a deep facial peel.

Since I am basically conservative in my approach to surgery, I recommended the minimum: a forehead lift to brighten up her expression. A coronal forehead lift helps reverse the trend of gravity by subtly bringing the upper third of the face into more youthful positions. The face regains a fresher, less tired look.

Beyond that, I recommended that she begin a focused regimen of skincare with our esthetician. This regimen would include low-impact peels, microdermabrasion, and, of course, the very best skincare products on the market.

The Surgery
Penny experienced "absolutely no pain" from the forehead lift and recovery period. In fact, she recovered from surgery much sooner than she had anticipated. She began seeing our esthetician regularly, and the compliments started coming in.

Two Years Later
Penny was happy for awhile, feeling as though she'd gotten a new lease on life. But she was at that critical age when "neck issues" begin to haunt everyone. "Turkey gobbler" necks are spoilers. Even the most beautiful faces can't hold up when seen above a sagging neck.

As often happens with my patients, Penny came back for some freshening up. At this point I advised her that she was ready for a mini-facelift. Her neck issues were particularly apparent in profile:

Along with a mini-facelift for her neck, I recommended laser resurfacing of her mouth and lower eyelids. Penny's coloring makes her an excellent candidate for laser resurfacing. This profound rejuvenation procedure not only replaces the upper epidermis, it also rebuilds collagen at deep levels. Sun damage and all kinds of mottling are whisked away, while the facial skin's thinning process is halted and reversed. When combined with the tightening effect of the mini-facelift, the end result is a new vibrancy and clarity of expression.

At age 60, Penny's delighted with the way she looks. Being a modest person, she gives me and my staff all the credit:

Kudos All Around
"The staff is so caring and so kind. They treat you like a person, not like a patient. They are never too busy to answer your questions when you call. As a matter of fact, they make you feel like you are the only patient they have, and that is very reassuring.

"Dr. Lawler is wonderful. The results were even better than I expected them to be. I look very natural. My face doesn't look pulled or stretched. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I recommended Dr. Lawler to several of my girlfriends and they have been thrilled with the results. He is a man of integrity and would never try to talk you into something that you don't need. There is no way I would ever use another plastic surgeon."

www.lawlercentre.com