At LJC, April is the go-to person for getting started with the skinny shot at LJC. She knows what people are going through because she’s been there too, and shares her personal experience to help them feel less alone during their journey. Having a sweet tooth and being a travel enthusiast, April’s food habits are changed for the better with tirzepatide. She chooses bananas over pastries and opts for a vodka cranberry instead of a strawberry daiquiri.  Opening up about her experience, April explains why she went with tirzepatide instead of semaglutide and shares what to expect on our Sig ..read more

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 more about San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Johan Brahme Hear more of Dr. Brahme’s thoughts ..read more

Two years after her breast augmentation, San Diego radio personality Laura Cain returns with an update on how her breast implants have changed her life. Before her breast implants, Laura was wearing padded bras and chicken cutlet bra inserts to hide her flat chest. Now her wardrobe options have changed and her confidence has skyrocketed, both personally and professionally. What’s next for Laura? Hear what new treatment is on her wish list that she says is, “right up her alley.” Links Listen to our previous episodes on Laura’s breast augmentation experience: Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3 Che ..read more

Before having a tummy tuck, one of the biggest worries our patients have is “what is my belly button going to look like?” No one wants an ugly belly button, or for it to be a dead giveaway that they had work done. Because so much extra skin is removed during tummy tuck surgery, the original belly button often goes away with it. But during a tummy tuck using the BellaButton technique, Dr. Salazar creates a beautiful, natural-looking belly button.  As the pioneer of this technique, Dr. Salazar explains the key differences between the original techniques used to create a belly button durin ..read more

17 years ago, Jaime had a breast augmentation and lift after breastfeeding her three children. Back then, she spent a lot of time vacationing on the river and wanted to feel confident in a bikini. Fast forward to 2023, Jaime came back to LJCSC because her breasts had gotten larger. Since her initial surgery, she felt like she looked too big, so she opted for breast implant replacement (for much smaller implants) and another lift. Find out why she decided against explanting and hear how her surgeon Dr. John Smoot handled a startling post-op scare. Meet Jaime’s surgeon, Dr. John Smoot See br ..read more

It might be your first time getting a breast augmentation, but it’s by no means our first time! From your first phone call to your pre-op appointment, we tell you exactly what to expect so there are no surprises. Filling us in on all things breast surgery, Dr. Hector Salazar shares all there is to know about breast augmentation recovery, from how long you’ll need to be away from work and the gym to how much pain you'll be in and how it’s managed. Links Read more about San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes View breast augmentation before and after photos Read our plastic surge ..read more

Sharing his unique expertise with HD Lipo, Dr. Hector Salazar explains how this technique eliminates stubborn areas of fat, and highlights your natural muscle definition. Combining his artistic eye with his rich knowledge of anatomy, Dr. Salazar uses this specialized liposuction technique to precisely sculpt your body following the natural lines of your musculature. Find out all there is to know about the HD lipo experience, including best candidates and BMI requirements, how VASER liposuction technology works, why lymphatic drainage massage therapy is so important, and the importance of com ..read more

Dr. Jerry Haas, director of our medical weight loss program, gives us the details on Signature Skinny Shot, from what to expect before and during your weight loss journey to what can happen to your body as a result of losing weight and how we can help with that too. Semaglutide and tirzepatide started as diabetes medications, but in the past few years researchers have found that they also help people lose weight by telling the body when it’s full. These medications are well-vetted, have been around for a long time, and can truly be life-changing. Whether you want to reach your ideal weight b ..read more

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 anesthesiologist. He took these words seriously. After two years of serving the Navy, he completed ..read more

Long before having children, Kayla wanted breast implants. She never felt confident in a bikini, or in certain tops on date nights with her husband. When her daughter was 4, she decided it was the perfect time to do it. She thought she might need a breast lift, but Dr. Swistun reassured her that all she needed was an augmentation with high profile implants. Kayla opens up about how she decided on size, how it felt to wake up looking different, and how Dr. Swistun handled her post-surgery hematoma. Meet Kayla, practice manager at our La Jolla med spa Meet Kayla’s surgeon, Dr. Luke Swistun ..read more