People Of La Jolla Cosmetic Episodes

Janine Kier is new to LJC as an aesthetician at our Carlsbad location, but she’s been working in skin care for 25 years. She loves doing treatments that make dramatic changes, such as HydraFacials or chemical peels, because watching patients gain confidence is priceless. Her interest in aesthetics stemmed from her grandmother always making sure she took care of her skin growing up, from wearing homemade face masks to using umbrellas in the sun. Hear how she went from working for dermatologists ...

Bringing her 10+ years of experience to our new Carlsbad medical spa location as practice manager in March, Charity is a true team player who helps out wherever she’s needed. Hear how her passion for aesthetics led her to LJC and how she’s grown with us from front desk coordinator to patient coordinator and now manager. With her kind personality and excitement for helping people reach their beauty goals, she and the rest of our dream team are a match made in heaven. Read more about Charity L...

With three decades of plastic surgery practice in aesthetics, Dr. Johan Brahme is a veteran to the craft. Hear how he transitioned from cancer surgery to plastic surgery and the unique experiences he has had throughout his successful career. His goal has always been to deliver life-changing results to every one of his patients, and he’s able to do so by listening closely to them and understanding their goals. Find out which new innovations and techniques have influenced Dr. Brahme’s ability to ...

Since 2013, Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist Brittany Haley has been helping patients in the LJC med spa with her extensive knowledge of a wide range of treatments. Though she is brilliant at everything she does, she’s often referred to as our “laser wizard.” Within Brittany’s 14 years of working in aesthetics, she has witnessed many innovations and improvements to the dermal fillers, neuromodulators, and lasers that were available at the beginning of her career. As an international trainer...

Brittney Abood is an aesthetician at LJC. When you visit Brittney for skin care, not only will she expertly assess your skin health, she is passionate about getting to know you, from the type of weather you grew up in to your day-to-day skin care routine. Brittney prides herself in making a comfortable space for you to be honest and open. Read more about aesthetician Brittney Abood La Jolla Cosmetic is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed build...

When you meet Amy Biggs, you’ll realize she truly cares about helping you achieve your dream results. Her goal is to ensure you step out of our med spa feeling like your outer appearance reflects your inner beauty. If your cosmetic concerns need multiple treatments, Amy is with you for the long haul. She loves developing personalized treatment plans and witnessing beauty transformations. By getting to know you on a deeper level, she is able to recommend treatments that will make your goals a re...

When it comes to skin care, marketing convinces us it’s about instant gratification when in reality it’s a long game. No one knows this better than LJC’s aesthetician Cameron Vessey, who first learned about proper skin care at the age of 13 at her grandmother’s modeling school. Now as a medical aesthetician, she helps her patients plan the perfect skin care protocol consisting of products tailored to their goals. Meet Cameron and get her expert advice on which medical grade skin care products r...

Karina Thompson has been a surgical patient care coordinator here at LJC for nearly three years. A big part of her job is delivering the details about procedures to patients who need more information to move forward, and then guiding them to the doctor who is the best fit. Before she joined the LJC team, Karina managed a medical spa in Encinitas for seven years. During her time there, she honed her ability to connect with patients and understand their goals to give them the best recommendations...

Facial plastic surgeon Dr. Kiersten Riedler shares her unique perspective on preventing aging of the face and her layered approach to preventing wrinkles, replacing lost volume, and reversing the effects of gravity. Dr. Riedler’s training has made her an expert in facial anatomy, and her specialties include face lift surgery, complex rhinoplasty, and revision rhinoplasty surgery. Thanks to her training, she is also bilingual in Spanish. Find Dr. Riedler on Instagram La Jolla Cosmetic is locate...

Nurse Ruth has served patients at LJC for almost twenty years, mostly as Dr. Lori Saltz’s nurse and right hand. Ruth’s earliest introduction to LJC was through her father who served the practice as an accountant in the early years. After nursing school, she worked for several years as an emergency room and urgent care nurse before landing a position at LJC at age 27. She loved LJC so much, the rest is history! After working alongside now-retired plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Roark, she had an opp...

Anesthesiologist Steve Saltz, MD took the “long way” to anesthesiology. He first trained in internal medicine, then served full time in an ER, trained some more in pulmonary and critical care before landing on anesthesiology and staying there ever since. Dr. Saltz has cared for thousands of patients every year since 1992. Thanks to his broad training and deep experience, anyone undergoing surgery of any kind at LJC can be confident that they are in the safest, most capable hands. Hear just a fe...

As a medical assistant at LJC, Taylor Camarena is one of the first people you’ll meet, and she’s just the beginning of a warm and memorable experience. Her kindness, relatability, and her capacity to convey important information are key to helping people safely and comfortably achieve their goals. An aspiring nurse injector herself, Taylor is always learning, listening, and absorbing the details around her. Hear about her favorite cosmetic treatments and the products she can’t live without. Li...

San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Luke Swistun is known for being a thoughtful listener and artistic surgeon. Hear about the surprising 21st century way Dr. Swistun landed his dream job at LJC and his unique path from Poland, to Chicago, to the US Navy, to Beverly Hills, and now La Jolla. Find out which surgery is his favorite to do, the work that means the most to him, and what you can expect when you have a consultation either online or in-person. Follow Dr. Swistun on Instagram Read more abou...

Kayla is a Certified Medical Assistant who has worked in aesthetics for nearly 5 years. She has experience assisting with nonsurgical services such as cosmetic injectables, lasers, and skin treatments, as well as assisting in minor plastic surgery procedures and pre/post-op care. Kayla helps guide our patients through the consultation process, supporting them from their first call or email, continuing up to the day of surgery. Read more about Kayla . La Jolla Cosmetic is located just off th...

Miriam Villanueva joined La Jolla Cosmetic as a bilingual Patient Concierge for Plastic Surgery in early 2021 when she moved to San Diego to be closer to her family. Miriam is passionate about patient care and her friendly nature will make you feel at home. She is here to help you feel comfortable, support you, and guide you through your journey. Miriam’s Spanish comments translated: I recommend you check out our website at ljcsc.com. You will find all the information about our services, our su...

Julia Jowett, PA-C, MSHS joined the La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre & Medical Spa team in 2019. Whether you’re about to meet her for the first time or have been a patient for years, listen in to hear Julia’s philosophy of treating patients, why she believes being a good listener is the key to getting great aesthetic results, and how her surprising adventurous spirit led her to take bold risks which ultimately brought her to La Jolla Cosmetic. Follow Julia on Instagram @sandiegoinjector Read ...

Nothing seems more daunting than solving the homeless problem, but there’s a special San Diego organization making a real and meaningful impact. On this episode we spotlight Humble Design, which serves individuals, families, and veterans emerging from homelessness by transforming empty houses into welcoming homes using donated furniture and household goods. LJC Podcast guest hostess Marie Olesen shares the surprising ways that working with Humble Design has transformed the relationships on thei...

Marie Olesen, La Jolla Cosmetic’s longtime leader and CEO, joins us as the inaugural guest of the La Jolla Cosmetic Podcast. With LJC Podcast host and Chief Community Officer Monique Ramsey, Marie reflects on 33 years of passion for service and excellence -- from the day in 1988 when Dr. Merrel Olesen left his position as the Chief of Plastic Surgery at Scripps to found LJC, through the distinction of receiving the MyFaceMyBody Global Plastic/Cosmetic Surgery Practice of the Year in 2020 -- and ...