Cosmetic Surgery

Reflections on 40 Years in Plastic Surgery and Service with Dr. John Smoot - January 6, 2026 - La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre
Nearly 40 years, thousands of patients, and a career that started unexpectedly in a National Guard medical unit—Dr. John Smoot’s story is full of the wisdom, wins, and lessons you only get from a lifetime in plastic surgery.
Dr. Smoot looks back on how the field has transformed since he first scrubbed in, from evolving techniques to the rise of natural, proportionate results and the growing acceptance of cosmetic procedures. He shares what’s surprised him, what’s stayed the same, and what he believes is coming next as less invasive treatments continue to take over.
Hear why he’s always chased improvement, how he balances artistry with science, and the traits that he believes every great surgeon has to develop.
Plus, he opens up about mentorship, the relationships that shaped his career, and the legacy he hopes to leave as he heads toward retirement.
Links
Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. John Smoot https://www.ljcsc.com/about/meet-the-team/plastic-surgeons/dr-john-smoot/
Book a consultation with Dr. Smoot before he leaves https://b.link/john-smoot-md-facs
Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.
Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.
La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.
To learn more, go to https://www.ljcsc.com/or follow the team on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ljcsc/
Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre/
The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: https://www.theaxis.io/
Theme music: Busy People, SOOP
Contents of this video:
00:00 - Intro
01:00 - How it feels to be retiring as a plastic surgeon
01:35 - Biggest highlights of my career
02:30 - How the National Guard shaped my approach to surgery
03:50 - Serving others as a plastic surgeon
05:20 - How plastic surgery has changed since I started practicing
06:35 - Lessons learned in 40 years as a plastic surgeon
08:00 - Advice for plastic surgeons starting their career
08:40 - Combining artistry and science
09:20 - Focusing on advanced breast lift and breast revision techniques
11:00 - Grafts for breast surgery
12:00 - How my research shaped how I operate
12:25 - What separates a good plastic surgeon from a great one?
13:00 - Surgeries that still excite me
13:50 - Proportion and balance over dramatic change
15:10 - Patient stories that still move me today
15:58 - The legacy I hope to be remembered by
16:45 - Qualities I hope the next generation of plastic surgeons continues
17:30 - The advantages of working in a group practice
19:55 - Music in the OR
20:50 - What excites me about the future of plastic surgery
22:40 - The most rewarding part of my daily routine as a plastic surgeon
23:45 - How I plan to spend my time in retirement
25:05 - Summary of my career as a plastic surgeon
28:02 - Wrap-up and outro
From the Bass Guitar to the OR with San Diego Plastic Surgeon Dr. Johan Brahme - December 16, 2025 - La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre
Who says plastic surgeons can’t rock out after hours? For Dr. Johan Brahme, music isn’t just a hobby—it’s part of how he approaches life and surgery.
He shares how growing up in a musical family inspired him to play bass in multiple bands throughout his life, perform for communities like assisted living homes, and even bring music aboard the USS Midway.
Hear about the surprising parallels between performing on stage and in the OR, and why he soundtracks surgeries from classical to heavy metal.
Dr. Brahme also opens up about his interest in archaeology, Swedish comfort food, and his ideal slow Saturday away from the OR and the amp.
Links
Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Johan Brahme https://www.ljcsc.com/about/meet-the-team/plastic-surgeons/dr-johan-brahme/
Schedule a meeting with Dr. Brahme’s patient coordinator https://b.link/johan-brahme-md
Watch the trailer for Netflix’s Cave of Bones https://youtu.be/D85B4rVcFtk?si=MHgf4pKPNn94uBpF
Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.
Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.
La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.
To learn more, go to https://www.ljcsc.com/ or follow the team on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ljcsc/
Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre/
The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: https://www.theaxis.io/
Theme music: Busy People, SOOP
Contents of this video:
00:00 - Intro
00:30 - Dr. Brahme’s surgery soundtrack
01:51 - Instruments Dr. Brahme plays
08:10 - The name Dr. Brahme would give his band today
10:08 - How my playlist changes depending on types of surgery
10:47 - Dr. Brahme’s involvement in the local music industry
12:21 - How plastic surgery and music are similar
13:50 - What would Dr. Brahme be doing if he weren’t a plastic surgeon?
16:20 - Dr. Brahme’s biggest musical influences
18:30 - What music taught me that surgery couldn’t
19:57 - Dr. Brahme’s passions outside of plastic surgery and music
21:06 - Dr. Brahme’s ideal Saturday morning
21:40 - Takeaways and outro
Monique’s Cozy Christmas Hangout with the LJCSC Dream Team - December 9, 2025 - La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre
In this festive holiday episode, Monique chats with friends from the LJCSC Dream Team about all the little things that make Christmas feel special, from favorite songs and decorations to family traditions and must-have holiday foods.
We debate important issues like real vs. fake trees and white vs. multicolor lights, and share beloved family recipes like tamales, Feast of the Seven Fishes, pineapple honey ham, and generations of cookie-baking.
Listen to LJCSC’s festive playlist to get into the holiday spirit! https://b.link/holiday-faves
Check out the book Monique referenced, The Autobiography of Santa Claus
https://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Santa-Claus-Christmas-Chronicles/dp/158542448X/ref=sr_1_1
Watch Monique’s floofy kitty Noël take over the podcast on our previous episode with Dr. Riedler https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRVhnNlEtAE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Hannah’s mom’s honey ham recipe:
Ingredients:
Boneless ham
Canned pineapple in natural juice
1 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup raw natural honey
Steps:
Grab your crockpot!
Pour canned pineapple (all juice included!) and some brown sugar into the crockpot
Place the ham into the crockpot
Pour the honey over the ham
Pour the rest of the brown sugar
Leave in the crockpot on low all day or overnight. Most tender and moist after 7+ hours!
Hannah’s mom’s no bake recipe:
Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 stick butter
3 T baking cocoa
1 t vanilla
3/4 c peanut butter
2 cups quick 1 min oats
Instructions:
Soften butter in the microwave and then put the first 4 all together into a pot over the stove. Bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add 1 t vanilla, stir in 3/4 cup pb until melted then add 2 cups oats. Drop on foil or wax paper until set. If you just want peanut butter no bakes, leave out the baking cocoa!
Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.
Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.
La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.
To learn more, go to https://www.ljcsc.com/or follow the team on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ljcsc/
Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre/
The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: https://www.theaxis.io/
Theme music: Busy People, SOOP
Contents of this video:
00:00 - Intro
00:38 - Amber’s Christmas traditions and opinions
05:28 - Jocelyn’s Christmas traditions and opinions
17:44 - Juliana’s Christmas traditions and opinions
24:42 - Cynthia’s Christmas traditions and opinions
28:02 - Hannah’s Christmas traditions and opinions
41:32 - Outro
The Art of Perfect Gingerbread with Dr. Kiersten Riedler - December 2, 2025 - La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre
LJCSC’s expert baker Dr. Kiersten Riedler takes us into the cozy world of holiday baking, sharing her tips and tricks for making the perfect gingerbread cookies.
From rolling the dough just the right thickness to using fresh, fragrant spices, she reveals the details that make these cookies both delicious and festive.
Along the way, Dr. Riedler draws fun parallels between baking and her work in facial plastic surgery, highlighting how precision, planning, and creativity are key in both.
She also shares the joy—and gentle pressure—of living up to friends and family expectations during the holidays.
Dr. Riedler’s gingerbread cookies recipe:
Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp ground ginger
¾ tsp baking soda
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp salt
12 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
¾ cup molasses
2 Tbsp milk
Instructions:
Process flour, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, cloves, and salt in food processor until combined, about 10 seconds. Add melted butter, molasses, and milk and process until soft dough forms and no streaks of flour remain, about 20 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
Spray counter or silicone pastry mat lightly with baking spray with flour, transfer dough to counter, and knead until dough forms cohesive ball, about 20 seconds. Divide dough in half. Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Use cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Space cookies ¾ inch apart on rimmed baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Repeat rolling and cutting steps with dough scraps.
Bake until cookies are puffy and just set around edges, 9 to 11 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through baking. Let cookies cool on sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and let cool completely before decorating and serving.
Links
See some of Dr. Riedler’s gorgeous Christmas cookies, https://www.instagram.com/p/C2jLGj1Lw77/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== and watch her bake them, https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1I2kvcrKGB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Listen to LJCSC’s festive holiday playlist to set the perfect mood while you bake, making your kitchen feel as magical as the season itself. https://b.link/holiday-faves
Book a free 15-to-30-minute complimentary phone call with Dr. Riedler’s patient coordinator https://b.link/kiersten-riedler-md
Meet San Diego facial plastic surgeon Dr. Kiersten Riedler https://www.ljcsc.com/about/meet-the-team/plastic-surgeons/dr-kiersten-riedler/
Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the San Diego’s Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice, and the 2025 winner of Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Awards.
Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.
La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.
To learn more, go to https://www.ljcsc.com/or follow the team on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ljcsc/
Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre/
The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: https://www.theaxis.io/
Theme music: Busy People, SOOP
Contents of this video:
00:00 - Intro
00:28 - How to make the perfect gingerbread cookie
03:10 - Similarities between baking cookies and facial plastic surgery
07:50 - Excitement for cookie traditions every year
08:36 - My Christmas playlist for holiday baking
09:16 - If my surgical results were a cookie
10:00 - Dr. Riedler’s expertise in facial plastic surgery
11:00 - Links and outro