People Of La Jolla Cosmetic Episodes

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 wit...

Meet Jocelyn, a clinical nurse at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre who helps guide patients through surgery and recovery. With more than 16 years of experience, Jocelyn has a calming, confident presence that instantly puts people at ease. From pre-op prep to post-op check-ins, she’s right there making sure you feel safe, supported, and truly heard. Before joining LJCSC, she worked in compliance overseeing dozens of clinics, but she quickly realized her heart belongs at the bedside, building real...

Nearly 40 years, thousands of patients, and a career that started unexpectedly in a National Guard medical unit—Dr. John Smoot’s story is full of the wisdom, wins, and lessons you only get from a lifetime in plastic surgery. Dr. Smoot looks back on how the field has transformed since he first scrubbed in, from evolving techniques to the rise of natural, proportionate results and the growing acceptance of cosmetic procedures. He shares what’s surprised him, what’s stayed the same, and what he bel...

Who says plastic surgeons can’t rock out after hours? For Dr. Johan Brahme, music isn’t just a hobby—it’s part of how he approaches life and surgery. He shares how growing up in a musical family inspired him to play bass in multiple bands throughout his life, perform for communities like assisted living homes, and even bring music aboard the USS Midway. Hear about the surprising parallels between performing on stage and in the OR, and why he soundtracks surgeries from classical to heavy metal. D...

I n this festive holiday episode, Monique chats with friends from the LJCSC Dream Team about all the little things that make Christmas feel special, from favorite songs and decorations to family traditions and must-have holiday foods. We debate important issues like real vs. fake trees and white vs. multicolor lights, and share beloved family recipes like tamales, Feast of the Seven Fishes, pineapple honey ham, and generations of cookie-baking. Listen to LJCSC’s festive playlist to get into the ...

With over a decade of experience in cosmetic surgery, Jillian combines professionalism with creativity and compassion to make every patient feel comfortable and confident. She believes that research and education are key to feeling empowered, and she’s always happy to help you navigate your options. She completed her associate’s in Visual Communications and bachelor’s in Multimedia in only three years, all while working as an event coordinator and booking manager. That experience taught her how ...

Meet Gretchell, LJCSC’s talented video content specialist and the creative mind behind so many of the stories you see on our social media. She started here as a medical photographer, capturing before-and-after photos, but her knack for storytelling and video editing quickly stood out. With encouragement from Dr. Swistun, Dr. Salazar, and the team, Gretchell turned her passion for videography into a full-time role, helping bring our patients’ journeys to life in a fresh, authentic way. A bit came...

In 2019, Kayla joined the LJCSC dream team as a patient care coordinator and quickly grew into leadership roles thanks to her strong clinical background and deep empathy for patients. Today, she’s the Clinic Manager and Lead for Dr. Luke Swistun. Fun...

With over 13 years in aesthetics, Ruthie has been helping people feel confident and cared for since she was just 21, and she’s loved every minute of it. From your very first inquiry to your final post-op visit, Ruthie is there to guide you through it...

With over 10 years of experience as a medical assistant, Cynthia wears many hats at LJCSC. Whether she’s at the front desk greeting patients, answering phone calls, helping with scheduling, or in the back assisting with rooming and follow-up procedures, she’s always ready to jump in wherever she’s needed. Cynthia knew right out of high school that she wanted to become a medical assistant. Over the years, she’s worked in a variety of settings—from chiropractors’ offices to family health centers, ...

Juliana is often the first friendly face you’ll see after meeting with a coordinator. As a medical assistant, she loves being part of your journey and seeing your transformation from consult to post-op care. Juliana’s passion for plastic surgery and helping patients feel their best shines through in everything she does. Her background in urgent care gave her a wide range of medical experience, which she brings to every patient interaction. She’s always happy to help you feel confident and inform...

Amber, our talented medical photographer, is stepping in front of the camera for a change to introduce herself. She’s the friendly face behind your before-and-after photos and keeps track of your progress if you’re on our weight loss program. She has a natural way of making you feel comfortable, chatting with you to ease any nerves. She reassures everyone that privacy is a top priority at LJCSC. Beyond the camera, Amber is also part of our marketing team, bringing her fun and energetic personali...

As our friendly and supportive patient coordinator for the Signature Skinny Shot weight loss program, Lauren is here to guide you every step of the way on your weight loss journey, ensuring you feel confident and cared for. With her certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant, she brings solid medical knowledge to her role, making her a trusted resource. Her background in psychology also gives her a unique ability to connect with you on a deeper level, helping you feel understood and supporte...

Jessica’s philosophy is simple: if something bothers you and you can change it, why not? She loves seeing people’s confidence blossom after their procedures. As a Patient Care Coordinator, Jessica is the friendly voice you’ll hear first when you reach out to LJCSC. She’ll listen to your goals, answer your questions, and make sure you’re feeling great about your consultation. And she’ll be there every step of the way, guiding you through the process. Jessica joined LJC in 2014 when Dr. Smoot came...

Who qualifies for liposuction vs. a tummy tuck? What are the different options available for enhancing your lips? Dr. Johan Brahme brings his 30+ years of experience as a plastic surgeon to answer patient questions live, including: When non-invasive treatments aren’t enough and a facelift is necessary Why addressing the face and neck together is best The risks of going abroad for cheaper surgery Whether you need a breast lift, implants, or both What happens if you lose weight after a BBL and mor...

Amy brings passion to everything she does at LJC. From the front desk to managing accounts to IT support, she's our go-to guru for everything. Amy’s expertise in plastic surgery goes beyond her two decades of experience at work, she’s also a seasoned patient herself. Over the years, she’s had a tummy tuck, breast lift with implants, and feminine rejuvenation and knows firsthand how life-changing these procedures can be. Get to know Amy in and out of the office and find out which procedure is on ...

To honor his 20th anniversary with LJCSC, plastic surgeon Dr. Johan Brahme shares his perspective on how the specialty of plastic surgery has evolved throughout his three-decade career. Hear how techniques have advanced to help patients get the most impact in the safest way possible, from face lifts, brow lifts and lip lifts to tummy tucks, liposuction and breast augmentation, and how the constant innovation in the specialty of aesthetics throughout his career shaped him as a surgeon. Links Read...

Dr. Jerry Haas has been at LJC helping patients feel comfortable and well cared for before, during, and after surgery for over 25 years. When Dr. Haas isn’t by patients’ side during surgery, he’s there throughout their weight loss journey to help them safely reach their goals as the director of our medical weight loss program, Signature Skinny Shot. While serving the Navy on an aircraft carrier as a general medical officer, Dr. Haas’ senior medical officer would always tell him he’d be a great a...

Dr. John Smoot knew from the time he was a teenager that he wanted to be a doctor and work with his hands. Today, the highlight of his work is the confidence he brings to people who felt like their outer appearance could match their self-image better. When the Vietnam War began, Dr. Smoot joined the Utah National Guard as a scrub tech and a medic—the start of an unconventional road to becoming the doctor he always wanted to be. After serving in the Guard and years of education and training in Ch...

Jennifer Franz, RN, BSN, loves building relationships and customizing treatment plans tailored to her patients. One highlight of coming to work at our La Jolla medical spa each day is educating patients on why she recommends certain treatments. As a social butterfly, talking to people of all ages and stages is easy for Jennifer. With 13 years of experience in aesthetics, she helps a wide variety of patients love what they see when they look in the mirror. While working as a hospital nurse, she m...

Since 1988, La Jolla Cosmetic founders Dr. Merrel and Marie Olesen have dedicated their lives to delivering the best possible experiences for cosmetic patients, encouraging staff to also put their hearts into every patient interaction. From sending letters thanking patients for making appointments to personally writing post care instructions for each patient, LJC’s founders created an environment that empowers cosmetic patients and delivers individualized care. Hear how their dedication to helpi...

After 20 years in her own private practice here in San Diego, Dr. Diana Breister recently joined LJC’s dream team. With her personalized care and wide range of specializations, from breast surgery to face and neck lifts and beyond, Dr. Breister has a deep understanding of the self-image of women. She loves doing procedures that change the lives of women in terms of both confidence and comfort, such as labiaplasty, breast reduction, and tummy tuck. Understanding that patients just want to be hear...

Marie Olesen and Austin Schroeder reflect on the journey from an empty space to the grand opening of the new La Jolla Cosmetic Medical Spa in Carlsbad. Hear what you can expect when you walk through the doors of the new Carlsbad location for the first time, both visually and culturally. Book your appointment online at our Carlsbad medical spa Follow the artist who beautified our Carlsbad space, Stefanie Bales La Jolla Cosmetic is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Su...

Anastasia Chu, PA-C, has a passion for aesthetics driven by psychology, firmly believing that when people feel confident in their appearance, their quality of life is improved. She discovered Botox through its use to treat migraines while practicing in neurology and has since fallen in love with preserving natural beauty. Her favorite aesthetic procedure to do is full facial rejuvenation with dermal fillers because aging takes a hit to the entire face, not just the cheeks or lips. Hear how she r...