You're listening to The La Jolla Cosmetic Podcast.

Hello and welcome to The La Jolla Cosmetic Podcast. I'm your hostess, Monique Ramsey, and today I have a wonderful new person for you to meet. Her name is Jennifer Franz. She's an RN, BSN, and she's one of the expert providers we have in our medical spa at the La Jolla location. So, welcome, Jennifer.

Hi. Thank you so much.

Now you've been here for a whole week now. So, Jennifer, tell us how did you get into the field of injecting and helping patients in the med spa?

Right. Well, I've been an RN for quite a long time and got into aesthetics about 13 years ago. I, um, was right after work taking my son to a T-ball practice and struck up a conversation with another mother who just so happened to be a new plastic surgeon in town, which in town was Wichita, Kansas. So I'm new to California. So she and I struck up a really nice conversation and found out that I was, at the time an IV therapist at hospitals and, and she asked if I was ever interested in injecting in aesthetics and didn't know a whole lot about it. So, long story short, she brought me on, and that was the beginning of a nice, long, specialty career. Uh, so it's been going on 14 years now, working alongside plastic surgeons.

Wow. That's kind of, that's kind of fun. And you threw me a curve ball <laugh> Oh, at the T-ball game, <laugh>. That that's how you ended up kind of in this part of being a nurse. I'm sure it was before that, but then being in this side, the aesthetic side of medicine.

Yes, yes. It all started at a T-ball game. <laugh>. <laugh>. I love that.

So tell us about your training and, and what led you into being a nurse.

Sure. It was, uh, well, as far as going into nursing specifically, um, that was all my mother's idea. She always wanted to be a nurse, and I don't think that she wanted me to follow my aspiration to, um, join Greenpeace. So, um, <laugh>, she strongly suggested nursing school, which I ended up really, really liking. And, uh, started out with just getting my associate degree as an rn. I could work in hospitals, which is how the whole thing started. And at the time was, um, working in Lawrence, Kansas, the home of KU, and then, uh, eventually ended up in Wichita, Kansas and started specializing with plastics a few years later. So yeah, I've enjoyed nursing because there's just so many different aspects of nursing, so many different ways you can go with it, whether it's hospital work or office work or anything in between. There's so many different specialties, and so I feel pretty lucky where I've landed.

Well, I think it's wonderful that you have that background in the plastic surgery side of things, and especially because this practice, you know, it's all under one roof. We've got Right, the plastic surgeons who can do the things that they do to make people look and feel great. And then there's the me spa side, which, you know, whether you combine the two things as a patient or you go one way or the other, but it's nice that you have that background to help people.

Yeah, I think so too. I think what I've appreciated about this side of aesthetics versus med spa aesthetics is that we have so much more to offer. And like you said, sometimes there aren't a lot of injectable or laser type situations that can remedy a particular complaint that a, that a patient may have. And so that's when those surgeons are really crucial. And I think even though that may be scary to some patients, I, I hope that just with my experience both being a patient and also being a nurse for a lot of different plastics, you know, I can help talk them through that process and maybe make it a little bit less scary. And then obviously make sure that they end up where they wanna be at the end. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>,

How to get the, to the goal. Yeah. And I, I think it's also for patients who might start on the plastic surgery side mm-hmm. <affirmative>, the med spa side of things is a wonderful, like finishing touch in that maintenance. Absolutely. Because you might get a facelift, but then that's, you know, maybe you have more wrinkles you're trying to deal with, or loss of volume or just different things over the years. And so, you know, it's, it's nice because they do work so in concert with one another.

Absolutely. And maintenance is key no matter what stage you're in, no matter what you're doing, whether it's a surgery or a laser or, um, whether you're 20 or 60, it's that constant maintenance, whether it's just really good skincare products or a little Botox here and there, or a little laser here and there, chemical peels, whatever it is. I mean, I think from the aestheticians that offer such great skincare here to, you know, the more medical grade types of lasers or the injectables, those things all are so encompassing to the whole outcome.

Yeah. Yeah. So let's find out a little bit about you and what, what do you love to do in the med spa? Like, what are you, do, are you known for something specific, or do you have a favorite thing, or, you know, give us a little snapshot into kind of your scope of practice.

Sure. Well, I love doing Botox or any neuromodulator. I think there's so many great little, besides all the basic things, you know, that everyone knows of doing, doing your glabella or forehead lines or crow's feet. Um, there's also so many muscles in the face and neck that can be just tweaked a little bit with Botox and, and make a nice difference in the whole overall outcome of our look or, or the aging process or whatever it is that, that we're going for. So Botox I think is probably my favorite. Fillers obviously are, are fun too, but I think what I really like the most out of my practice, or from my practice is just meeting new people. I love having those relationships and those friendships with my patients. I like starting from the beginning and getting to know people and creating a plan and having hopefully a nice long relationship with people.

(06:56)
I think, um, I'm kind of known for giving it pretty straight to people. I think that the majority of my patients over the years have found that kind of comforting that I'm not going to sell them something that they don't need or that I don't know a lot about too. I, I think that I try to try as much as I can so that I know exactly how things feel or, or what the outcomes are going to be or if it's going to be an effective option. But yeah, I don't, I don't like to oversell. That's certainly never my goal. I think that there are a lot of things that we can do, even on a small scale that, that improve the way we feel about the way we look. So, yeah. And then lasers too. I mean, lasers are such a great option as well, because, you know, again, clearly there's just so much that goes into our faces or our necks or our hands, our bodies, whether it's volume replacement like you said, or whether it's relaxing muscles with Botox or making such a pretty smooth complexion so that you don't feel like you've got so much to cover up whatever it is that you wanna work on.

(08:04)
There are so many things and I just, I like creating that plan with people and having that long-term relationship.

Yeah. And I think, you know, we've been around since 1988 as a surgery center, and we added our medical spa in 2013. And so I think that's something that's so special about our practice is it's like we're in it for the long haul. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, we'll, we'll be here next year. We were here last year <laugh>, you know, and we're going to take care of you in the best way. We know how. And that is sometimes by saying, you know what, you look great, you don't need anything. Right. Or absolutely, you know, you think your friend had such and such, but you don't need that. And that happened recently with one of the doctors downstairs. A lady came in for her eyelids and he's like, you know, you just need a little laser <laugh> and go upstairs to the med spa. You know? And so I think it's wonderful that we're gonna do what's best for the patient. And so I think you bring up a really good point there. Well,

I do feel so excited to be with this group because of that, because of the mission statement that patients come first and we want happy patients. We wanna feel good about what we put out there. And that definitely aligns with the way I practice. I certainly wouldn't ever oversell, like I said, I, and I've even told people in the past, I've done this to my mother, and if my mother loved it and my mother trusted me, I promise you, <laugh>. Yeah. Yeah. But you're in good hands, <laugh>.

So now you said you were in Kansas. Did you grow up in Kansas?

Uh, since I was in second grade. So most of it, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Okay. So what was the big draw to come to San Diego? Besides coming to us, of course,

<laugh>. Yes, of course, this practice is what definitely lured me here. Well, but once I started, started the interviewing process here with this company, I was definitely so attracted to this practice. But yeah, backing up, yeah, I have three kids. I've been divorced for a long time, and my kids finally reached the age where they all started dispersing, and all went in such different directions that I was kind of left with a big house and no kids in it anymore. And I always felt that I would like a change in my life at some point once I did the, the most important job of getting my kids where they needed to be. So anyway, one ended up in Kansas City, one's in Philadelphia, one is at Auburn in Alabama. And so I thought, you know what? Why not? I'm gonna just, uh, take a leap of faith, make a change in my life, and go to sunny California where I know that, uh, I won't have to endure those really cold, harsh, dull winters of Kansas. Um, although I love Kansas and I can't really speak poorly of it, but I was just ready for a change in my life. And California's where I ended up.

That's a really brave thing to do, to be like, I'm gonna move and I'm gonna not even gonna move down the street. I'm gonna move far, far away. That's,

Yeah, I won't lie. It was scary <laugh>, um, and probably harder than I anticipated. But, you know, I've got some special people here in California that have made it much easier for me. And once I finally brought my belongings here and found a home, and now this, um, great career option or a career choice, uh, you know, I feel like it's kind of all coming together.

That's neat. So how long have you been in San Diego now?

I came in September, so a bit, but, um, I was still going back and forth to Wichita for those next couple of months. I was still kind of finishing out at, uh, Dr. Conrad's office where I was working, going back and just trying to see a few more of my favorite patients through December. So I was kind of going back and forth yet until the end of last year. So, so I've really been full-time here since Christmas.

Wow. Yeah. Nice.

Yeah. Nice.

So, back into aesthetics. So what have you learned over the years of listening to patients?

Hmm. I've learned from patients that more than anything, they just want to look as good as they feel. Uh, I think that's the, the weird thing about aging that you don't understand until you start aging that well, I guess everybody's aging, but you know, until you hit your thirties for instance, or your forties or your fifties or your sixties, that you don't necessarily feel like you're in your thirties or whatever. You assume that that's going to feel like you still feel young and vibrant in so many situations. And to not reflect that in the mirror or in your outward appearance is very bothersome to some people. And, you know, I think that's really why they seek us out, because we can help with, you know, those little things. Whether it's something specific that, that they see in the mirror that they don't like, or whether it's just the overall appearance of maybe looking tired.

(13:35)
And I think that most people really just want to look very natural and have just a more youthful, refreshed look. And hopefully, you know, I can help with that. I can help someone like what they're seeing in the mirror and make that image match up a little bit more so to how they're feeling on the inside. And, and I think sometimes too, it's even just having a conversation about it. I think sometimes as women, I think that, I don't know if I've seen that as much yet in California as, as I did in the Midwest, but you know, sometimes it's kind of a closed off conversation. Women are either very open with their friends about aging and what that looks like, whether it's, you know, something more medically related or whether it's just simple things like Botox and skincare and laser services. And, and I think, you know, again, being someone who is over 50, I can relate to that and I can say, well, this is what's working for me and this is what works for a lot of my patients. And, you know, to kind of hold their hand through that process and, and get to again, make a friend and help someone just to feel about the way they look, I think is really special.

That's nice. I think having that partnership is a really nice thing. And having somebody, like you were talking about earlier, making a plan mm-hmm. <affirmative>, because sometimes you can't accomplish everything in one visit, you can.

So I mean, on multiple levels, I mean, both. Sometimes it's just too much to inject and do laser and all the skincare all in one setting. Obviously that's not possible. But then cost related too. That's, it's sometimes just way too much to ask to, you know, to dive in and, and throw all your, all your money at one service. And, and that's the other thing that I am so open to discussing with patients is, you know, spreading out those services so that we don't have to throw the kitchen sink at it all at once. <laugh>.

And when you want to throw the kitchen sink, the good thing is we have financing. Yeah. Because sometimes, you know, if you're getting ready for a certain life event, like I, my son is 25 and he's getting married next February, so it's like, okay, it's April, now I have some time to think about, you know, what are the things I wanna do to be fully healed by the wedding. Exactly. And so I think when, when you have maybe sometimes a bigger treatment plan, having the be able to pay, you know, $90 a month or whatever it is with the financing, people don't realize that in med spas, or at least our med spa, there is an option. And so it really does help to, and we're, we use it all the time, and patients use it all the time. And so it's not unusual and nobody really thinks about that. So that part's nice for when, when you wanna clump things together. Now, what kinds of devices, like, you know, we have so many devices, we have all therapy, and we have ThermiVa, and we have miraDry and Thermi. You know, there's a lot of different and all the lasers, so many lasers. So tell me about what devices you love.

Lasers are fantastic. I think they're, they're so fun. Whether it's, um, something simple like laser hair removal can be such a game changer for, for some people. And then, yeah, I, I love microneedling with radio frequency, for instance. I think we offer that at the Carlsbad Spa. Oh, the Morpheus, the Morpheus8

Morpheus8. Uhhuh <affirmative>

Such a great option for aging skin. So I love that as an option. I love simple things, uh, like lasers to just remove an unsightly little, little vein on the chin, or little tiny veins around the nose, for instance. That's probably one of my favorite lasers to do. Um, and then lasers for resurfacing, whether it's a mild resurfacing, helping with melasma and brown spots, the BBL is an amazing device to just reverse that sun damage. Yeah, we are, we are really blessed in this office with some really amazing devices. I've yet to learn about or learn how to perform the mirror dry, which I've known about for years, but I've just never had the opportunity to work with, but great for excessive sweating. So, yeah. And then I've done all therapy, uh, years, years ago I was one of the very first providers in, uh, the Midwest offer all therapy. So I go way back with that device and cool sculpting as well, so mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah, I just, I love it. I've tried many of those things. I think old therapy works fantastically cool, sculpting works fantastically lasers are great. There's so much great technology available to us.

So what could a patient expect when they meet you for the first time?

So, when someone meets me for the first time, I think more than anything, what we always must start with is just a nice little conversation. I wanna get to know my patients and they should know about me. I know for a fact that all of my patients over the last 13 years know about my children and where my children are in college and what we're up to. And I love those kind of relationships, whether it's, you know, just coming in every three months for their Botox, and we get caught up again on a quick little "Hello and whatcha up to, and how is your vacation? And how are the kids?" And all this. I, I love those kind of talks. Um, and then we, we kind of get down to business and talk about what the patient wants to talk about, whether it's, well, just really whatever's concerning them. And then we talk about where to go from there, whether they wanna just start with Botox or whether they wanna plan for some laser treatments. And we create that plan together. So yeah, I think it's, I, I have a fun time when I see my patients. I like my days with patients and, and I think in most cases my patients have always felt that same way that we, we have fun together.

That's nice. So getting into getting to know you a little bit, I'm going to give you a couple questions.

Okay.

Who in your life has inspired you the most?

Well, uh, I'm gonna say my children really have inspired me the most because they make me wanna be the best person I can be, you know, as a mom obviously, but also as someone who is leading a good example, hopefully I can not only be their mother, but be their friend as well. And I like my children, they're turning out to be really cool adults and they all offer something so different to me and to the world. And, you know, I think they make me want to keep being cool. Number one, <laugh> relevant <laugh> number two, I think it's, you know, that's the, the gift of being a mom. If you really take in what they can give you, you know, you stay really relevant in the world. So, you know, I think that has lent to a really good practice too, with, you know, I can talk to 20 year olds pretty easily and I can talk to 50, 60, 70 year olds really easily and everything in between. And, and I think luckily my kids have been helpful in that, in that arena. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, we've been through a lot together. You know, the three, the four of us, three kiddos and me. And we've had a, a good, a good life and hope to continue that. Yeah.

I bet them wanting to come see you now that you're in sunny San Diego <laugh>, we've got, that's a nice draw to get the kids to come visit Mom <laugh>. Yes.

I've got the, the two youngest here this weekend for a long Easter weekend, so.

Oh nice.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah. I have one in Philly also. My daughter's at, yeah, she's at Villanova. She's a senior.

No way. That's where Avery goes to school.

Are you serious?

I'm not kidding. She's a junior.

Oh my gosh. Okay. We have to talk about that at the end, because you know he's up. Yes. That's what he's up. Yeah. <laugh>. Well that's so cool. Um, yeah, Julia's about to, I'll be over there next month for her graduation, which is so fast. Yeah, it's so fast that they, they get through school, you're like, wait, what? What just happened? Weren't we just moving you in to the dorm?

Yeah. <laugh>. Ugh. I know. Oh, it just makes me so sad to think how fast that time goes.

Oh wow. So if you could teach a class on one thing, what would it be?

Oh gosh. I would probably talk about just what everything is, when, what I mean by that is so many times I get a new patient or a returning patient who has maybe had some of these services in the past, but just have never heard some of the most basic things. Like, how does this work? Why does this work? Why are you being told to have these specific rules afterwards? Just educating the general public about how this stuff actually works and why we, why we have certain recommendations for pre-care or post-care. I have found over the years that so many practitioners are leaving out some of that just really most basic vital information. So I think that's what I love too about meeting with my patients is the education. I, you know, I think in any medical situation we should not be prescribing or doing any type of a procedure without the patient's full understanding of why we're doing this. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, and I love that peace. Some people are so trusting, but it also makes me sad that sometimes people go into and really have no idea why they're doing something or, or how, how something works. So yeah, that's, that's important to me is a lot of education. And I talk a lot when I'm in the room with my patients. I like them to be fully educated about why I'm saying the things I'm saying. Right.

And I think if you know why or how, I guess the mechanism of how something works, then you can understand better why you don't wanna be doing

Like working out after Botox.

working out or go like, let's have Botox and then go get a massage tonight. You know, and have your face in a cradle. Things like that. And I think patients can, if they understand, like you say, the reasons behind it, they're more likely to be compliant cuz they under, you know, if, if you know why you're doing it, it's not just that Jennifer's telling you to <laugh> don't have no fun at all. <laugh>

<laugh>. Yeah. Right. But also, you know, they can take some ownership in that too. It's, you know if they're paying for it, it's, they deserve to know all of that information. And if they have some ownership in that process, then they're out there also giving the right information to their friends.

True, true. Yeah, that's a really good point. Like peer-to-peer knowledge. Okay, second to last question, <laugh>. You know, one of the things here at Lolla Cosmetic is this sense of family and this sense of teamwork. And so looking back in your life, where's kind of an early memory that you have of teamwork?

I'm thinking back how far back I wanna go. <laugh>, I was a cheerleader in high school, so that would probably be one of my first team experiences. Um, and we had so much fun together as cheerleaders got in some trouble together as cheerleaders, <laugh>. But you know, that was probably one of my very first team experiences that, that I really enjoyed. And then, you know, obviously through school, nursing school is definitely a team experience. You know, those late night anatomy and physiology study sessions and helping each other study and get through those tough classes, that was definitely a team a needed teamwork experience. And then, you know, just different work experiences. I think I've been lucky that I've had some really great work families and you know, when you spend so much time at work, you want to really love who you're working with. And I've been very fortunate in many situations to really enjoy who I've worked alongside. And I've made some great friends, some long time lifelong friends at Jobs I've had. And I feel that very much here at La Jolla Cosmetic, the work family feel is real here. Everyone is so respectful to each other and works very nicely with each other to look out for one another and make sure that all of our bases are covered and we're doing the best for the patients that we can, but also taking care of each other and having fun while we're doing it.

Exactly.

So I definitely get that feel from here.

Oh, that's good. That's nice to hear because you know, you're, you've been here for five days and I've been here for I thousands of days cuz I met 31 years working with this organization. Oh. And so that's fantastic. It's wonderful to know that in a very short period you're picking up on that same collegial family, you know, supportive environment and really it is all for the patients. It's like what are each of, we're all empowered to do what's best for that patient in that moment. And um, so that's a, that's wonderful that, you know, it sounds like we're very aligned in terms of um

Absolutely.

Our values and so that's nice. Okay, last question Jennifer.

Okay.

So our podcast listeners, we have, if you show that you're a subscriber, you get $25 off of any product or service of $50 or more. So I'm gonna ask you, if you were to get 25 off of 50, what product or treatment or maybe one of each would you select?

Hmm. Can I say everything? <laugh>,

How about one? One treatment and one product.

Okay. Botox, it's time for Botox.

I figured when you said you love Botox, I'm like, is she's gonna say Botox,

It's time for that. Yeah, I think that would, Botox would be the one thing that I hope I don't ever have to go without <laugh>. But then, yeah, we have a great skincare line here called Skin Better, skin Better Science. And I used that brand in Kansas as well. And I love those products. Ferre is one of my favorites. It's, it's got so many great ingredients in it. They have these great little glycolic acid pads that I love. And then, okay, I'm now I'm throwing many more at you than I'm supposed to <laugh> and then sunscreens too. We have this great brand here, Elta md. I've used that for 14, 15 years now. I love that brand of sunscreen. So I'd probably have to get two sunscreens to make that equal 50 so I could get my 25 off. But regardless, yeah, there's, we have some really great products to choose from here. But yeah. And again, Botox for sure. <laugh>,

Yeah. Of the Elta MD, there, that line is so vast, like there's so many different ones and I'm always like, which is the one that you like maybe for face?

Well again, yes. Back to what you said, that's what I love about Elta MD is you can pick your sun care product based on your skin type, which I love. So if you are acneic and sensitive, there's a sunscreen specifically for you. It's very calming to the skin. If you're a little bit oily, there is one specific for you that's a little more mattifying. And of course if you need the hydration, there are some with the hydrators as well, hyaluronic acid, so they can really kind of plump up and give you a very dewy, fresh look. So here I'm gonna sell Elta MD but I love that product line for sunscreens. And I think I've used so many of them. I probably use the physical the most because it's lightly tinted and it doesn't have any parabens, it doesn't have any fragrance in it and it works really well on my skin. So that's the one I used.

I didn't know that they had one that has a, like a plump, you know, a little plumping or the hyaluronic acid. That's interesting.

The newer ones do. Yeah.

Nifty.

So yeah,

Well you learn something every day. <laugh>

<laugh>.

Well Jennifer, thank you so much for joining us today, especially jumping into a podcast after, you know, only a week at four at the center.

<laugh>.

But here's what we found.

I was a little intimidated.

II know, I'm sorry. But here's what we found. It's like then you get busy, you know, here you're at least like, you know, learning certain things on certain days and shadowing people. And if we don't do it now, you're gonna be so busy then we'll never <laugh>.

Exactly.

We won't, it's harder to schedule. But I love the fact that you're interested in sort of doing deep dives. Cuz I would love for, well you know, we've done a lot of overviews of different treatments, but I would love to do a deep dive into something where, you know, we explore like what's it made out of and what are the, you know, cuz people wanna know what is hyaluronic acid, what, you know, you hear it's an ha filler. Well what does that mean versus what, you know, instead of what kind of filler. So I think that would be fun. And so be thinking about what you wanna talk about next and we'll, yeah, we'll dive into that.

Yeah, for sure. That sounds fun. Yeah,

So thanks everybody for joining. Thank you Jennifer. And we'll see you guys on the next podcast.

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, the axis.io.