The La Jolla Cosmetic Podcast

View Details

Dr. Swistun says the moment a woman decides her implants have to come out is his best chance to help — there's no right or wrong answer, only her goals.

And he's blunt about one thing: put a new breast implant back in and you're automatically signing up for another surgery down the road, because no breast implants last forever.

Monique Ramsey gathers the show's best explant surgery conversations into one guide — the decision, the operation, and the after.

Dr. Swistun explains what a total intact capsulectomy actually is, why getting back to 'factory settings' takes far longer than putting an implant in, and how auto-augmentation reshapes the tissue you already have so you can stay full without an implant.

Then real women — Jennifer, Caroline, and Amie — describe what removal was actually like, and one husband, Michael, shares what it was like to watch his wife go through it, skeptical at first and won over after.

One woman put it in a way that sticks: she felt like a prisoner in her own body, and now she feels liberated. No hype, no pressure — just what removal really involves.

Links

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Luke Swistun: Dr. Luke Swistun

Learn more about breast implant removal: breast implant removal

Questions answered by this episode
1. What is a total intact capsulectomy? 2. What is the breast capsule and why does it need to be removed? 3. Why does explant sometimes cost more than the original breast augmentation? 4. Can you stay full after breast implant removal without new implants? 5. What is auto-augmentation during explant? 6. Should you replace your breast implants or remove them for good? 7. What does breast implant illness feel like? 8. What will your breasts look like after implants are removed? 9. Is a breast lift done at the same time as implant removal? 10. How do women feel emotionally after explant?

About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego's Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine's Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego's most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Monique Ramsey gathers years of recovery answers into one guide that follows the whole arc — the mindset going in, the first hard days, and what healing actually feels like procedure by procedure.

Along the way the LJCSC surgeons and team get specific: why a breast augmentation under the muscle aches more than one placed over it, how long eyelid swelling really lasts, when it's safe to drive again, what a 360 liposuction recovery involves with drains and compression, and the clean-sheets-and-no-pets rule nobody thinks about until they're already home.

There's also the part people forget to plan for — where to stay those first nights, the lymphatic help that opens women's eyes the day after their drains come out, and one surgeon's answer to a golfer who wanted to hit balls two days post-op. (It's no.)

Links

Meet the San Diego plastic surgeons at La Jolla Cosmetic: La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre

Learn more about surgery recovery and aftercare: recovery at La Jolla Cosmetic

Please request your free consultation online at https://www.ljcsc.com/ or call La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, San Diego, at (858) 452-1981 for more information.

Questions answered by this episode
1. Why shouldn't you use ice after plastic surgery? 2. How long does swelling last after eyelid surgery? 3. Do you need someone to stay with you after outpatient surgery? 4. What is recovery like after a breast augmentation under the muscle? 5. When can you drive again after cosmetic surgery? 6. How long before you can exercise again after surgery? 7. What does recovery from a 360 liposuction or BBL involve? 8. Why do surgeons use drains, and what happens when they come out? 9. Can lymphatic massage help with swelling after a tummy tuck? 10. How should you prepare your home before plastic surgery?

About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego's Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine's Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego's most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

AI search can confidently send someone to a surgeon who's retired, connect them to a competing office's phone number by mistake, or invent a reputation out of two or three scattered reviews.

None of it happens because the system is trying to deceive anyone — it happens because these tools are built to sound certain, not to be accurate.

Monique talks with Ryan Miller, CEO of Etna Interactive, a digital marketing agency that works with hundreds of plastic surgery practices nationwide, including LJCSC.

Ryan recently spoke to hundreds of surgeons on this topic at the Aesthetic Society's annual meeting, sounding the alarm about a wave of practices gaming AI search and claiming to be “ranked number one” with no defined scale to back it up.

He walks through why AI search compresses the old click-and-read research cycle into one confident answer, why ChatGPT leans on a certain site’s reviews, and why enforcement against false claims is so rare that bad actors are currently being rewarded for it.

Ryan also shares the three questions worth asking in a live consultation, why a surgeon willing to say “no” deserves more trust than one who never does, and how to fact-check an AI recommendation before it becomes a decision with lifelong consequences.

Learn more about Ryan Miller, CEO of Etna Interactive

Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn

Learn more about La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre

Questions answered by this episode
1. How is AI search different from a regular Google search? 2. Can a plastic surgeon legally claim to be “ranked number one” online? 3. Why would a practice with a perfect five-star rating actually be rated lower everywhere else? 4. Does ChatGPT use Google reviews to recommend a plastic surgeon? 5. Can AI recommend a surgeon who has retired or passed away? 6. Who regulates false advertising by plastic surgeons? 7. How fast can misinformation about a practice spread through AI search? 8. What questions should I ask a plastic surgeon during a consultation? 9. Should I trust an AI recommendation when choosing a plastic surgeon? 10. What's the best way to verify a surgeon's credentials before booking a consultation?

About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego's Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine's Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego's most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

A well-done facelift should hold for 10 to 12 years, sometimes 15 — but only if a surgeon steers a patient toward the right depth from the start. Here's how four surgeons actually make that call.

Dr. John Smoot has a two-second move he runs in nearly every consultation: he tugs the skin back near a patient's temple and watches what happens next. If it bunches or pleats, a short-scar mini lift won't hold — full stop, no matter how badly someone wants the smaller procedure.

Dr. Johan Brahme breaks down the real difference between a mini, a SMAS, and a deep plane facelift — not marketing names, but how deep into the face each one goes and why that depth changes both the results and the risks.

Dr. Kiersten Riedler explains who benefits most from the deep plane approach and walks through eyelid surgery recovery in detail, down to the actual pain scale patients report.

Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes maps out every option for treating an aging neck, from non-surgical energy devices to a full neck lift, including a procedure that's traditionally been requested almost exclusively by men.

Monique Ramsey curates the best conversations with the plastic surgeons of La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre into one facelift masterclass covering the questions people actually ask before a consultation.

Links

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Johan Brahme
Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Kiersten Riedler
Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. John Smoot
Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes
Learn more about facelift surgery

Questions answered by this episode
1. What's the difference between a deep plane facelift and a SMAS facelift? 2. How do I know if I need a mini facelift or a full facelift? 3. How long does a facelift actually last? 4. What are the risks of a deep plane facelift? 5. Can a deep plane facelift affect the nerves in my face? 6. What are my options for tightening a sagging neck without surgery? 7. What is a T-Z plasty and who is it for? 8. How painful is eyelid surgery recovery? 9. How long does bruising and swelling last after eyelid surgery? 10. Should I combine lower eyelid surgery with fat transfer?

About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego's Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine's Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego's most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

The number on the scale went down, so why does everything still feel soft, loose, and unfinished? Monique Ramsey curates the best moments from conversations with the LJCSC team to answer the question that lands in consultations almost every day.

Janelle Robinson, who leads the practice and has used the medication herself, explains who's actually showing up for the medical weight loss program at LJCSC — and it's not people with 50 pounds to lose.

Dr. Gerald Haas educates us about what the medical literature actually says versus what TikTok is selling.

Dr. Hector Salazar lays out the tummy tuck decision framework — four separate benefits that stack on top of each other, and why a perfect candidate earns a spot in the textbook.

Dr. Luke Swistun adds the 360 lipo argument: why three positions instead of two, and what the back's adherent zones actually explain about those mid-back rolls.

Dr. Johan Brahme addresses the sequencing question — why the abdomen almost always comes first when someone needs multiple areas done.

Dr. Salazar has a phrase for the moment a candidate checks every box: they'd be "figure 1A" of a textbook chapter on tummy tucks. If you've heard something like that from your own surgeon, this episode explains exactly what they mean.

Links

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes
Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Luke Swistun
Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Johan Brahme
Learn more about liposuction in San Diego
Learn more about tummy tuck in San Diego

Please request your free consultation online at https://www.ljcsc.com/ or call La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, San Diego, at (858) 452-1981 for more information.

Questions answered by this episode
1. What happens to your skin after losing a lot of weight on GLP-1 medications? 2. Is liposuction enough after major weight loss, or do I need a tummy tuck? 3. What is 360 liposuction and why do surgeons do it in three positions? 4. What are the benefits of a tummy tuck beyond just removing extra skin? 5. Can liposuction make loose skin look worse? 6. What causes the mid-back rolls that don't go away with weight loss? 7. What is muscle diastasis and how does a tummy tuck fix it? 8. What is a belt lipectomy and who needs it? 9. How long does recovery take after 360 liposuction? 10. What order should I do procedures in if I need liposuction and a tummy tuck?

About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

For a lot of women, the most intimidating part of a cosmetic procedure isn't the operating room. It's the money, and the quiet worry that asking about it makes you look like you can't afford it. LJCSC built its whole intake process around taking that fear off the table long before you walk through the door.

Janelle Robinson returns to show how the LJC team takes the mystery out of the price from the very first phone call. Ballpark pricing is published online and quoted right over the phone, so you can picture the real number before you ever book a consult, and a trained coordinator like Marissa can map a likely surgical plan and monthly payment scenarios on the spot.

Janelle also makes the case that a payment plan is not a fallback for people who are short on money. Nearly one in three of the women at LJCSC choose one, plenty of them with the cash already saved, simply because it keeps that money free for the family while they pay over 6, 12, 18, or 24 months at no interest.

Janelle walks through the soft check that won't touch your credit and takes about a minute, why there's no penalty for paying early, and how a woman who came in for just her eyes ended up doing a full facial rejuvenation under one recovery once she saw how the numbers actually worked.

Links

See La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre payment plans and ways to pay

Browse La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre ballpark pricing

Questions answered by this episode
1. How can I find out what plastic surgery costs before I book a consultation?

Does La Jolla Cosmetic publish its pricing?
Can a patient coordinator give me a price estimate over the phone?
Will checking my payment options affect my credit score?
What's the difference between a soft credit check and a hard credit check?
How many people use payment plans for cosmetic surgery?
Can I pay off a cosmetic surgery payment plan early without a penalty?
How long are the no-interest payment plans at La Jolla Cosmetic?
Is it cheaper to combine multiple procedures into one surgery?
Should I use a payment plan even if I already have the money saved?

About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego's Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine's Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego's most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

There's a reason a lean, sculpted chest can still carry a stubborn bit of fullness right behind the nipple — and it's the one spot a thousand reps will never flatten. Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes explains why glandular breast tissue in men sits exactly where it's hardest to hide, and why building up the muscle around it can make it stand out even more.

Across the conversation with hostess Monique Ramsey, Dr. Salazar walks through the “polo shirt test” that tells most men whether they're a candidate, how he separates true glandular tissue from fat during the exam, and why steroids, certain medications, and even marijuana can trigger the condition long before middle age.

Dr. Salazar divides the fix into two worlds: liposuction — including the high-definition version that helps the skin shrink and tighten — and direct excision, where the tissue comes out through a small incision around the areola. For the most severe cases, he reveals the “secret weapon” that flattens the chest completely and rebuilds the nipple from scratch.

Hear what recovery really looks like, from compression garments to when weightlifters can pick the bar back up, and why nearly every man who finally does this says the same thing afterward: he should have done it years ago.

Links

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes

Learn more about male breast reduction in San Diego

Questions answered by this episode
1. What is gynecomastia, and what causes it? 2. What's the difference between true gynecomastia and chest fat? 3. Can working out get rid of man boobs? 4. Why does my chest look worse after I lose weight or build muscle? 5. What is the “polo shirt test” for gynecomastia? 6. Can steroids, marijuana, or medications cause gynecomastia? 7. What's the difference between liposuction and excision for male breast reduction? 8. How much does male breast reduction cost in San Diego? 9. How long does it take to recover from gynecomastia surgery? 10. When can I lift weights again after male breast reduction? 11. About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego's Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine's Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego's most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

A woman walks into the office holding her phone, points at a stranger’s before-and-after, and says she doesn’t want that result. Dr. Luke Swistun’s answer is almost always the same: that isn’t you. The photo shows someone with different tissue, different proportions, and usually a different surgery — none of which predicts where her own breasts will settle.

Dr. Swistun is the explant expert at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, and women fly into San Diego from all over to see him. With hostess Monique Ramsey, he walks through a single real before-and-after — the same woman at two months, six months, and two years — and explains what’s swelling, what’s final shape, and where the nipple sits relative to the breast fold (the landmarks that drive every decision).

He covers why some women need a lift, some need fat grafting, and some need nothing at all, plus a delayed lower-pole skin excision done under local in about an hour, and serial fat grafting that builds a full B with no implant at all. The conversation lands on the part most women aren’t ready for: how different they feel once the implants are gone.

His rule for anyone afraid of the scars: do less, because you can always do more. The woman in that progression took it — removed the implants, waited, then tightened a little skin under local — and told him afterward they look exactly like they did in high school.

Links

Listen to more breast implant removal episodes:

Fat Transfer, What Could Go Wrong? with Dr. SwistunPlastic Surgeon Clears Up Capsulectomy Confusion with Dr. Swistun

Patient Janelle: Why I Had My Implants Removed After 22 Years

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Luke Swistun

Learn more about breast implant removal (explant)

Questions answered by this episode
1. What will I actually look like after breast implant removal?
2. How long does it take to see the final result after an explant?
3. Do I need a breast lift when I have my implants removed?
4. What is a delayed lower pole skin excision, and when is it used?
5. Can fat grafting restore breast volume after explant without implants?
6. How much transferred fat actually survives after fat grafting to the breast?
7. Why do explant results look so different from one woman to the next?
8. What are breast landmarks and why do they matter when planning an explant?
9. Is it better to remove the implants first and decide on a lift later?
10. How do women feel about themselves a year after explant?

About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Around 48 to 72 hours after surgery, swelling peaks, the anesthesia haze lifts, and a lot of women look in the mirror and feel like they've made a mistake. Dr. Diana Breister has been in plastic surgery long enough to know that feeling almost never means what people think it means. Most of the time, it's not regret — it's chaos.

Dr. Breister, who came to La Jolla Cosmetic after years of reconstructive work at City of Hope, walks Monique through what's actually happening between day one and day fourteen. The first 48 hours are what she calls a “pink bubble” — anesthesia still on board, surgery behind you, mostly relief.

Then comes the crash: maximum swelling, pain pills affecting mood, a body shape that doesn't look like the final result yet, and the strange weight of doing nothing while everyone else is productive.

They get into the difference between regret and shock, why facelifts feel harder than mommy makeovers, the mean-girl moment that derailed a breast reduction recovery, and what to do when your partner isn't showing up.

Three words anchor the whole conversation: trust the process. Dr. Breister explains why she can promise, with 200% certainty, that the feeling will pass — and why the women who say “what did I do” at week one almost never remember saying it by year one.

Links

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Diana Breister

Learn more about facelift surgery at LJCSC

Questions answered by this episode

Why do I feel sad or emotional after plastic surgery?
When does swelling peak after cosmetic surgery?
Is it normal to regret plastic surgery in the first two weeks?
What is post-surgery depression and how long does it last?
Can anesthesia and pain medication change how I feel emotionally?
Why does my face or body look so different right after surgery?
How should a partner or family member support someone recovering from cosmetic surgery?
Why do facelifts feel harder emotionally than other procedures?
What are the biggest mistakes people make in the first two weeks of recovery?
How do I tell the difference between normal swelling and a real problem?

About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego's Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine's Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego's most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

At ten or eleven years old, Dr. Hector Salazar watched his grandmother step off a plane looking dramatically younger than she had a month earlier. She had quietly traveled out of town for cosmetic surgery, healed through the swelling and bruising in private, and come home presentable.

That moment redirected a kid who, a few years earlier, had been caping the family dog like a bullfighter — toward seventeen years of training that would make him a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Monique talks with Dr. Salazar about the long road from medical school to general surgery training in Chicago to plastic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, inside what he describes as the largest medical center in the world.

He explains why training as a general surgeon first — including the fifty to sixty kidney transplants he participated in — makes him a more well-rounded plastic surgeon, and where that background stops being useful in aesthetic work.

The conversation covers oral boards (defending a year's worth of his own cases in front of a room of senior plastic surgeons), the legal-household upbringing that shaped his approach to safety and compliance, and why he returned to San Diego in 2015.

He also shares what really happens in a consultation at LJCSC, and why he tells anyone who arrives with someone else's surgical plan that the only goal that matters is theirs.

Links

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes

Read real patient reviews from La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre

Questions answered by this episode
1. Who is Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes? 2. Where did Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes train as a plastic surgeon? 3. How many years of training does it take to become a board-certified plastic surgeon? 4. What is the difference between an integrated and a traditional plastic surgery residency? 5. Why does board certification matter when choosing a plastic surgeon? 6. How does a general surgery background prepare someone for plastic surgery? 7. What happens at the plastic surgery oral board exam? 8. What should I expect at a plastic surgery consultation in San Diego? 9. Is it normal to get a second opinion before plastic surgery? 10. How do I find a safe, board-certified plastic surgeon in San Diego?

About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego's Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine's Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego's most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Dr. Diana Breister, a board-certified plastic surgeon who has done mommy makeovers in San Diego for over twenty years, joins us to talk about everything that happens after the six-week post-op visit.

You can do planks, but no crunches for at least a year. The rectus muscles she stitches back together during a tummy tuck stay hyperactive long after the skin looks healed, and trying to fire them up too early can send them straight into spasm.

Scars are still maturing for up to two years. Future pregnancies hold up better than most women expect. GLP-1 weight loss of 30 or 40 pounds can re-loosen the skin a tummy tuck just tightened. Nipple sensation often returns within weeks, though less than 4% of women lose it entirely.

Dr. Breister also walks through which scar treatments actually have science behind them, how to handle the wardrobe purge nobody warns women about, and why she won't operate until seven months after a woman finishes breastfeeding.

The most useful moment in the conversation comes from Dr. Breister herself: a mommy makeover isn't building a new identity. It's restoring the one you had before.

Links

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Diana Breister

Learn more about mommy makeover

Questions answered by this episode:
1. How long does mommy makeover recovery actually take, beyond the six-week mark?
2. When do mommy makeover scars fully mature?
3. Can I get pregnant after a mommy makeover, and will it ruin the results?
4. What happens to a tummy tuck or breast lift if I lose weight on a GLP-1?
5. Why can't I do crunches for a year after a tummy tuck?
6. What scar treatments actually work after a mommy makeover?
7. Will I lose nipple sensation after a breast lift or augmentation?
8. How long after breastfeeding do I have to wait for breast surgery?
9. Is it selfish to get a mommy makeover when I have young kids?
10. When should I start replacing my wardrobe after a mommy makeover?

About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego's Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine's Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego's most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Six months after her breast implants came out, a young woman handed Dr. Luke Swistun a full, untouched bottle of Xanax — the same prescription she had been burning through at three to four pills a day before the explant.

Stories like hers are why Monique Ramsey is marking 230 episodes and five years of the La Jolla Cosmetic Podcast by going back to the archive.

Monique counts down one moment from each of the five LJCSC surgeons — Dr. Johan Brahme on why a brow lift feminizes women but makes men look permanently surprised (with Jim Carrey as Exhibit A), Dr. Kiersten Riedler's gingerbread cookie answer about what natural facial plastic surgery should actually look like, Dr. Diana Breister on the women who walk back into her office with a skip in their step after fixing something they were too embarrassed to bring up with their gynecologist, Dr. Swistun's full account of the patient whose intractable anxiety vanished the day her implants came out, and the one question Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes says will tell you whether the surgeon across from you is the real deal.

Then there is the moment that did not make the countdown — Marie Olesen on episode 100, telling the story of the woman who told Dr. Merrel Olesen, “I need to get a life,” and drove him to change the patient experience for everyone.

Links

Meet the San Diego plastic surgeons of LJCSC

Browse five years of the La Jolla Cosmetic Podcast

Questions answered by this episode
1. What questions should I ask my plastic surgeon during a consultation? 2. Why are hospital privileges important when choosing a cosmetic surgeon? 3. How do I know if my cosmetic surgeon is qualified to do my procedure? 4. Can breast implants cause anxiety or panic attacks? 5. Will breast implant removal help anxiety caused by implants? 6. Why do some brow lifts make people look permanently surprised? 7. What does a natural-looking facelift actually look like? 8. What is recovery like after labiaplasty? 9. Should an OB/GYN or oral surgeon be doing cosmetic procedures like breast augmentation or tummy tucks? 10. How long has La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre been performing cosmetic surgery in San Diego?

About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

When breast implant illness support groups started telling each other to ask their plastic surgeon for an “en bloc capsulectomy,” they were borrowing a term from cancer surgery — and asking for something most surgeons knew was impossible. The plastic surgery community didn’t correct them. They listened, and then they renamed it.

Dr. Luke Swistun walks hostess Monique Ramsey through the Breast Surgery Collaborative Community Consensus and the four types of capsulectomy that came out of it: total intact capsulectomy (the surgery the en bloc community was actually asking for), total precise capsulectomy, partial capsulectomy, and the original cancer-surgery en bloc — a procedure he’s performed exactly once in his career, on a woman with breast implant–associated lymphoma.

He covers when leaving a sliver of capsule is the safer choice, why every capsule he removes goes to pathology, what imaging he wants done before surgery, and why he films almost every explant for the woman who just had it.

Find out why Dr. Swistun openly credits the breast implant illness community for forcing the conversation, what recovery actually looks like across all four procedures, and the one thing he admits is overdue on his own website.

Links

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Luke Swistun

Learn more about breast implant removal

Questions answered by this episode
1. What is a capsulectomy?
2. What does “en bloc” mean in breast implant removal?
3. What is a total intact capsulectomy?
4. What’s the difference between en bloc and total intact capsulectomy?
5. Do plastic surgeons always remove the entire capsule with the implant?
6. When is it safer to leave part of the breast implant capsule behind?
7. Who actually needs an en bloc capsulectomy?
8. Should I get imaging before breast implant removal surgery?
9. Why do plastic surgeons send breast implant capsules to pathology?
10. How long is recovery after breast implant removal and capsulectomy?

About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Most patients walk into a breast augmentation consultation hoping to leave with answers. Ella walked in with research, reference photos, and a clear vision — and then made the deliberate decision to trust her plastic surgeon’s judgment in the operating room.

Born and raised on Oahu and a self-described petite, very active person, Ella spent over a year researching plastic surgeons in Hawaii and San Diego before booking a consultation at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre with Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes.

Six weeks post-op, she walks us through every step — from the research that led her to LJCSC, to her first time ever going under anesthesia, to the moment Dr. Salazar quietly chose a different implant size for her in the operating room.

Find out how she landed on 220cc Allergan Natrelle implants after sizing 265cc, why she’s describing her closet as “a brand-new wardrobe with all the same clothes,” and the one thing she wishes more first-time surgical patients understood about being mentally ready.

Links

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes

Learn more about breast augmentation

Questions answered by this episode

Does breast augmentation hurt?
How long does breast augmentation recovery take?
Is breast augmentation worth it?
How do you choose a plastic surgeon for breast augmentation?
How do you decide what size breast implants to get?
When can you exercise after breast augmentation?
What size implants are best for a petite frame?
Should you tell people you’re getting breast augmentation?
What are Allergan Natrelle implants?
What is the day of breast augmentation surgery like?

About this podcast

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Filler is an easy first step — quick, pretty much reversible, affordable. But there’s a moment patients know well: you’ve been filling the same area for years, and something still isn’t quite right.

Dr. Kiersten Riedler, facial plastic surgeon at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre who operates and injects, walks us through the three most common filler-versus-surgery conversations she has in the consult room — chin implants, rhinoplasty revisions, and tear troughs, where filler and fat transfer each tell a very different story.

Find out why a weak chin can make an entire nose read wrong, when liquid rhinoplasty can actually last for years, and why so many patients show up thinking they need another eyelid lift when what they’re really seeing is a bluish shadow from filler placed a decade earlier.

Links

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Kiersten Riedler

Learn more about chin augmentation, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, and facial fat transfer

Questions answered in this episode:
* What can chin filler do well, and where does it hit its ceiling? * How does a weak chin affect the way your nose looks? * What does a chin implant procedure involve, and what are they made of? * When does it make more sense to get an implant than keep doing filler? * Do you need to dissolve chin filler before getting an implant? * When is filler the right call after a rhinoplasty versus going back to surgery? * How long does liquid rhinoplasty actually last? * What can filler not fix on a nose? * When is filler appropriate for tear troughs — and when is it not? * What is the Tyndall effect and why does it show up years later? * Does filler actually disappear over time, or does it stay longer than we think? * When is fat transfer a better option than filler under the eyes? * What's the one thing to know before your first filler appointment?

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Nearly four years ago, Janelle woke up from breast explant surgery, placed her hands on her chest, and felt free for the first time in 22 years.

She's back to share what life looks like on the other side: not just the physical recovery, but the emotional unraveling that came with it. A divorce, a new body, a whole new wardrobe, and a complete reimagining of what confidence even means.

Hear how Janelle went from daily naps and mystery joint pain to “vibrating really high” at almost 48.
Listen for her advice if you're quietly wondering whether your body is still telling your story or someone else's. Because confidence, she'll tell you, isn't about cup size. It's about how you walk through life.

Questions answered by this episode:
* What's changed in four years since your explant? * What would you tell yourself right before surgery? * What were you thinking going into the procedure? * Have the early health improvements held up long-term? * Any unexpected symptoms that improved slowly over time? * How long did it take to reach a new normal? * What happened to the daily fatigue and joint pain? * How do you feel about your body now? * How did you figure out how to dress your new body? * How has your relationship with exercise changed? * Do people still reach out to you about explant surgery? * What advice would you give someone considering it? * How would you describe yourself four years out?

Links

Listen to Janelle’s experience when she first had her breast implant removal, Patient Janelle: Why I had my breast implants removed after 22 years

Follow Janelle on Instagram @janellebird_

Learn more about breast implant associated illness

Meet Janelle's plastic surgeon, Dr. Luke Swistun.

Learn more about breast implant removal with capsulectomy

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

After his César Awards appearance, the internet decided Jim Carrey might be a clone and honestly, the reaction wasn't totally unwarranted.

Dr. Johan Brahme, a San Diego plastic surgeon who has helped well over one thousand people refresh their appearance with a facelift, walks us through what actually changed, what worked, and where things went a step too far.

Find out why brow lift surgery on men almost always backfires, what a facelift can realistically do for the aging male face, and why the best results are the ones where people just say "you look great, did you do something different?"

Links

Page Six, Plastic surgeon weighs in on Jim Carrey’s ‘major surgical transformation’ after clone debacle

EvoData on YouTube, Evolution: Jim Carrey From 1983 To 2024

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Johan Brahme

Learn more about facelift, neck lift, and brow lift

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Bigger isn’t always better, and women are realizing it after living with breast implants.

San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Luke Swistun talks about the shift toward smaller, more natural-looking breasts. Everyone on social media is calling them “yoga boobs” or “ballerina boobs.”

Hear why more women are choosing to remove their implants, what they want instead, and how you can still get shape and volume using your own tissue.

Sometimes the result you’re happiest with is the one that feels the most like you.

Links

Meet San Diego explant surgeon Dr. Luke Swistun

Book your free breast implant removal consultation with Dr. Swistun

Listen to our previous episode, Fuller Breasts Using Your Own Tissue? Auto-Augmentation Explained

Listen to our previous episode, What Really Happens to Your Breasts After Implant Removal

Learn more about breast implant removal

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Lipo or tummy tuck—how do you know which one you need?

San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar and Monique talk through the difference between liposuction and a tummy tuck, and why the right choice isn’t always obvious. Skin quality, muscle separation, and deeper layers like fascia all play a role in what will give you the result you want.

They get into body contouring scars, recovery, why “less invasive” doesn’t always mean better, and where options like Renuvion and fat transfer come in.

If you’re trying to figure out what you really need to make your tummy flatter, this conversation is a good reminder: it’s not one-size-fits-all, and having a surgeon you trust makes all the difference.

Links

Read more about La Jolla plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes

Learn more about tummy tuck and liposuction

Listen to our episode about Dr. Salazar’s signature BellaButton tummy tuck technique Why Your Belly Button is the Most Important Part of a Tummy Tuck

Listen to our episode about plastic surgery incisions Why Scars are a Trade-Off You Won’t Regret

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

More than half of people who travel abroad for cosmetic surgery end up needing additional medical care when they return home.

Monique and Hannah discuss the hidden risks of medical tourism, from missing post-operative care and limited follow-up to the financial fallout when complications happen back in the U.S.

They also talk about why social media is driving more people to consider surgery overseas, what most people underestimate about recovery, and why researching your surgeon, your facility, and your post-op plan matters just as much as the procedure itself.

When it comes to plastic surgery, the cheapest option can quickly become the most expensive.

Links

Listen to our previous episode, Plastic Surgery Doesn’t End When the Procedure is Over

American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Medical Tourism for Cosmetic Surgery High Risk of Complications, High Costs for Treatment

American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Will economic uncertainty drive more patients overseas for plastic surgery? What to consider and how to stretch your dollar back home

The Guardian, NHS spending up to £19k a time treating people suffering after overseas surgery, research finds

PubMed Central, Costs Versus Complications: Public Perspectives on International Cosmetic Surgery Tourism

UT Southwestern Medical Center, Risks to consider before getting plastic surgery abroad

Learn more about patient safety

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Dr. Salazar returns to share how HD Lipo has evolved over the last five years and why realistic expectations are just as important as technology.

Learn about HD Lipo recovery timelines, the importance of compression, how long it takes to see results, and why choosing an experienced plastic surgeon is critical for outcomes that look natural.
From candidate selection to long-term maintenance, hear Dr. Salazar’s honest look at what HD lipo can and can’t do.

Links

Read more about San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes

Learn more about HD lipo

Listen to our previous episode, Plastic Surgery Doesn’t End When the Procedure is Over

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

One in seven Americans plans to use a GLP-1 by 2026—and it’s already changing plastic surgery.

Monique talks with Janelle, COO of La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, about how GLP-1 medications are reshaping weight loss, surgical planning, and long-term results.

Janelle shares her personal experience using low-dose GLP-1s for maintenance, and why they can make weight management feel more sustainable rather than mentally exhausting.

They discuss why customization matters, how microdosing fits into real life, and what people often get wrong about side effects and stigma. Hear how weight loss ties into surgical outcomes and why physician-led programs make a difference.

Links

Read the full story discussed: Plastic Surgery Practice, 1 in 7 Americans Plan To Use GLP-1s in 2026, Survey Finds

Learn more about the Signature Skinny Shot

Read our prescription weight loss program reviews

Watch our silly office video of the Dream Team turning down Crumbl cookies thanks to the Skinny Shot

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Why does breast implant removal sometimes cost as much—or more—than getting implants in the first place? It sounds backwards… until you hear what actually goes into explant surgery.

Explant surgery isn’t just about removing implants; it’s often about correcting the changes implants cause over time. While simple removal can be straightforward, adding capsule removal requires far more precision and time.

San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Luke Swistun explains what happens to the breasts after implants are removed and why removal alone doesn’t always deliver the look women want. Hear how lifts, auto-augmentation, and fat transfer can help restore shape using your own tissue.

Dr. Swistun walks through how to think about long-term goals, costs, and recovery, and why doing it right the first time can mean fewer surgeries down the road.

Links

Meet San Diego explant surgeon Dr. Luke Swistun

View cosmetic surgery prices and before and after photos at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre

Listen to our previous episode, Fuller Breasts Using Your Own Tissue? Auto-Augmentation
Explained

Listen to our previous episode, What Really Happens to Your Breasts After Implant Removal

Listen to our previous episode, “Holistic” Explant Surgery: Buzzword or Reality?

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Surgery doesn’t end when the procedure is over—and that’s the part most people don’t hear enough about. San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar explains why what happens after can be just as important as the surgery itself.

Follow-up visits are a critical part of healing safely and confidently, not just a formality. He walks through what to expect during recovery, why open communication with your surgeon matters, and which warning signs should never be brushed off.

Dr. Salazar shares how to choose the right surgeon, from board certification and hospital privileges to the years of training required to manage complications if they arise. He explains why not every provider offering cosmetic surgery has the same level of expertise and why safety should always come before cost.

From recovery houses and local support to the realities of medical tourism, Dr. Salazar emphasizes the importance of having a real safety net in place, because feeling supported shouldn’t stop once surgery is over.

Links

Plastic Surgery Practice, After Outpatient Cosmetic Surgery, They Wound Up in the Hospital or Alone at a Recovery House

NBC News, When a cosmetic surgery chain arrived, lawsuits alleging shoddy care followed

Learn more about patient safety

Read more about San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes

Listen to our previous episode, What NOT To Do During Recovery After Plastic Surgery

Learn about the best hotels in San Diego if you’re considering traveling to see Dr. Salazar
Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

You get a full pre-op booklet and a nurse walks you through every detail, but when surgery day is getting close, it’s easy for things to go in one ear and out the other.

To help make sense of it all, Jocelyn, one of our trusted LVNs, walks through the parts patients tend to skim: stopping certain meds, what anesthesia does to your body, why you need a responsible adult after surgery, and how simple things like pets, sleep position, and meal prep can make or break your recovery.

You’ll also learn about the emotional side of it all—how nerves and excitement show up together, why asking questions matters, and how being prepared helps you feel calmer, safer, and more confident heading into surgery and healing.

Links

Read more about Gretchell

Subscribe to LJCSC on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre and follow us on Instagram @LJCSC to view all of Gretchell’s lovely content

Follow Gretchell’s photography account on Instagram @gmafongphotog

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Most plastic surgeons work alone, but Dr. Hector Salazar shares what it’s like to be part of something different: a six-surgeon practice built entirely on collaboration and patient-centered care. At LJCSC, individuality and artistry meet shared values and consistency, creating a team dynamic that’s as rare as it is rewarding.

Dr. Salazar explains how this model benefits both surgeons and patients. Each doctor brings a unique perspective, yet all share the same foundation of safety, ethics, and excellence.

You experience seamless care, even when a surgeon is unavailable, thanks to a trusted team and shared systems that keep communication smooth and results consistent. Behind the scenes, experienced nurses and staff anticipate each surgeon’s approach, ensuring you feel known, supported, and at home.

Listen to learn how teamwork shapes better outcomes, and why LJCSC’s collaborative model sets a new standard in aesthetic care.

Links

Learn more about La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes

Follow Dr. Salazar on Instagram @hectorsalazarmd

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Lipedema is one of the most misunderstood conditions women face. It shows up as uneven fat in the lower body that doesn’t respond to diet or exercise, often leading to frustration, pain, and a feeling of being dismissed by healthcare providers.

Beyond the physical symptoms, the emotional toll is huge. Once treated, many women celebrate simple wins like finally zipping up a pair of boots.

San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar and massage therapist Linda-Anne Kahn explain what lipedema really is, how it differs from obesity, cellulite, and lymphedema, and why early diagnosis and treatment make such a difference.

With over 40 years of experience working in integrative health, Linda-Anne shares how being diagnosed herself inspired her to help other women find relief through manual lymphatic drainage and holistic care.

Dr. Salazar explains how he treats it surgically with liposuction, and how combining surgery with massage therapy, nutrition, and lifestyle changes can improve symptoms at every stage.

Together, they break down what works, what doesn’t, and why awareness of lipedema matters for patients, families, and providers alike.

Links

If you have lipedema and want to learn how we can help you get the answers and treatment you deserve, request a free consultation with Dr. Salazar

Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes

Learn more about San Diego lymphatic drainage massage therapist Linda-Anne Kahn

Check out the book Linda-Anne co-authored, Lymphedema and Lipedema Nutrition Guide

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Considering any kind of cosmetic change to your face is a deeply personal decision, and your nose is a complex feature right in the center of it.

San Diego facial plastic surgeon Dr. Kiersten Riedler knows this, which is why her rhinoplasty consultations always include a photo simulation, built from your own goals and her experience, to bridge the gap between hope and reality.

That's her secret for confident decisions and a smooth journey, especially in a filter-happy world where beauty standards can skew expectations in an instant.

By editing a before photo, she shows whether your goals are realistic, sparks honest conversations about expectations, and makes sure you’re seeing eye-to-eye.

Hear how photo simulations help people better articulate their goals, and the key questions Dr. Riedler asks during consultations to create the most accurate simulation.

Links

Learn more about rhinoplasty

See rhinoplasty before and after results by Dr. Kiersten Riedler

Read more about San Diego facial plastic surgeon Dr. Kiersten Riedler

Book a free 15-to-30-minute complimentary phone call with one of our expert patient coordinators

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Dr. Jerry Haas, director of our weight management program, is back with an update on the Signature Skinny Shot. After nearly two years, he and patient coordinator Lauren have fine-tuned the program with monthly check-ins, dose adjustments, and ongoing support.

Dr. Haas explains how GLP-1 medications work and clears up TikTok myths with real medical data. He shares the benefits he’s seen in our patients so far, from better energy and healthier blood sugar levels to being able to enjoy exercise again.

He also talks about what happens once you start hitting your goals, like how to protect your muscle mass, when to shift to a maintenance dose, and what it looks like to eventually come off the medication while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

This isn’t a quick fix or a magic wand, but with the right guidance, it’s a powerful tool to help you feel healthier, stronger, and more in control of your weight than ever before. Find out the perks of getting your weight loss meds through a plastic surgery center instead of your primary care doctor.

Links

Learn more about the Signature Skinny Shot prescription weight loss programs

Get to know San Diego skinny shot director Dr. Gerald Haas

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Busy People, SOOP

View Details

Eyelid surgery just snagged the top spot as the world’s most popular plastic surgery procedure. And it makes sense: the eyes are usually the first place people notice signs of aging, often as early as their late 30’s and early 40’s.

From smoothing out droopy lids to improving vision, eyelid surgery isn’t just about looking refreshed—it can be functional too.

San Diego facial plastic surgeon Dr. Kiersten Riedler explains why more people (including men) are choosing it, what recovery looks like, and how social media, Zoom calls and FaceTime have us all a little more eye-obsessed.

Links

Learn more about eyelid surgery

Plastic Surgery Practice, This Plastic Surgery Procedure Quietly Took the Top Spot in 2024