Life in Orange County never really slows down, and honestly, that is one of the things I most adore about living here. Even in mid-December, when most of the country is scraping ice off windshields, we’re getting a spell of 80-degree days, palm trees swaying like they did in July, and seemingly endless options to get out and enjoy it all. Over the years in this blog, we have talked about so many of the experiences that make this region such a joy — the ocean, the hiking, the performing arts, the culinary scene. Today, I want to share another gem that is right in our backyard: the Honda Center.

Last weekend, Dr. Ekstrom and I had the absolute pleasure of taking my son, Justin, and two of my grandchildren — nine-year-old Kinley and seven-year-old Colton — to their very first NHL game: Anaheim Ducks vs. Chicago Blackhawks. And I’ll tell you, as much fun as hockey is on its own, nothing compares to watching the game through the eyes of kids seeing it for the first time. Both grandchildren are naturally athletic, already little sports fanatics, so they were instantly captivated — the speed, the skill, the energy of the crowd, all of it pulling them in like magnets.

It helped that the Ducks delivered a lively, high-scoring game, complete with a win and not a single fight — pretty much the ideal introduction to hockey for young fans. But the real highlight, as always, was simply the time together. No matter how often we see the grandkids, it never feels like enough. Moments like these are the ones that stay with you.

Watching Kinley and Colton fall in love with the game also took me back a few decades. When Justin was about their age, Orange County got its very first NHL team. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim joined the league in 1993, owned by the Disney Corporation and inspired by the movie The Mighty Ducks — a film Justin watched more times than I can count. When the team was later sold to the Samueli family and rebranded as the Anaheim Ducks, they went on to win the Stanley Cup in 2007. Not bad for a franchise that’s barely three decades old! And this year, they’re sitting at the top of the Pacific Division — a playoff run seems to be brewing.

If you’re looking for something exciting to do locally — or hunting for a great holiday gift for the sports lover in your life — give the Ducks a shot. You might just create a memory that sticks.

Justin went to more hockey (and basketball, football, baseball) games than he could count as a child but this was grandson, Colton, and granddaughter, Kinley’s first game.

9 year old Kinley showing us that she is ready for Christmas – and almost as tall as Dr. Ekstrom!

During the “Three Stars” presentation, enjoying the game to the very end!

QUIZ OF THE DAY:

When is the most popular time of year for patients to schedule facial rejuvenation surgery?
A. Early Spring
B. Mid-Summer
C. Around the Winter Holidays
D. During Tax Season
E. At the Start of the School Year

If you guessed C. Around the Winter Holidays, you’re absolutely right.

For any of you trying to get on our surgical schedule for the remainder of this year, you already know: we are fully booked until January. In fact, this month alone we are hosting four separate patients from Massachusetts who are flying out specifically for their facial procedures. Every one of those December surgeries, however, was scheduled months in advance—and that’s because late fall and winter are consistently among the busiest times of the year in aesthetic surgery.

Why does the holiday season fill our calendars so quickly? A few reasons stand out.

First, the built-in downtime. Students, teachers, and many professionals enjoy extended breaks during the holidays, making it far easier to schedule a procedure and recover discreetly without taking additional time away from school or work. Many patients appreciate the ability to rest, heal, and return in January looking refreshed without generating questions about their absence.

Second, we often see an upswing in patients whose procedures qualify for insurance coverage, such as certain nasal or breast surgeries. By December, many have already met their annual deductibles and understandably want to take advantage of that before the year resets. This creates additional demand for operative time.

Winter is also the ideal season for healing from facial rejuvenation. The shorter days, lower UV intensity, and cooler weather reduce sun exposure and swelling—key benefits for facelift, eyelid, and skin-resurfacing patients. With less outdoor activity and fewer social commitments than other times of year, December becomes a natural window for recovery.

And finally, there’s a simple psychological factor: the New Year inspires self-improvement. Patients often tell us, “This is the year I’m finally doing something for myself.”

The moral of the story? If you’re hoping to take advantage of the longer breaks around Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, or even the 4th of July, be sure to plan ahead. Our schedules tend to fill several months in advance around Holidays, especially for facelift and other facial rejuvenation procedures.

We’re here to help you achieve your aesthetic goals—beautifully, safely, and on a timeline that works best for you.

One of Dr. Ekstrom’s patients from Massachusetts, seen here before and after a liposuction of the neck. (Actual patient of Dr. Ekstrom.)

61 year old female patient before and after an Upper Lid Blepharoplasty (Eyelid surgery) and Endoscopic Brow Lift by Dr. Deborah Ekstrom to rejuvenate the eye area. (Actual patient of Dr. Deborah Ekstrom of Orange County Plastic Surgery.)

This female in her 40’s presented with neck laxity, accentuated by a weak chin. She is shown here before and after a neck liposuction and insertion of an Implantech Anatomic Chin Implant, size XL. As dramatic as these photos are, especially in the lateral view, the patient related, as most of our patients do, that “no one noticed” when she went back to work, unless she told someone! (Actual patient of facelift surgeon, Dr. Juris Bunkis.)

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.