Cosmetic Surgery

Meet Gretchell, Visual Storyteller - November 4, 2025 - La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre
Meet Gretchell, LJCSC’s talented video content specialist and the creative mind behind so many of the stories you see on our social media.
She started here as a medical photographer, capturing before-and-after photos, but her knack for storytelling and video editing quickly stood out. With encouragement from Dr. Swistun, Dr. Salazar, and the team, Gretchell turned her passion for videography into a full-time role, helping bring our patients’ journeys to life in a fresh, authentic way.
A bit camera-shy herself, Gretchell has a natural way of putting people at ease. She knows how it feels to be on the other side of the lens and uses that empathy to make patients feel comfortable, confident, and seen.
Outside of LJCSC, she runs her own photography business and loves spending time on creative projects—especially fun arts and crafts with her daughter.
Read more about Gretchell https://www.ljcsc.com/about/meet-the-team/administrative-team/gretchell/
Subscribe to LJCSC on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre and follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ljcsc/to view all of Gretchell’s lovely content
Follow Gretchell’s photography account on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gmafongphotog/
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 - A day in the life of a plastic surgery videographer
02:20 - What drew me to visual storytelling
04:24 - Gretchell’s passion for visual storytelling
06:35 - Gretchell’s favorite content to shoot
08:00 - How I help patients feel comfortable on camera
08:48 - What led Gretchell to aesthetics
13:45 - Gretchell’s life growing up
15:59 - Gretchell outside the office
21:10 - My advice to someone coming to LJCSC for the first time
23:50 - Subscribe and save on ALASTIN
26:12 -Takeaways and outro
What Happens When Plastic Surgeons Work Together Will Surprise You - October 28, 2025 - La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre
Most plastic surgeons work alone, but Dr. Hector Salazar shares what it’s like to be part of something different: a six-surgeon practice built entirely on collaboration and patient-centered care. At LJCSC, individuality and artistry meet shared values and consistency, creating a team dynamic that’s as rare as it is rewarding.
Dr. Salazar explains how this model benefits both surgeons and patients. Each doctor brings a unique perspective, yet all share the same foundation of safety, ethics, and excellence.
You experience seamless care, even when a surgeon is unavailable, thanks to a trusted team and shared systems that keep communication smooth and results consistent. Behind the scenes, experienced nurses and staff anticipate each surgeon’s approach, ensuring you feel known, supported, and at home.
Listen to learn how teamwork shapes better outcomes, and why LJCSC’s collaborative model sets a new standard in aesthetic care.
Links
Learn more about La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre https://www.ljcsc.com/about/about-us/
Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes https://www.ljcsc.com/about/meet-the-team/plastic-surgeons/dr-hector-salazar-reyes/
Follow Dr. Salazar on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hectorsalazarmd
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
00:50 - The power of a 6 plastic surgeon team
02:26 - The benefits of a group practice
04:28 - How we continue to improve with new techniques
08:11 - How we ensure consistent care and results
12:25 - The day-to-day at a team practice
15:26 - After hours care at a team plastic surgery practice
17:07 - What if my plastic surgeon is out of town?
20:21 - Takeaways & outro
The Truth About Lipedema - October 14, 2025 - La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre
Lipedema is one of the most misunderstood conditions women face. It shows up as uneven fat in the lower body that doesn’t respond to diet or exercise, often leading to frustration, pain, and a feeling of being dismissed by healthcare providers.
Beyond the physical symptoms, the emotional toll is huge. Once treated, many women celebrate simple wins like finally zipping up a pair of boots.
San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar and massage therapist Linda-Anne Kahn explain what lipedema really is, how it differs from obesity, cellulite, and lymphedema, and why early diagnosis and treatment make such a difference.
With over 40 years of experience working in integrative health, Linda-Anne shares how being diagnosed herself inspired her to help other women find relief through manual lymphatic drainage and holistic care.
Dr. Salazar explains how he treats it surgically with liposuction, and how combining surgery with massage therapy, nutrition, and lifestyle changes can improve symptoms at every stage.
Together, they break down what works, what doesn’t, and why awareness of lipedema matters for patients, families, and providers alike.
Links
If you have lipedema and want to learn how we can help you get the answers and treatment you deserve, request a free consultation with Dr. Salazar https://www.ljcsc.com/consultation-request/
Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes https://www.ljcsc.com/about/meet-the-team/plastic-surgeons/dr-hector-salazar-reyes/
Learn more about lipedema treatment https://www.ljcsc.com/procedures/cosmetic-surgery/body/lipedema/
Learn more about San Diego lymphatic drainage massage therapist Linda-Anne Kahn https://lymphatictherapyservices.com/about-linda-anne-kahn/
Check out the book Linda-Anne co-authored, Lymphedema and Lipedema Nutrition Guide https://a.co/d/dDXTAJK
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 to lipedema
01:40 - Welcome massage therapist Linda-Anne Kahn
04:23 - What is lipedema?
05:56 - What causes lipedema?
06:44 - Signs you may have lipedema
07:24 - Why does lipedema get misdiagnosed?
08:57 - Lipedema vs. cellulite
10:57 - Lipedema vs. lymphedema
12:40 - Stages of lipedema
15:08 - Treatments for lipedema
21:28 - Is lipedema treatment ongoing?
21:54 - Lymphedema and Lipedema Nutrition Guide
23:50 - Lipedema patient stories
26:50 - Lipedema awareness
29:40 - What doctors and patients should know about lipedema
32:17 - Takeaways and outro
The Most Important Step in a Rhinoplasty Consultation - October 7, 2025 - La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre
Considering any kind of cosmetic change to your face is a deeply personal decision, and your nose is a complex feature right in the center of it.
San Diego facial plastic surgeon Dr. Kiersten Riedler knows this, which is why her rhinoplasty consultations always include a photo simulation, built from your own goals and her experience, to bridge the gap between hope and reality.
That's her secret for confident decisions and a smooth journey, especially in a filter-happy world where beauty standards can skew expectations in an instant.
By editing a before photo, she shows whether your goals are realistic, sparks honest conversations about expectations, and makes sure you’re seeing eye-to-eye.
Hear how photo simulations help people better articulate their goals, and the key questions Dr. Riedler asks during consultations to create the most accurate simulation.
Links
Learn more about rhinoplasty https://www.ljcsc.com/procedures/cosmetic-surgery/face-hair/rhinoplasty/
See rhinoplasty before and after results by Dr. Kiersten Riedler https://www.ljcsc.com/gallery/face/rhinoplasty/?Provider=Dr.%20Riedler
Read more about San Diego facial plastic surgeon Dr. Kiersten Riedler https://www.ljcsc.com/about/meet-the-team/plastic-surgeons/dr-kiersten-riedler/
Book a free 15-to-30-minute complimentary phone call with one of our expert patient coordinators https://calendly.com/bookmeljcsc/concierge?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes
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
00:50 - Why rhinoplasty photo simulations are important
02:10 - How patients react to their simulated before and after photos
02:32 - How I understand your rhinoplasty goals
03:23 - How accurate are rhinoplasty photo simulations?
06:44 - How long does the simulation process take?
07:45 - Managing patient expectations for rhinoplasty
13:08 - Takeaways
13:45 - Dr. Riedler’s favorite Alastin skin care product
14:09 - Outro