Episodios

  • I Got My Breast Implants Removed 4 Years Ago. Here's What Nobody Tells You.

    I Got My Breast Implants Removed 4 Years Ago. Here's What Nobody Tells You.
    Apr 14 2026
    Nearly four years ago, Janelle woke up from breast explant surgery, placed her hands on her chest, and felt free for the first time in 22 years.

    She's back to share what life looks like on the other side: not just the physical recovery, but the emotional unraveling that came with it. A divorce, a new body, a whole new wardrobe, and a complete reimagining of what confidence even means.

    Hear how Janelle went from daily naps and mystery joint pain to “vibrating really high” at almost 48.
    Listen for her advice if you're quietly wondering whether your body is still telling your story or someone else's. Because confidence, she'll tell you, isn't about cup size. It's about how you walk through life.

    Questions answered by this episode:
    • What's changed in four years since your explant?
    • What would you tell yourself right before surgery?
    • What were you thinking going into the procedure?
    • Have the early health improvements held up long-term?
    • Any unexpected symptoms that improved slowly over time?
    • How long did it take to reach a new normal?
    • What happened to the daily fatigue and joint pain?
    • How do you feel about your body now?
    • How did you figure out how to dress your new body?
    • How has your relationship with exercise changed?
    • Do people still reach out to you about explant surgery?
    • What advice would you give someone considering it?
    • How would you describe yourself four years out?
    Links

    Listen to Janelle’s experience when she first had her breast implant removal, Patient Janelle: Why I had my breast implants removed after 22 years

    Follow Janelle on Instagram @janellebird_

    Learn more about breast implant associated illness

    Meet Janelle's plastic surgeon, Dr. Luke Swistun.

    Learn more about breast implant removal with capsulectomy

    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 LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

    Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

    The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

    Theme music: Busy People, SOOP
    Más Menos
    27 m
  • Plastic Surgeon Dr. Brahme Reacts to Jim Carrey's New Face

    Plastic Surgeon Dr. Brahme Reacts to Jim Carrey's New Face
    Apr 7 2026
    After his César Awards appearance, the internet decided Jim Carrey might be a clone and honestly, the reaction wasn't totally unwarranted.

    Dr. Johan Brahme, a San Diego plastic surgeon who has helped well over one thousand people refresh their appearance with a facelift, walks us through what actually changed, what worked, and where things went a step too far.

    Find out why brow lift surgery on men almost always backfires, what a facelift can realistically do for the aging male face, and why the best results are the ones where people just say "you look great, did you do something different?"

    Links

    Page Six, Plastic surgeon weighs in on Jim Carrey’s ‘major surgical transformation’ after clone debacle

    EvoData on YouTube, Evolution: Jim Carrey From 1983 To 2024

    Meet San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Johan Brahme

    Learn more about facelift, neck lift, and brow lift

    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 LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

    Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

    The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

    Theme music: Busy People, SOOP
    Más Menos
    37 m
  • Is the “Yoga Boob” Look Taking Over?

    Is the “Yoga Boob” Look Taking Over?
    Mar 31 2026
    Bigger isn’t always better, and women are realizing it after living with breast implants.

    San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Luke Swistun talks about the shift toward smaller, more natural-looking breasts. Everyone on social media is calling them “yoga boobs” or “ballerina boobs.”

    Hear why more women are choosing to remove their implants, what they want instead, and how you can still get shape and volume using your own tissue.

    Sometimes the result you’re happiest with is the one that feels the most like you.

    Links

    Meet San Diego explant surgeon Dr. Luke Swistun

    Book your free breast implant removal consultation with Dr. Swistun

    Listen to our previous episode, Fuller Breasts Using Your Own Tissue? Auto-Augmentation Explained

    Listen to our previous episode, What Really Happens to Your Breasts After Implant Removal

    Learn more about breast implant removal

    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 LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

    Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

    The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

    Theme music: Busy People, SOOP
    Más Menos
    30 m
  • Lipo vs. Tummy Tuck: Which Will Actually Flatten Your Stomach?

    Lipo vs. Tummy Tuck: Which Will Actually Flatten Your Stomach?
    Mar 24 2026
    Lipo or tummy tuck—how do you know which one you need?

    San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar and Monique talk through the difference between liposuction and a tummy tuck, and why the right choice isn’t always obvious. Skin quality, muscle separation, and deeper layers like fascia all play a role in what will give you the result you want.

    They get into body contouring scars, recovery, why “less invasive” doesn’t always mean better, and where options like Renuvion and fat transfer come in.

    If you’re trying to figure out what you really need to make your tummy flatter, this conversation is a good reminder: it’s not one-size-fits-all, and having a surgeon you trust makes all the difference.

    Links

    Read more about La Jolla plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes

    Learn more about tummy tuck and liposuction

    Listen to our episode about Dr. Salazar’s signature BellaButton tummy tuck technique Why Your Belly Button is the Most Important Part of a Tummy Tuck

    Listen to our episode about plastic surgery incisions Why Scars are a Trade-Off You Won’t Regret

    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 LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

    Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

    The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

    Theme music: Busy People, SOOP
    Más Menos
    33 m
  • The Hidden Dangers of Going Outside the US for Plastic Surgery

    The Hidden Dangers of Going Outside the US for Plastic Surgery
    Mar 18 2026
    More than half of people who travel abroad for cosmetic surgery end up needing additional medical care when they return home.

    Monique and Hannah discuss the hidden risks of medical tourism, from missing post-operative care and limited follow-up to the financial fallout when complications happen back in the U.S.

    They also talk about why social media is driving more people to consider surgery overseas, what most people underestimate about recovery, and why researching your surgeon, your facility, and your post-op plan matters just as much as the procedure itself.

    When it comes to plastic surgery, the cheapest option can quickly become the most expensive.

    Links

    Listen to our previous episode, Plastic Surgery Doesn’t End When the Procedure is Over

    American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Medical Tourism for Cosmetic Surgery High Risk of Complications, High Costs for Treatment

    American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Will economic uncertainty drive more patients overseas for plastic surgery? What to consider and how to stretch your dollar back home

    The Guardian, NHS spending up to £19k a time treating people suffering after overseas surgery, research finds

    PubMed Central, Costs Versus Complications: Public Perspectives on International Cosmetic Surgery Tourism

    UT Southwestern Medical Center, Risks to consider before getting plastic surgery abroad

    Learn more about patient safety

    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 LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

    Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

    The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

    Theme music: Busy People, SOOP
    Más Menos
    35 m
  • How Today’s HD Lipo Is Not What It Was Five Years Ago

    How Today’s HD Lipo Is Not What It Was Five Years Ago
    Mar 10 2026
    Dr. Salazar returns to share how HD Lipo has evolved over the last five years and why realistic expectations are just as important as technology.

    Learn about HD Lipo recovery timelines, the importance of compression, how long it takes to see results, and why choosing an experienced plastic surgeon is critical for outcomes that look natural.
    From candidate selection to long-term maintenance, hear Dr. Salazar’s honest look at what HD lipo can and can’t do.

    Links

    Read more about San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Hector Salazar-Reyes

    Learn more about HD lipo

    Listen to our previous episode, Plastic Surgery Doesn’t End When the Procedure is Over

    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 LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

    Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

    The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

    Theme music: Busy People, SOOP
    Más Menos
    38 m
  • How GLP-1s Are Changing Plastic Surgery

    How GLP-1s Are Changing Plastic Surgery
    Mar 3 2026
    One in seven Americans plans to use a GLP-1 by 2026—and it’s already changing plastic surgery.

    Monique talks with Janelle, COO of La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, about how GLP-1 medications are reshaping weight loss, surgical planning, and long-term results.

    Janelle shares her personal experience using low-dose GLP-1s for maintenance, and why they can make weight management feel more sustainable rather than mentally exhausting.

    They discuss why customization matters, how microdosing fits into real life, and what people often get wrong about side effects and stigma. Hear how weight loss ties into surgical outcomes and why physician-led programs make a difference.

    Links

    Read the full story discussed: Plastic Surgery Practice, 1 in 7 Americans Plan To Use GLP-1s in 2026, Survey Finds

    Learn more about the Signature Skinny Shot

    Read our prescription weight loss program reviews

    Watch our silly office video of the Dream Team turning down Crumbl cookies thanks to the Skinny Shot

    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 LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

    Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

    The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

    Theme music: Busy People, SOOP
    Más Menos
    32 m
  • Why Taking Breast Implants Out Can Cost More Than Putting Them In

    Why Taking Breast Implants Out Can Cost More Than Putting Them In
    Feb 24 2026
    Why does breast implant removal sometimes cost as much—or more—than getting implants in the first place? It sounds backwards… until you hear what actually goes into explant surgery.

    Explant surgery isn’t just about removing implants; it’s often about correcting the changes implants cause over time. While simple removal can be straightforward, adding capsule removal requires far more precision and time.

    San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. Luke Swistun explains what happens to the breasts after implants are removed and why removal alone doesn’t always deliver the look women want. Hear how lifts, auto-augmentation, and fat transfer can help restore shape using your own tissue.

    Dr. Swistun walks through how to think about long-term goals, costs, and recovery, and why doing it right the first time can mean fewer surgeries down the road.

    Links

    Meet San Diego explant surgeon Dr. Luke Swistun

    View cosmetic surgery prices and before and after photos at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre

    Listen to our previous episode, Fuller Breasts Using Your Own Tissue? Auto-Augmentation
    Explained

    Listen to our previous episode, What Really Happens to Your Breasts After Implant Removal

    Listen to our previous episode, “Holistic” Explant Surgery: Buzzword or Reality?

    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 LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

    Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

    The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

    Theme music: Busy People, SOOP
    Más Menos
    22 m