Putting Your Best Face Forward: Drs. Jennifer and Henry Watkins

After signing on to the Internet every morning, I first scan news stories to see what happened in the world while I enjoyed a restful night’s sleep.  Without fail, I am assaulted by the news worthy stories of Pamela Anderson spotted shopping with no make-up, but looking Fabulous;, Kim Kardashian’s ever-changing looks, Jennifer Aniston’s short skirts, Reese Witherspoon’s new haircut, and on and on and on.  

My point is that these stories are front page because youth and beauty fascinate our society along with  retaining that youthful appearance for as long as possible.  I didn’t set the standard, and I am certainly not making a moral statement on societal values; I am simply pointing out that what is, is.  I won’t lie; I am no stranger to what I have always referred to as youthful maintenance.  Therefore, I was greatly pleased to meet and interview the Drs. Watkins, owners of Asheville Medical Aesthetics (formerly known as Smooth Skin). Dr. Jennifer Benjamin-Watkins and Dr. Henry Watkins met while studying at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, California. Their long list of internships, residencies, studies, and degrees could fill this page.  This lovely young couple maintains a wonderful balance between their very full career paths and their family.  Family led them to Asheville: Dr. Jennifer’s mother lives here.   Family values and commitment to their children run deep with this couple.  Dr. Jennifer revealed that she was home schooling her son until the arrival of their daughter; a new born baby, a seven-year-old boy, and juggling two medical practices became unmanageable.  After considering the options, the parents said, they were blessed to find The New Classical Academy, run by home-schooling moms!

Being a mom and running your own medical practice is no easy task, but Dr. Jennifer credits her husband and their wonderful staff for making it possible to juggle everything successfully. Staff is my word; Drs. Watkins refer to their employees as one big extended family whose goal is helping every patient reach their personal goals.  Their mission statement reads:  The Company’s staff of skilled medical professionals are dedicated to offering safe, convenient, individually tailored and medically sound treatments that enhance our clients’ personal appearance, health & well-being.      Let me make it clear that this is no nip-and-tuck operation.  The only surgical procedure performed here is an amazing process of hair restoration, an innovative technique overseen by Dr. Henry Watkins.  As he zealously described the process in detail, the technical language flew over my head.

After he finished, all I could say was, “Oh, it sounds like gardening.”   Thank goodness Dr. Henry smiled and took no offense at my simplicity.  This process of hair restoration is done on a follicle-by-follicle implant that is nothing like the old plug method of treating hair loss.  The result is a natural pattern and a very high success rate of natural growth.  I was surprised to learn about  the number of women suffering from hair loss.  Along with this contribution to the practice, Dr. Henry also has a position as Emergency Room Doctor in Morganton.  

So, what is Asheville Medical Aesthetics and what do they do?  The goal of Dr. Jennifer Watkins is assisting people in reversing the tracks of time in a natural and gentle manner. From a book I was reading this week, by a very well-known author, I quote this passage: “She was forty-something and looked every day of it.  Her face had lived through some hard times and harsh disappointments and in her eyes was sad resignation.”   WOW! Harsh words, but true.  As we well know, the first level of judgement begins with our faces and appearance. And with that knowledge comes a multitude of feelings, some of them quite yucky.  

Corrective, non-invasive procedures range from dermal fillers for deep lines, Botox Cosmetic (a misunderstood purified protein blocking the receptor that causes the deep frown lines around the forehead, eyebrows and mouth area), to corrective skin care through facial skin treatments, Sclerotherapy for unsightly veins, Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement and, last but not least, laser treatments, Dr. Jennifer Watkins’ specialty.

Through her radiology background, Dr. Jennifer Watkins gained intimate knowledge of the face’s anatomy and a clear understanding of the physics involved with proper laser and light usage.  Light, a completely natural source of energy when focused by various bands and intensities, produces many levels of skin and tissue restoration.  Topically, we can expect to see amazing results for those nasty brown spots and discolorations due to aging and sun damage, treatment for acne scars, hair removal, small vein reduction, and small wrinkles that form around your mouth (I hate those!).  On a more serious level, Dr. Jennifer performs a deep laser peel which removes the outermost layer of damaged skin to reveal fresh new skin beneath.  I have had this procedure with amazing results.