Episodes

Khanh Nguyen, FNP-C, shares the big no-no’s before and after lasers, and what steps to take to ensure you get the most out of your treatment. Khanh covers everything you need to know to feel prepared going into your laser treatment, including: What medications not to take before lasers What products not to apply to your skin before lasers What to tell your laser specialist before your treatment to avoid outbreaks What products to use during aftercare How to maintain results People with ce...

LJC patient coordinators Hailee and Carrie reveal valuable insider tips on how to save the most and have the best treatment experiences possible in the medical spa. Find out how the LJC GLAMfam VIP loyalty membership lets you save on the treatments you want the most all year long and all the other ways to stack savings on top of GLAMfam membership perks. Links Learn more about GLAMfam, our VIP loyalty club Learn more about Allē, Allergan’s loyalty program Mark your calendars! Botox Day is...

We ask licensed aesthetician Cameron if popular at-home devices and DIY skin care treatments are a waste of money or the best thing ever: Cleansing wipes Extraction tools Individually packaged masks & peels Light therapy At-home hair removal devices BioRe pore strips Microcurrent devices Clarisonic Dermarollers Jade rollers From chemical peels to microneedling, Cameron runs us through which in-office treatments are a safer and more effective than the DIY skin care you can buy at Targe...

Although laser treatments are popular, there are common fears people have when trying them for the first time. LJC’s laser specialist Brittany Haley, RN is here to help! Will it hurt? Will I be wasting my money? What if it doesn’t work? Will I be trapped inside as my skin heals? Brittany answers these scary (but totally common) questions and reassures us by sharing stories of patients who started regular laser treatments years ago and look younger now than before they started. Links Read mor...

Dermaplaning might be trending, but it isn’t new. This non-invasive exfoliation technique for removing dead skin cells and pesky peach fuzz has been a go-to treatment of professional estheticians for decades, and LJC’s licensed aesthetician Janine swears by it. When combined with a HydraFacial, Janine considers this pairing the “happily married couple” of skin care treatments, as they complement each other perfectly. She recommends a combination treatment each month, or alternating between Hyd...

As a hairdresser, Kaylie sees herself in the mirror all day every day. For many years, she relied on trickery with clothing to hide her “square” backside, wearing baggy tops and short shorts to give the illusion of curves and draw attention to her other features. After three long years working with a trainer and seeing little progress, she started considering body contouring. When Dr. Brahme told her about the Skinny BBL, she was sold. Kaylie candidly opens up about the Skinny BBL experience, ...

Although there are multiple options available for rejuvenating the neck, Dr. Salazar considers the T-Z Plasty to be the ultimate weapon against the “turkey gobbler.” For patients who specifically want to address excess skin and fat in their neck, but aren’t ready for a full face and neck lift, the T-Z Plasty is the preferred technique. Dr. Salazar answers our biggest questions about this not often discussed, yet powerful neck lift surgery, including: Who are the best candidates? Where are in...

Some celebrities are notorious for looking overfilled. But with all the money and access in the world, why do their treatments sometimes still go very wrong? LJC’s seasoned aesthetic injector Julia Jowett, PA-C joins Monique to analyze some of the world’s most famous faces and explain how these filler disasters might have happened. What should you do if your own filler treatment goes wrong, and how can you avoid looking overfilled over time? What should you do if you are in a “botched” situati...

From feeling self-conscious in polo shirts to wearing shirts at the beach, many men search for ways to get rid of those man boobs and puffy nipples. Multiple procedures are available for helping men sculpt a flatter chest. Dr. Salazar dives into the different surgical options of male breast reduction procedures, including: Traditional liposuction High-definition liposuction Surgical removal of fat and glandular tissue Combination of liposuction and surgical removal Breast amputation (most ...

To ensure your experience with us is seamless and stress-free from beginning to end, TouchMD is the software we use for consultations, imaging, patient education, and more. Krissy, our patient photography-focused marketing assistant, explains and demonstrates how you’ll use it throughout your experience with us. This episode is best watched on YouTube. If you’re listening on an audio platform, click here to jump straight to the YouTube video. Download the MyTouchMD patient app La Jolla Cosm...

In the third and final installment of our series featuring the winners of the 2023 Beauty Awards, LJC’s aesthetic nurse specialist Brittany Haley, known by many as the Queen of Lasers, gives us the lowdown on the winning treatments that we have available at our La Jolla and Carlsbad medical spas. From improving skin quality to targeting stubborn fat pockets, non-surgical med spa treatments are each designed to treat specific concerns. Brittany talks us through the most important details about t...

In the second installment of our series featuring the winners of the 2023 Beauty Awards, LJC’S aesthetic nurse injector Jennifer talks us through the winning injectables that we have available at both our La Jolla and Carlsbad medical spas. Whether you’re looking to restore volume or add contour, there are certain products designed to achieve certain goals. Find out which injectables Jennifer recommends for your specific concerns. Hear Jennifer’s professional opinion on the following New Beaut...

UV rays not only cause visual damage to the skin, but can eventually lead to skin cancer. Alisha Merlo, executive director of professional relations for Colorescience, joins us to “smack down” all the dumb excuses we use for not wearing enough sunscreen and bust common myths about sun protection. Whether you’re not wearing sunscreen to save money, to keep your makeup looking cute, or because you think you look better with a tan, find out what happens when you don't wear sunscreen and get answer...

Anastasia Chu, PA-C, lays out the facts about Morpheus8, the minimally invasive radiofrequency microneedling treatment that everyone is raving about. By stimulating collagen and elastin production, Morpheus8 addresses wrinkles, skin laxity, stretch marks, chronic acne scars and more, often in a single treatment. Get the answers to your Morpheus8 questions, including: How many treatment sessions will I need? How much does each treatment tighten skin and reduce fat? What other treatments can ...

New Beauty tests hundreds of products each year and selects the best of the best in each skin care category. LJC’s aesthetician Janine brings her 25 years of experience working with medical grade products and treatments to share her thoughts on the 2023 New Beauty award-winning products available at LJC. It may be tempting to follow skin care trends, but Janine recommends starting your search for the best skin care regimen by recognizing your concerns, sharing them with a medical professional, ...

Specializing in all things mommy makeover, Dr. Diana Breister Ghosh shares how breast lift surgery can make droopy, “deflated” breasts higher, fuller, and perkier. Dr. Breister walks us through everything to expect going into breast lift surgery, from how to prepare and how it's done to what recovery looks like and where scars will be. Find out how long it typically takes to heal enough to do the activities you love again, like exercising or picking up heavy objects (like children). A breast ...

Struggling with acne breakouts since high school, 30-year-old Destiny went through numerous trial-and-error attempts at improving her skin on her own. As a person of color, scarring and pigmentation became increasingly difficult to manage. Destiny discovered LJC through her mom, and received a gift for a treatment at our med spa after her breast augmentation at our surgery center. She met our master aesthetician Cameron and the rest was history. She saw immediate improvements in her acne and pi...

No matter how many push-ups or sit-ups you do, you can’t stop your hair from falling out or your face from losing volume. LJC plastic surgeon (and dad) Dr. Luke Swistun takes us through the most popular cosmetic procedures for men. Aging typically results in a slower metabolism and weight gain in the wrong places, and the “dad bod” starts to appear. During liposculpture, or HD liposuction, fat is removed from unwanted areas and moved to the areas where men want more volume, like the pecs and ab...

The “thread lift king” is here to tell us how threads can lift your face, neck, and most of your body without surgery. Khanh Nguyen, FNP-C, MSN, lives by the “three Rs” when it comes to keeping patients looking young. To 1) ‘reduce’ wrinkles with Botox, 2) ‘replace’ lost volume with fillers, and 3) ‘rejuvenate’ lax skin with threads. If you give your cheeks a one finger lift when you look in the mirror, threads can lift and tighten up that lax skin. Khanh typically recommends PDO threads over ...

Talking about money can be uncomfortable and intimidating. It may seem like the easier option to do less because it’s within your current budget, but there are ways to get the big procedure you truly want without spending your entire savings. LJC Chief Operating Officer Janelle Robinson joins us to reveal all the tips and tricks for financing to help you get your dream procedure when you want it. At LJC, one-third of our patients take advantage of our financing options like PatientFi and Cherr...

Nicole knew she would look good after a mommy makeover with Dr. Brahme, but she had no idea it would turn out even better than her pre-baby body. After years avoiding form-fitting dresses, she now has the confidence to wear tight clothing without shapewear underneath. After having four children, Nicole worked hard trying to lose stubborn fat around her love handles and back, but nothing helped her bounce all the way back. With the goal of achieving an hourglass shape, she had an extended tummy ...

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...

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 hel...

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 he...