Committed to enriching the lives of his patients

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
Joseph L. Grzeskiewicz, M.D., F.A.C.S.

La Jolla plastic surgeon Dr. Grzeskiewicz (pronounced Gres`/ke/witz) shares his philosophy of medicine and information about his education and training:

My Philosophy

How do I summarize my philosophy in a word? Commitment.

My life has been underscored by a commitment to become the best physician that I can be. It started when I was three years old. My family doctor let me listen to my heart through his stethoscope. That year for Christmas my parents gave me my own real stethoscope. As I listened to my father’s heart that Christmas, my calling to be a doctor was ignited. Later in tutoring other students and as an Eagle Scout, I realized the joy of helping others. My career in medicine is the natural outcome of these two forces -- fascination with the human organism and my joy in helping others to be the best that they can be. I create “possibility” for my patients, and I do that through my personal commitment to them.

Dr. G. gets his first real stethoscope at age 2 1/2

Commitment to my San Diego plastic surgery patients:

My patients are not just clients. A relationship between me and my patient is more than a merchant-consumer transaction. It is not an employer-employee association. It is a partnership forged in trust and honest communication for the purpose of enriching your life. I strive to bring commitment to my relationships with my patients. I listen thoughtfully, understand what my patients want, and I commit myself to making that happen.

I want you to know that indescribable feeling of knowing you have selected the right path. You should be comfortable discussing your most difficult topics. I want you to have the peace of mind that someone is caring for you and shouldering the burden.

Commitment to professional excellence:

The three most important traits I need as a plastic surgeon are surgical skill, judgment and creativity. I continue to learn because of my commitment to education and training. I work hard to stay abreast of the latest information and technology. My continuing quest is to understand the aesthetic ideals of beauty in the human form. I am fascinated by the rare combination of artistic expression and scientific analysis that plastic surgery offers.

I specialize in cosmetic plastic surgery including body contouring, facial rejuvenation, rhinoplasty, and breast lift, breast reduction, and breast augmentation, San Diego / La Jolla.

Commitment to integrity:

We operate our La Jolla plastic surgery practice with integrity and fairness. Our fees are reasonable and competitive. We use marketing to communicate, never to manipulate.

We strive to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ethics. We want you to be happy when you select us for your surgical care. When you place your trust in us, we take it very seriously. We believe in the Hippocratic Oath.

Education and Training

After graduating from college, I received a U.S. Navy Health ProfessionsScholarship to medical school.  I earned my medical degree from theprestigious University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville,Virginia.

• Surgical Internship: 1987 U.S. Naval Hospital San Diego. The Navy then selected me for the U.S. Naval Aerospace Medicine Institute in Pensacola, Florida where I completed training to become a Navy Flight Surgeon. I served another three and one half years as a Flight Surgeon with the U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton, California with overseas assignments to Asia. In 1992, I became a Lieutenant Commander and served as Medical Department Head of Marine Aircraft Group 39.   It was then that I decided to leave the Navy to pursue my dream of becoming a plastic surgeon.
• Integrated Program, General and Plastic Surgery: Following my time in the Navy, I joined the staff at The University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics in Columbia, Missouri.  There I trained in general surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and microsurgery with Dr. C. Lin Puckett, Past Chairman of The American Board of Plastic Surgery and Past President of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons. One of the highlights of my residency training was achieving successive scores in the 99th percentile on the annual national in-service examination during each year of my plastic surgery residency.
• Preceptorship, Aesthetic Surgery: Miami, FL. My preceptorship in aesthetic surgery was under the guidance of internationally renowned facial rejuvenation experts, Drs. Thomas Baker and James Stuzin.  
• Postgraduate Surgical Training - When I finished my residency in 1998, I returned to my alma mater, The University of Virginia, for my eighth year of postgraduate surgical training with Dr. Raymond Morgan and Dr. Frank McCue. 
• Private Practice: I entered private practice in La Jolla in 1999. I joined LJCSC in 2005. 
• Board Certification - The American Board of Plastic Surgery
• Memberships
  • The American Society of Plastic Surgeons
  • Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
  • The California Medical Association
  • The San Diego Plastic Surgery Society
  • The San Diego County Medical Society
• Affiliations
  • Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, medical staff

View Dr. Grzeskiewicz's Breast Augmentation Patient Photos

View Dr. Grzeskiewicz's Breast Lift Patient Photos

View Dr. Grzeskiewicz's Rhinoplasty Patient Photos

Meet Dr. Grzeskiewicz

• See Dr. Grzeskiewicz's Video

Dr. Grzeskiewicz's Curriculum Vitae

• Learn more about Dr. Grzeskiewicz's extensive training and experience in his Curriculum Vitae
• more information coming soon