Are you thinking about facial rejuvenation? If you start with a visit to a plastic surgeon, more than likely he’ll offer a surgical solution. Likewise, if you visit a dermatologist, you’ll be told that a laser treatment is your best option. When a surgeon recommends surgery for facial rejuvenation or a dermatologist recommends the laser, they are both using their “toolbox.” Remember the saying: If you only have a hammer, then all the world’s a nail.

So what’s our advice after 23 years of performing cosmetic surgery and 7 years of offering cosmetic dermatology? Do your research. Recognize that surgery and laser solve different aspects of facial rejuvenation.

There are many motivations for considering cosmetic surgery. For Audrey, it was recovering after the loss of her husband. She also moved to San Diego to be closer to her son.

As Audrey dealt with her husband’s death and her relocation, her appearance changed. Looking in the mirror, she noticed her eyes were “so tired and wrinkled”. She decided she wanted her former confidence back.

Audrey called LJCSC asking to see Dr. Johan Brahme about an eyelid lift and a tummy tuck, too, “From there, I made what I truly believe was the best choice I’ve ever made”. Audrey felt confident and “excited” when she left the Centre. She knew she’d selected a great surgeon who really listened to her.

Susie had wanted cosmetic facial surgery for a number of years. “My mirror was no longer a friend of mine,” Susie said. “I didn’t like looking at loose skin, especially under my chin. Also, I have lots of energy and I didn’t want to continue to look older than I felt.”

Her son was getting married. What mother of the groom doesn’t want to look better in pictures? After making the decision to explore her options for looking younger, Susie’s challenge was that many things were going on in her life all at the same time. There was a vacation, a new grandson, quitting her job to be the “Granny Nanny” for him, and time to heal before the wedding.

Mothers and daughters have always shared a special bond. It’s as much about family dynamics and handed-down recipes as it is about shared experiences and perspectives. For Kelly and her mom Becky, that bond grew recently to include not only the choice of plastic surgery, but also the selection of the same plastic surgeon—Dr. Joseph L. Grzeskiewicz.

Kelly wanted a breast augmentation, and Becky decided to finally get the facelift she’d been thinking about. “Dr. G,” as his patients fondly call him, was the perfect choice for this mother-daughter duo. Kelly said, “Dr. G was extremely professional and gained my trust immediately.” Becky agreed. “He never ceased to answer all my questions. I was impressed.”

Ginny had a facelift ten years ago. She enjoyed her more youthful look for many years, but time and gravity took their toll. She wanted a “refresher” but her doctor had retired. As luck would have it, she ran into her surgeon, Dr. Merrel Olesen, at a duplicate bridge game. Ginny immediately asked Dr. Olesen what to do. He agreed that she was ready for a touch-up and recommended her return to LJCSC.

South African born Susan’s life is never dull. While maintaining a web design business and sailing on the competitive circuit, she is also a single mom. In the last 15 years of living in the U.S., Susan has developed a passion for sailing. She has done everything from LEMWOD to Newport to Ensenada (twice!) in the Long Beach Yacht club, an all-women’s match race on the Catalina 37s.

Susan promised she would have cosmetic surgery done before her fiftieth birthday. When the time came, she kept her promise and decided on a facelift and breast augmentation. Choosing the right surgeon was of utmost importance to her.

by Johan E. Brahme, MD

Dr. Johan Brahme

A recent article in the blog “mashedplastic” (link below) explores the unique features of facial aging. We used to think that all components of the face (cheeks, chin, jowls, neck, eyes, and forehead, etc.) aged in a uniform, predictable manner.

However, in reality what we are finding is that is that in some people the neck tends to age more than the eyes, or the cheeks tend to fall more than the forehead. The cause of this is poorly understood but may relate to genetics. It is only reasonable to suspect that if your mother or father had a “turkey neck” you may be at risk for this as well, if you look like them to begin with.

From the time Judith was a teenager, she was unhappy with her body. She felt she had a boyish figure being thin with a small chest “As I grew up, I never felt like I had a woman’s body and it bothered me all the time. I spent a lot of time trying to hide my body with loose clothing and padded bras and even found it hard to look at myself in the mirror.”

If Suzanne’s friends and family were to vote someone “least likely to have cosmetic surgery,” she would have been the winner. Never much into primping or giving attention to her appearance, one day Suzanne hit a turning point.

“I would have to say that there comes a moment when you catch a glance of yourself in the mirror and think, who is that old woman?,” she states as she recalls her father affectionately calling her mother “the lion” because of her wrinkles and loose skin.

There seems to be a point when the face or body in the mirror feels out of sync with inner feelings or desires. Julie remembers experiencing those exact emotions. “I’m realistic. I wasn’t wanting to look 20 years younger, but I knew that my face wasn’t representing the real me.”

Like many patients, several years after her first laser procedure, Julie decided that tightening the skin on her face would enhance her appearance. She didn’t have to go far to find the perfect plastic surgeon for her surgery. Julie consulted with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph Grzeskiewicz (“Dr. G”).

Lauren, 66 years old, lived in Los Angeles for several years of her adult life. She owned her very own hair salon for over 25 years and then moved to San Diego to retire and be near her two children. She enjoys watching movies, reading, and going to the beach—especially to catch the sunsets. Lauren was referred to LJCSC by a friend when she decided to have plastic surgery.

“My neck was always an eyesore for me. I always felt younger than my age.”

When asked how her surgery has improved her life, Lauren replied, “Tremendously.”