All the characteristics of a phenomenal surgeon.....

I don't take the time to write many reviews, but I feel compelled to outline how Dr. Lawton exceeded my expectations, and what differentiates him from other plastic surgeons I've encountered.
When I was finally ready to pursue breast augmentation, I began what was a very extensive and exhaustive search for the right plastic surgeon. Beginning in the summer of '17, I started the process by listing about 8-9 of the top, most discussed plastic surgeons in San Antonio. Focusing on one surgeon at a time, I methodically read nearly every one of his/her reviews on multiple platforms and took notes. I then read their curriculum vitae, read the peer-reviewed studies they authored or co-authored, and tried to understand their post-operative protocols and level of post-op patient involvement.
As I went through this process for each surgeon on my list, I noticed themes start to emerge, specific to each doctor. Themes that provided a clearer picture of each doctor's practice philosophies. I also spent a great deal of time researching the risks and benefits of implant types, studied the methods of insertion, and delved into information about possible health risks associated with breast augmentation. I tried to gain a comprehensive understanding of how plastic surgery would alter my body - psychologically, physically, chemically, and what possible long-term implications were associated with the procedure. I wanted/needed to put my trust in a plastic surgeon who hadn't lost touch with his/her roots as an actual physician and who approached aesthetic enhancement from an integrated, whole-body wellness perspective. Essentially, I knew I wanted my plastic surgeon to meet the following criteria:
1. Uses the most surgically advanced methods for breast augmentation with minimal scarring. (In my research I came to understand that the Transaxillary method used by Dr. Lawton is the most advanced).
2. Is very clinical instead of just aesthetic and gimmicky. Has an extensive understanding of other medical disciplines and how they impact surgical outcomes.
3. Able to address my concerns over the possible dangers of silicone implants and if silicone possibly incites an autoimmune reaction.
4. Has an experienced staff and works with an anesthesiologist that is very experienced in cosmetic procedures.
5. Enough face-time with the actual surgeon - surgeon is heavily involved in patient care instead of just delegating all follow-up to nurses or support staff.
6. Has an excellent post-operative protocol. Personally sees and monitors patient progress frequently and over time.
7. Has a practice focus on breast augmentation, or seems to "specialize." Whenever I select an OB/GYN, or endocrinologist, etc. I read their curriculum vitae and check to see if the medical problem I'm concerned about is one of their listed clinical interests. For example, I've had a lot of hormonal issues, so when selecting a GYN, I make sure he has a specific focus in hormone interpretation and therapy. Many of the plastic surgeons I researched offered so many procedures, they didn't seem to excel at a few in particular. Dr. Lawton specializes in breast surgery as well as lipo and tummy tuck.
Using these criterion, I was able to eliminate several surgeons from my list and schedule consults with those that remained. At this point, Dr. Lawton had emerged as a clear, top contender and to make a final decision I scheduled consults with the few surgeons that remained on my list.
As I began having formal consultations with potential surgeons, I was dismayed to find that most of them were unwilling or unable to discuss potential health concerns related to plastic surgery to the extent that I needed. Either they glossed over the more clinical and medicinal aspects of cosmetic surgery, or they did not concern themselves with the patient's overall health.
My last consult was with Dr. Lawton. He was completely different, and I quickly realized that I'd met my ideological match in a surgeon. He is a true clinician as well as an aesthetic expert. He cares deeply about the scientific components of plastic surgery- drawing from a multi-faceted engineering, Ivy league medical, and aesthetic background. He literally spent over an hour at my consult discussing the history of implants, the integrity of various studies, the benefits, the risks, etc. He spoke confidently about a wide breadth of subjects and how they impact surgical outcomes including pharmacology, rheumatology, hematology, etc. He detailed the techniques that set him apart and how they contribute to my long-term well-being. He talked to me with the assumption that I am a woman who cares deeply about her long-term physical health instead of just my outward appearance.
Dr. Lawton values the concept of "true consent," which involves imparting a high degree of transparency and logic to his patients. As his patient and a lawyer's wife, I can certainly appreciate the value in this approach. I was always unsure of what size I wanted to be post-surgery, but Dr. Lawton has a very intuitive way of teasing out your true preferences through a series of questions and processes that have been proven accurate.
Dr. Lawton also only surrounds himself with people who meet his high expectations. As a result, his anesthesiologist (Dr. Mellish) is also stellar. On the day of my operation, Dr. M addressed my post-operative concerns in great detail and designed an anesthetic protocol tailored to my needs. I didn't experience a twinge of nausea and I actually enjoyed the experience. I love that Dr. Lawton has his own operating room and staff that he's worked with for years. This is how he says he "controls all the variables."
Dr. Lawton projected the utmost confidence and ease when he came to chat with me before my operation. I adore him and his hilarious, blunt personality and felt no apprehension about my impending surgery.
I'm currently about 3 months post-op from my breast augmentation and I feel amazing. I experienced little to no pain and no bruising, largely because Dr. Lawton utilizes the most surgically advanced breast augmentation procedure - Transaxillary insertion with a surgical camera. This allows him superior visibility to see and cauterize each minute vessel as he creates an implant pocket, preventing any bleeding and reducing the risk of capsular contracture, bruising, etc. There is a lot of beautiful subtlety in my outcome.
I was surprised to find out that 70% of breast augmentations outside his practice are still done with a less-advanced incision in the inframammary fold (under the breast). Before finding Dr. Lawton, I almost made a deposit with another surgeon who uses a more outdated incision site, and feel so grateful I avoided this scenario.
Dr. Lawton's thorough post-operative protocol was one of the reasons I chose him as my surgeon. I saw him every week for the first month. While my recovery didn't raise any red flags, he still wanted me to come each week to be sure I met post-operative milestones. One visit, he discovered I'd had trouble obtaining a specific medication and he called the pharmacy immediately in the exam room to work it out.
I am open about my procedure when asked, and have received so many sincere compliments. A friend of mine at the gym paid Dr. Lawton an amazing compliment a few days ago. She said she'd noticed my "new look" (I never told her I was having the procedure), and a few minutes later asked me if Dr. Lawton had performed the surgery. I asked why she thought to make this guess and she responded, "whenever I see someone from a short distance and my first impression is, "wow, she looks amazing," instead of, "oh, she clearly got a breast augmentation," then I know it's Dr. Lawton's work. It's hard to explain, but there is a seamlessness to his methods. Dr. Lawton is his "own brand" here in Stone Oak, everyone knows that."
I feel a tremendous amount of gratitude toward him; gratitude for his hard work and determination to be one of the best in his field, thankful for the drive he has to continuously learn and expand his knowledge base to better serve his patients, grateful for his fanaticism for perfection and his complete intolerance for sub-par results. I knew I was in good hands and the peace of mind I had going into the surgery was such a luxury.
With his exactness, experience, perfectionism, knowledge, and attention to the whole patient, he expertly translated my aesthetic wishlist into reality. I'm so grateful I found a plastic surgeon that so expertly addressed my needs in such a comprehensive way. I highly recommend him!

I don't take the time to write many reviews, but I feel compelled to outline how Dr. Lawton exceeded my expectations, and what differentiates him from other plastic surgeons I've encountered.
I've wanted a breast augmentation for many years and had been compiling information about various plastic surgeons, going to consultations, and reading thousands of reviews for awhile now. In addition, I spent a great deal of time researching the risks and benefits of implant types, studied the methods of insertion, and delved into information about possible health risks associated with breast augmentation. I tried to gain a comprehensive understanding of how plastic surgery would alter my body - psychologically, physically, chemically, and what possible long-term implications were associated with the procedure. I wanted/needed to put my trust in a plastic surgeon who hadn't lost touch with his/her roots as an actual physician and who approached aesthetic enhancement from an integrated, whole-body wellness perspective.
As I began having formal consultations with potential plastic surgeons, I was dismayed to find that each one of them was unwilling or unable to discuss potential health concerns related to plastic surgery to the extent that I needed. Either they glossed over the more clinical and medicinal aspects of cosmetic surgery, or they did not concern themselves with the patient's overall health. Dr. Lawton was completely different. He is a true clinician as well as an aesthetic expert. He cares deeply about the scientific components of plastic surgery- drawing from a multi-faceted engineering, Ivy league medical, and aesthetic background. He literally spent over an hour at my consult discussing the history of implants, the integrity of various studies, the benefits, the risks, etc. He detailed the techniques that set him apart and how they contribute to my long-term well-being. He talked to me with the assumption that I am a woman who cares deeply about her long-term physical health instead of just my outward appearance.
Dr. Lawton values the concept of "true consent," which involves imparting a high degree of transparency and logic to his patients. As his patient and a lawyer's wife, I can certainly appreciate the value in this approach. I was always unsure of what size I wanted to be post-surgery, but Dr. Lawton has a very intuitive way of teasing out your true preferences through a series of questions and processes that have been proven accurate.
Dr. Lawton also only surrounds himself with people who meet his high expectations. As a result, his anesthesiologist (Dr. Mellish) is also stellar. On the day of my operation, Dr. M addressed my post-operative concerns in great detail and designed an anesthetic protocol tailored to my needs. I didn't experience a twinge of nausea and I actually enjoyed the experience. Dr. Lawton projected the utmost confidence and ease when he came to chat with me before my operation. I adore him and his hilarious, blunt personality and felt no apprehension about my impending surgery.
I'm currently about 6 weeks post-op from my breast augmentation and I feel amazing. I experienced little to no pain and no bruising, largely because Dr. Lawton utilizes the most surgically advanced breast augmentation procedure - Transaxillary insertion with a surgical camera. This allows him superior visibility to see and cauterize each minute vessel as he creates an implant pocket, preventing any bleeding and reducing the risk of capsular contracture, bruising, etc. This detailed method allowed him to create more artistic subtlety in my outcome. I was surprised to find out that 70% of breast augmentations outside his practice are still done with a less-advanced incision in the inframammary fold (under the breast). Before finding Dr. Lawton, I almost made a deposit with another surgeon who uses a more outdated incision site, and feel so grateful I avoided this scenario.
Dr. Lawton's thorough post-operative protocol was one of the reasons I chose him as my surgeon. I saw him every week for the first month. While my recovery didn't raise any red flags, he still wanted me to come each week to be sure I met post-operative milestones. One visit, he discovered I'd had trouble obtaining a specific medication and he called the pharmacy immediately in the exam room to work it out.
I am open about my procedure when asked, and have received so many sincere compliments. A friend of mine at the gym paid Dr. Lawton an amazing compliment a few days ago. She said she'd noticed my "new look" (I never told her I was having the procedure), and a few minutes later asked me if Dr. Lawton had performed the surgery. I asked why she thought to make this guess and she responded, "whenever I see someone from a short distance and my first impression is, "wow, they look amazing," instead of, "oh, they clearly got a breast augmentation," then I know it's Dr. Lawton's work. It's hard to explain, but there is a seamlessness to his methods. Dr. Lawton is his "own brand" here in Stone Oak, everyone knows that."
With his exactness, experience, perfectionism, knowledge, and attention to the whole patient, he expertly translated my aesthetic wishlist into reality. I've been effusively sharing my experience thus far with all of my microblading clients and friends. I'm so grateful to have found a plastic surgeon that so expertly addressed my needs in such a comprehensive way. I highly recommend him!!!!!!