La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre

Dr. Lori H. Saltz

Lori H. Saltz, M.D., is the senior surgeon and Medical Director of La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre. She is a highly experienced cosmetic surgeon with a strong following of highly satisfied breast, body, and facial surgery patients.

Dr. Saltz also brings the perspective of a female plastic surgeon. Skilled in many areas of plastic surgery, she has the largest cosmetic breast practice at the Centre having completed over 3000 breast surgery cases since she joined LJCSC in 1990. Her practice has grown over the years because her patients refer their friends and family and return themselves for "age-related maintenance".

"The word I live by is balance. It's important at every level of existence--personal, professional, and global. I strive to balance your wishes with what's possible. Then I help you balance what's possible with your budget. What I try to do is to balance yourself inside and out. The results I like best look natural and harmonious not overdone."

Dr. Saltz comes from an accomplished family of physicians. Her father and brother are both surgeons in Portland, Oregon, specializing in diseases of the ear, nose, and throat. Her mother is a professional designer and seamstress. Learning the complexity and beauty of sewing from her mother and grandmother helped her in later years to win local and national recognition for French hand sewing. Dr. Saltz brings the same intensity and level of detail to the operating room as she does to her needlework. She is a true perfectionist and is not satisfied until it looks exactly right.

Within this talented and thoughtful environment, Dr. Saltz decided with certainty at a very young age to become a surgeon. Her passion for structure, delicate work, and human interaction came into clear focus through her medical education, where she earned high praise for her attentive surgical technique.

"My interest in facial work has increased with the advancements in fillers, volumizers, and lasers, and how they integrate to address the three main components of facial aging: excess skin, loss of volume, and the skin's texture."

Dr. Saltz is board certified in cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. She is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Saltz completed ten years of medical and surgical training. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Stanford University in 1976, and her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Oregon in 1980. She then trained for three years in general surgery at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, and completed a three-year residency in plastic surgery - a year more than the two years required in this specialty - at Loyola University Medical Center in the Chicago suburb of Maywood, Illinois, in 1986.

Dr. Saltz and her husband Steven, a board certified anesthesiologist, have resided in San Diego's North County since 1986. Their two children, Jonathan and Gillian are now in college. Dr. Saltz and her family enjoy activities like hiking, bird watching, and traveling to exotic locations.

Education
M.D. Oregon Health Sciences Center, 1980
B.S. Stanford University, 1976

Postgraduate Training
Plastic Surgery Resident
Loyola University, 1983-1986
Senior Surgery Resident
Mt. Sinai Medical Center, 1982-1983
Junior Surgery Resident
Mt. Sinai Medical Center, 1980-1982

Certification
Diplomate, National Board of Medical Examiners
Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery

Memberships
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Dr. Johan E. Brahme

My philosophy in patient care is essentially the application of the Golden Rule…to care for every single patient the way I would want my own family to be treated. My team and I make you the center of your plastic surgery experience. It is about your body, your life, your desires and your decisions. You will find us honest, caring, highly experienced and qualified; ask anyone who has been here.

I was born into a family of physicians and spent all my young life around doctors and hospitals. I was born and raised in Malmo, Sweden. My father often took me to work with him when I was a small boy. I loved the way that good doctors were able to comfort and help the patients. When it came time for me to choose a career, there was no doubt in my mind that medicine was my path. I always loved science, art and people... What better way to spend my life than practicing medicine. And plastic surgery in particular.

Doctor in the making, Dr. Brahme investigating his father's stethoscope My family immigrated to the United States when I was in high school. We settled in San Diego, where my father was a professor at the UCSD medical school. Later, I went to UCSD myself both as a medical student and in plastic surgery. While I was training in plastic surgery, I became involved in a program called Interface, which focuses on providing cleft lip and palate surgery to poor children in Mexico. We travel to small clinics all over Mexico and perform life-changing operations. To this day, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. To light up a child’s face with a new smile is a gift I am glad that I am able to give.

After completing UCSD, I decided to stay in San Diego and open my practice. I remained on the faculty at UCSD, advising and teaching residents. After a few years in solo practice, I was invited to join the prestigious La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre. I am happy to be part of the practice which was voted the best cosmetic surgery practice in San Diego in 2008. I have served as President of the San Diego Plastic Surgery Society and continue to be involved in the international outreach program Interface.

On the personal side, I have been married for 22 years to an exceptional woman, a physician and the mother of our two children, Lucas, 15 and Alexandra, 13. I play music with my kids and my father and am on the Board of Directors of the La Jolla Music Society. My passions are music, traveling, my family and plastic surgery. I welcome you to the La Jolla Plastic Surgery Centre and look forward to meeting you and discussing your desires and goals.

Education
1973-77 University of California, San Diego
1977-79 University of Michigan, School of Medicine
1979-81 M.D., University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
1981-82 Internship, University of California, San Diego, Department of Surgery
1982-87 Resident, General Surgery, UCSD Medical Center
1987-89 Clinical Instructor, Fellow in Surgical Oncology, UCSD Medical Center
1989-90 Hand Fellowship, Joseph H. Boyes Memorial Fellowship, Orthopedic Hospital, Los Angeles, California
1990-91 Resident, Division of Plastic Surgery, UCSD Medical Center
1991-92 Chief Resident , Division of Plastic Surgery, UCSD Medical Center
1992 Clinical Instructor, Division of Plastic Surgery, UCSD School of Medicine
1999 Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery (non-salaried), UCSD School of Medicine

Board Certification
American Board of Surgery, 1990
American Board of Plastic Surgery, 1994

Professional Societies
American Society for Plastic Surgery (ASPS), Active Member
San Diego Society of Plastic Surgery, Active Member, President
California Medical Association, Active Member
San Diego Medical Society, Active Member

Dr. Joseph L. Grzeskiewicz

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.

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

Dr. H. Michael Roark

H. Michael Roark, M.D. is La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre's Medical Director and has many years experience as a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. He is the immediate past founding Medical Director of The Alvarado Institute of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Dr. Roark obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Calgary after graduating from the Oregon State University. Dr. Roark completed his General Surgery and Plastic Surgery residencies at the University of Toronto's famed Gallie postgraduate surgical program.

Board certified in general and plastic surgery, Dr. Roark is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).

Dr. Roark has had extensive experience in performing all cosmetic procedures of the face and body. He has a particular interest in the middle face lift and finds that a mid-face lift procedure combined with a classic face lift procedure creates dramatic, enhanced results.

A life-long student, Dr. Roark participates in continuing medical education to incorporate the latest knowledge and techniques for optimal surgical care. Additionally, Dr. Roark has studied extensively the new science of natural hormone replacement therapy as an advance in medicine to restore energy, youthfulness and vitality.

A skier, avid scuba diver and photographer, Dr. Roark enjoys travel. He discovered the flavors of Provence at a cooking school in the south of France. Dr. Roark is married to the love of his life, Margaret. They share their happy home with a Yorkie, "Mila", and a calico cat, "Riley".

Education
Associate in Arts Grossmont College, 1964
Bachelor of Science Oregon State University, 1966
Doctor of Medicine University of Calgary, 1975

Certifications
1975 Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada
1980 Fellow Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, General Surgery
1981 Certified Specialist in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery
1982 General License, Physician and Surgeon, Province of Ontario Certified, Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX)
1983 General License, Physician and Surgeon, California (active), New York (inactive)
1984 Certified Specialist in Plastic Surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

Memberships
1981-1982 Senior Residents Section, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
1983 San Diego County Medical Society
1984 California Medical Society
San Diego Plastic Surgery Society - Vice President, 1997, President, 1998
1985 American Society of Plastic Surgeons Lipoplasty Society
1986 California Society of Plastic Surgery
1995 American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Dr. R. Merrel Olesen

In 1988, R. Merrel Olesen, MD founded La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre (LJCSC) to meet the unique needs of the cosmetic surgery patient. He wanted to create a special place where doctors, nurses and administrative staff work as a team to not only provide quality surgical results but also a wonderful patient experience. Today, LJCSC is one of the premier cosmetic surgery practices not only in San Diego, but is known nationally for the quality of its patient care and communication. In 2008, readers of the San Diego Union Tribune voted LJCSC as San Diego's Best Cosmetic Surgery Center.

Dr. Olesen is known for his industry-transforming work in patient and peer education. LJCSC began patient satisfaction surveys in the late 1980's and determined that cosmetic patients wanted more information and better communication. Dr. Olesen then authored informed consent and patient communication materials that have been translated into five languages and are being used by over 1100 plastic surgeons in the U.S. and around the globe.

With his wife, Marie, a nationally-known cosmetic surgery consultant, Dr. Olesen authored Cosmetic Surgery For Dummies, a guidebook for cosmetic surgery consumers.

To enable La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre and other plastic surgery practices to improve patient education and communication, Dr. Olesen also founded a cosmetic surgery software and consulting company, Inform Solutions, which was acquired in 2003 by Mentor Corporation, the industry leader in aesthetic medical devices.

Dr. Olesen is also noted for his volunteer work at La Mesa Penitentiary in Tijuana Mexico, where for ten years, he donated his reconstructive surgical skills to prisoners with congenital or acquired deformities. He worked with Sister Antonia Brenner, an American Catholic nun who is known worldwide for her work in this prison. He and his wife Marie continue to support her work to this day.

Dr. Olesen appeared on "Good Morning America" and numerous television and talk shows. He has also been featured on programs prepared by the BBC in both England and Australia. National print coverage has included Parade, USA Today and Harper's Bazaar.

Prior to founding La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, Dr. Olesen was head of Plastic Surgery at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation for eight years. He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Medical Specialties in Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology (head and neck surgery). Dr. Olesen completed surgical residencies at the University of Michigan and Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, NYC. He attended medical school at Loma Linda University where he was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, compromised of the top 10% of medical students. Dr. Olesen, a former president of the San Diego Plastic Surgery Society, has been a clinical instructor for plastic surgery at the University of California at San Diego since 1970.

Dr Olesen retired from active practice in 2005. He continues to be interested in the Centre and misses his colleagues and wonderful staff. He serves as Chairman of the Board at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre.

Dr. Olesen is enjoying retirement with his wife, Marie. They can often be found walking the Shores with their dogs, Bingo and Yogi. Dr. Olesen loves reading, golf, traveling, cribbage and card games of all sorts. He is the proud father of three and grandfather of two granddaughters who like to play Mexican Train dominos with him and Marie. He studied in France as a youth and keeps his French up-to-date with regular French conversational groups.