This past weekend, we celebrated Latvian Independence Day—the 107th anniversary of the founding of the Latvian Republic—at the Latvian Center in Los Angeles. Of those 107 years, Latvians spent 50 under brutal Soviet occupation. Now, with Russia attacking neighboring Ukraine, Latvians cherish their freedom more deeply than ever.

We were honored by a visit from Dr. Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Latvia’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and Kaspars Svilāns, foreign policy advisor to the Parliament. The program included remarks from community leaders, including myself, as well as performances by the Latvian school students, our folk dancers, the Latvian choir, and a visiting orchestra from Latvia playing together with the US Air Force Band. The evening concluded with a dinner and dance, which we missed because we had to take our delegation to our next event, and evening at the Pacific Symphony. We spent Sunday meeting with the leadership of ELNET, a Jewish advocacy group, at the Hillcrest Country Club and with the 3-time Mayor of Beverly Hills, John Mirisch, who opened City Hall for us for a tour and took us to a fabulous lunch in Beverly Hills.

The Latvian Independence Day event was uplifting and unifying. It reminded all of us how precious freedom truly is—whether in Latvia or here in the United States. May we always do everything in our power to protect it.

Photo of the VIP’s before we gave our speeches at the Los Angeles Latvian Center with Lithuanian Consul General, Sandra Brikaite, Dr. Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica, Deputy Speaker of the Latvian Parliament, Davis Reins, president of the LA Latvian Society, Dr. Ekstrom and Jaak Treiman, Estonia Consul.

Latvian folk dancers at the Latvian Center

Dr. Ekstrom and I with Dr. Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Beverly Hills Council Member and 3-time Mayor, John Mirisch, and Kaspars Svilāns, foreign policy advisor to the Parliament.

Let’s start with a quick quiz:

Which of the following is NOT a common sign of aging in the hands?
A. Skin thinning
B. Pronounced veins and tendons
C. Loss of subcutaneous volume
D. Increased nail growth
E. Pigmentation changes

Correct answer: D. Increased nail growth

The hands often reveal our age sooner than the face. Over time, we experience skin thinning, sun-induced pigmentation, and loss of subcutaneous tissue, which exposes veins, tendons, and bony structures. While skin quality can be improved with medical-grade skincare, chemical peels, and lasers, the most transformative option for aging hands is microfat grafting.

During this minimally invasive procedure, a small amount of fat is harvested from an area such as the abdomen or thighs, processed, and precisely injected into the dorsum of the hands. This added volume softens prominent veins and tendons, restoring a smoother, more youthful appearance.

Ideal candidates are healthy individuals with visible hand skeletonization or volume loss who desire natural-looking rejuvenation. Results are immediate, long-lasting, and require little downtime.

Microfat grafting is another powerful tool in our aesthetic armamentarium—helping our patients look as vibrant on the outside as they feel on the inside.

This 58-year-old patient presented to Dr. Deborah Ekstrom of Orange County Plastic Surgery for consideration of hand rejuvenation. She is shown here before and after a microfat grafting procedure to the dorsum of her hands. She was thrilled with the results of this surgery with Dr. Ekstrom! (Actual patient of Dr. Deborah Ekstrom.)

Orange County Plastic Surgery at CosmetiCare
1101 Bayside Drive, Suite 200
Corona del Mar, CA 92625

Take the elevator to the second floor (Suite 200) and check in with the front desk for your consultation or follow-up.
Free Parking Available.