Monique Ramsey (00:02):
Welcome everyone to The La Jolla Cosmetic Podcast. I'm your hostess, Monique Ramsey. And today I'm welcoming into our studio Amy. Amy has been with the center a long time, and I'll let her tell you exactly what she does and when she came to join us. Hi Amy.

Amy (00:18):
Hi.

Monique Ramsey (00:19):
So I remember you started at the center, maybe what, in the early two thousands or late nineties? I mean, it's been a while, right?

Amy (00:31):
2004.

Monique Ramsey (00:35):
And you were young, right? How old were you?

Amy (00:38):
26.

Monique Ramsey (00:39):
26. Oh my gosh. I thought you were like 19.

Amy (00:42):
No, not that young.

Monique Ramsey (00:43):
Not that young. And so Amy was at the front desk, I remember at the front desk and greeting everybody. And now you've probably seen, I mean if it's, yeah, 20 years worth of patients, right?

Amy (00:57):
20 years.

Monique Ramsey (00:58):
20 years. So tell us what you're doing now and how you help patients from your new or current role.

Amy (01:04):
I do a lot of staff support, really. I do help patients on phone calls here and there. I help patients that need special things like financing things or sometimes I help with insurance and I kind of just back up everybody in the office. But my primary is accounts receiving, accounts paying.

Monique Ramsey (01:26):
All the fun stuff.

Amy (01:27):
Yeah, IT support.

Monique Ramsey (01:30):
Oh, that's right. You can fix, Amy can fix anything.

Amy (01:34):
Joe of all trades. Yes.

Monique Ramsey (01:37):
So in terms of your background, what sort of led you to La Jolla Cosmetic?

Amy (01:43):
Honestly, it's my coworker Kimmy, her mother worked here years ago and they needed a position and thought I would be a good fit.

Monique Ramsey (01:53):
I did not know this. I did not know that link. Oh my gosh. So Kimmy and her mom and then you, and Kimmy's mom retired, but she's still here. That's so cool. That's so cool. You've had so many years of experience and done so many things, and I think you've seen a lot in terms of patients and any concerns they have or issues they have or, because I think going into cosmetic surgery is a really new thing for a lot of people. They're not used to that world, our world that we're so used to. But what advice would you give to somebody if they're thinking about cosmetic surgery? What would you tell them?

Amy (02:38):
The first thing I'd tell everybody is it's not as bad as you think it is. It's not going to hurt as bad as you think it is. Everybody has this idea that everything is so painful and recovery is going to be so hard and they don't know if can do it. I always tell them, it's not as bad as you think. I promise you it's so much easier than everybody thinks it is. There are so many ways now that they can prevent you from being uncomfortable during a recovery. And it's worth it. It's worth it. It's a few days of discomfort and a lifetime of looking better at wherever you fix yourself.

Monique Ramsey (03:26):
I think that's a really good point because sometimes these things seem like scary. I was just reading somebody was talking about their procedure and they were like, yeah, I was so excited. I'm ready to go. And then all of a sudden my procedure's next week and I'm terrified. What advice do you have, is what she was asking her tribe of people. And I thought that's so true because sometimes that first hurdle is really hard of just making the phone call, having the consultation, and then you kind of go from that apprehension to being excited. But then there is something that can happen whether it's the morning of surgery or if it's a week before surgery or a few days where you just go, oh my gosh, what am I doing? And so tell, I know you've had some procedures over the years and if you want to talk about that and your mindset going into it and then looking back on it.

Amy (04:21):
Well, I had a tummy tuck with Dr. Salazar and it was amazing. It was amazing. The worst part of the recovery was slight achiness in your back from leaning forward, and that was it. And the rest of it was, and to have a tight defined waistline after having kids is, there's nothing, there's nothing that compares to it. It wouldn't even cross my mind to not do it. If I would've known, I would've jumped in there a lot quicker. But it's life changing, it's life changing, and I think a lot of procedures that you can do are going to be life changing. I had my breast done by Dr. Brahme, and after having kids gaining weight, losing weight, I got in shape, I started running, all my body fat went away and so did what I had left of my boobs and, did implants and a lift, and they're high and tight, and there's almost not even words, it's just for how you feel and how your body looks. And I honestly don't know why people don't run in here and do it, especially after doing it myself.

Monique Ramsey (05:44):
Yeah, yeah.

Amy (05:45):
Next.

Monique Ramsey (05:47):
Next? Oh yeah. What's on your wishlist, Amy?

Amy (05:51):
Facelift.

Monique Ramsey (05:52):
Facelift. Okay. And can I ask how old you are?

Amy (05:56):
47.

Monique Ramsey (05:57):
Okay. 47. Alright. So yeah, so that was something that I think addressing the facial laxity, you can do so much with fillers nowadays, but they stop working at a point and they can start to look pretty unnatural. And if you have extra skin, you have extra skin. And so sometimes those, it's like, okay, at what point do I say, alright, let me just make the jump. Kind of like what you did with your breasts and your tummy where it's like, okay. And then once you do it, you're good for a long time.

Amy (06:32):
A long time.

Monique Ramsey (06:33):
Yeah. So I'm coming up on 20 years since my facelift and now I'm like, okay, I can do some things again.

Amy (06:41):
But you still look great.

Monique Ramsey (06:44):
Thank you.

Amy (06:44):
You get this laxity.

Monique Ramsey (06:47):
Yeah. But you start to have a little extra whatever. But honestly, I'm so glad I did it and I did it early. I was 37, not 47.

Amy (06:57):
I think that's a good idea because you're fixing everything before it gets really bad.

Monique Ramsey (07:03):
And then I've enjoyed it this whole time and I haven't had to do a huge amount of maintenance. So I think kind of thinking about that and having it maybe in your 10 year plan.

Amy (07:14):
Nobody would have any clue looking at you. There's nothing that gives away that you've had anything done. You just look young. And I think that's great.

Monique Ramsey (07:24):
Well, and I think that though, that's part of doing it earlier because if you wait till you have a whole bunch of extra lax skin and you have a whole bunch of wrinkles.

Amy (07:36):
Then you have skin issues on top of it, they make it tight, but then you still have kind of skin that doesn't look very good. You need to have a laser or something to resurface. We can fix it. But I mean, I think it's helpful to do it a little bit younger.

Monique Ramsey (07:51):
Well, and it's just a less severe change. My friends all thought I was nuts at the time, but.

Amy (07:58):
I don't think you're nuts. You were smart.

Monique Ramsey (08:01):
Well, it all worked out, but I think I like you're kind of thinking ahead and knowing how much of a difference you're basically your mommy makeover over two different sessions with two different surgeons, but how much that's made a life change.

Amy (08:15):
Life change, life changing.

Monique Ramsey (08:18):
And in terms of what would you say is sort of the biggest bonus in the way that you're enjoying your new body?

Amy (08:28):
I guess one thing could be that I'll never have to do a situp in my life and I'll look like I do them every day. It's nice. I mean, I don't even think my waistline was this great before kids. This is probably the best I've ever looked. And at my age, it's time. It's time to live my life and how better to live it than with my tight little tummy and my big perky self.

Monique Ramsey (08:58):
Yeah. Yeah. Well, and you look so good. And how tall are you? Like 5' 9", 8"?

Amy (09:04):
No, I'm about five seven. I'm just shy of five, seven.

Monique Ramsey (09:08):
Everybody's tall in my world cuz I'm so short. But your proportions are perfect and I think that is a wonderful thing where it's like you just look terrific.

Amy (09:19):
Thank you.

Monique Ramsey (09:20):
I would think the confidence level has got to be something that, I mean, that's something that I've found and I think a lot of our patients we hear that kind of echoed over and over again is how much confidence. And that what you said, why didn't I do it earlier?

Amy (09:36):
Oh no. I tell you what, I can go to the beach now in a bathing suit and walk near the water in a bikini and not feel self-conscious at all, all anymore. Whereas I don't think I've ever been able to do that even before kids.

Monique Ramsey (09:55):
Yeah. I think it's easy for people to sort of be like, no, you look great the way you are and you don't need that. But you know what, at the end of the day it's how, if you feel like you want to do it for you, do it for you. You shouldn't do it for anybody else. But I think if that's,

Amy (10:10):
A lot of people look great the way they are, but this is an enhancement. It doesn't take away how you look. It just makes a part of you look a little bit better. So I mean, like you said, it's whatever bothers you. Why not? Why not fix it? If you can, why not?

Monique Ramsey (10:27):
So tell us a little bit about you. Where did you grow up?

Amy (10:31):
I grew up in Hawaii as a Navy brat. My Navy father loved it there so much that he would just re-station from one base to the next. So we were in Barbers Point and then we moved up to Pearl Harbor and we just kind of bumped around a few times as he re-stationed. And I stayed there my whole life. And I actually, after seeing all of my friends jump off the island and find new places to live, I finally got persuaded to come to San Diego by my best girlfriend at the time.

Monique Ramsey (11:08):
Oh, I was wondering how you got from there to here.

Amy (11:12):
With a suitcase in a box and a friend to stay with for three months.

Monique Ramsey (11:16):
Oh my gosh. So when you're outside the office, what are your most fun things to do on a weekend? Or if you were telling somebody who is visiting for the first time, here's what you need to do when you come to San Diego.

Amy (11:32):
Oh, I mean there are spots to go to that are nice to see, Seaport Village and Coronado. I mean, you can't come here and not enjoy the beach. It's what we're about. So Carlsbad Beach is a favorite. Coronado Beach is very beautiful too.

Monique Ramsey (11:49):
Yeah, I was recently down there and I kind of forgot how pretty it was. If you don't get over who crossed the bridge all that often. I'm like, this is so cute. So now how old are your girls?

Amy (11:59):
15 and 17.

Monique Ramsey (12:02):
Oh my gosh.

Amy (12:03):
Time flies.

Monique Ramsey (12:04):
I know. Yeah. So you don't even have to worry about the little ones anymore there.

Amy (12:10):
I don't have to cook for them anymore, although they still like when I do, they're good girls. They're acing it through school and setting themselves up and I'm super proud.

Monique Ramsey (12:20):
Oh, that's so cool. You're a good mom. You're a good, good mom.

Amy (12:25):
Thanks.

Monique Ramsey (12:25):
Okay. Anything else about sort of the experience with surgery or after surgery?

Amy (12:33):
I would just tell people not to overthink it. Don't overthink it. Don't believe everything that people tell you because people don't really know unless they've done it themselves. And a lot of people are going to be like, Ooh, that's so scary, and all that's going to really hurt. And as long as you have a good place and a good surgeon and good people that take care of you, good nurses. I mean this is what we are. And I did do feminine rejuvenation, the whole nine yards with Dr. Brahme.

Monique Ramsey (13:06):
Oh, did you? Oh.

Amy (13:07):
Let me tell you, this little secret procedure that so many women want, I can't even tell you.

Monique Ramsey (13:15):
Wow.

Amy (13:15):
It reversed childbirth, let me tell you.

Monique Ramsey (13:20):
Yeah. Restored the canal, I take it.

Amy (13:24):
Oh yes. The whole nine yards.

Monique Ramsey (13:25):
So you did the vaginoplasty, did you do the labiaplasty also?

Amy (13:29):
I did that and I did the perineoplasty.

Monique Ramsey (13:32):
Oh, perineoplasty. I don't know.

Amy (13:38):
They redo the episiotomy basically.

Monique Ramsey (13:41):
Ah, gotcha.

Amy (13:42):
And after two episiotomies with the doctor that just snipped them with what seemed like a pair of pliers, lemme tell you, aesthetically I'm back to normal.

Monique Ramsey (13:52):
Oh, how nice. And I would think that's got to be, talk about life changing, truly having that whole area restored at the same time. That's amazing. So did you do that at the same time with the breasts?

Amy (14:08):
With the breasts.

Monique Ramsey (14:09):
Okay. Okay.

Amy (14:11):
And piece of cake.

Monique Ramsey (14:12):
Oh yeah, I was going to say, how is recovery?

Amy (14:14):
It's a piece of cake.

Monique Ramsey (14:15):
Oh, okay.

Amy (14:16):
They describe it as, it feels like you're holding a weight down there. I think I would describe it more as it's pressure. And it's pressure and it is for a couple of days. And I found that just kind of tightening everything up every time I had to get up and walk around. The only time you felt the pressure is when you got off your bed or couch to go use the bathroom or get some crackers, but that's when you felt it. And I found that if you just kind of tightened everything up,

Monique Ramsey (14:59):
Yeah, suck it in.

Amy (14:59):
It disappeared.

Monique Ramsey (15:01):
Do a kegel wall while you're getting out of bed.

Amy (15:02):
Exactly, exactly. But if you did that initially getting up, it kind of just, it would wear off. You wouldn't even feel that anymore. And it only lasted a day or two. So I mean, easy piece of cake.

Monique Ramsey (15:16):
Easy. I love that. I love that. And we will put in the show notes because we had Dr. Brahme come on and we talked about the vaginoplasty. We've had Dr. Breister, she comes on, she does a lot of labiaplasty and we've talked about the feminine rejuvenation and how much of a difference it can make for people.

Amy (15:36):
Huge. Huge.

Monique Ramsey (15:37):
But nobody really talks about it yet. So I'm glad we're having the conversation because it really can be as if I ended up having C-sections, which is hard. But it's also,

Amy (15:49):
Yeah, you're so lucky.

Monique Ramsey (15:51):
Nothing got messed up down below. But for people who did vaginal birth and have kind of, you know.

Amy (16:00):
Yeah, it stretches everything out and then you stretch out and then you shrink back up. But then everything that stretched out still kind of hanging in there. Trust me, wearing pants that were a little fitted super uncomfortable at the seam, which was a huge reason I wanted to do it. That and some other side effects of the vaginal canal, stretching and shrinking back just had weird things and all the weirdness went, it all went away. He literally reversed my vaginal childbirths.

Monique Ramsey (16:34):
Wow, that's amazing. And I remember when he got trained in that and when he started offering that, and I was like, that's genius. I didn't know this was a thing. And this, I don't know, this was like in what, 2000?

Amy (16:53):
There are a lot of women that call in.

Monique Ramsey (16:55):
Seven or something?

Amy (16:56):
Yeah. And when I get their calls, they're lucky getting the one person that's like right on board with you 100%. And I can tell 'em about it, but there are actually so many women that want it just for comfort levels. Just for the comfort of it. Everything fits better. You can wear a pair of fitted pants and it's not going to feel funny. And they want to be intimate with their significant other and man to not have a stretched out, it feels good. I myself had been in a new relationship. I was divorced and was dating and so proud to be intimate after I had that done with him.

Monique Ramsey (17:46):
Oh, that's so cool. Because then you're feeling better about yourself and presenting yourself, but you're also probably having a better experience.

Amy (17:56):
Exactly.

Monique Ramsey (17:57):
It's more pleasurable.

Amy (17:58):
Right, exactly.

Monique Ramsey (17:59):
And for everybody, for him probably too. Yeah. When Dr. Brahme, it was interesting, cuz he started doing this 20 years ago and he really, it's become a big part of his practice. He said about 30% of his practice is feminine rejuvenation. And so.

Amy (18:15):
A lot of women want it, they just don't say anything because it's not something we talk about out loud.

Monique Ramsey (18:22):
Well, I'm glad, I'm glad we're talking about it because a lot of people might not even know that it's something that can be fixed.

Amy (18:30):
And it helps with so many things. It brings the muscle wall back together, which helps with urination issues that some people might have. Just it helps with everything.

Monique Ramsey (18:46):
Wow. I love that. Well, that was fun. I didn't know we were going to take a turn down that road, but I'm glad we did. I'm so glad we did. Because I think, and that is good to know for people who, if you're listening now or watching us on YouTube, know that Amy is a resource. She's not one of the patient coordinators who might see you after a consultation, but she's right there in the back office. She can talk to you and it's nice that you're open about talking about it.

Amy (19:15):
Absolutely. Absolutely. I don't mind. I have no filter. I'll talk about anything.

Monique Ramsey (19:22):
Well, and I think it is normal. All of this is normal. And if it's something that you have and it bothers you, that's normal, that's okay. And doing it for you and then knowing that, yeah, there's other people who've done it also and are willing to share their story. And so Amy, thank you so much for coming on. I really appreciate it. And so if you're listening today, check the show notes. We'll have links to everything we talked about and be sure to check out on our website, we have a "Specials and Events" page so you can go there, you can see what specials we have going on because we have right now in May we have a mommy makeover savings, which could be all the things, it could be breast, it could be tummy, it could be vaginal, it could be some combination. And then we also have on demand replays of our webinars or you can see what webinars are coming up. So I just wanted to bring that out to everybody and let you know. So thanks again, Amy, and we'll see you all on the next one.

Amy (20:26):
Alright, thanks Monique. Bye.

Announcer (20:27):
Take a screenshot of this podcast episode with your phone and show it at your consultation or appointment, or mention the promo code PODCAST to receive $25 off any service or product of $50 or more at La Jolla Cosmetic. La Jolla Cosmetic is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway in the XiMed Building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus. To learn more, go to lj csc.com or follow the team on Instagram at lj csc. The La Jolla Cosmetic Podcast is a production of The Axis, T-H-E-A-X-I-S.io.