5 Codes Podcast

Odcinki

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  EP 30: The New Era of the Deep Plane Facelift | DEEP FOCUS 15.09.2026 38min

  In this episode, I break down the new era of the deep plane facelift and neck lift, exploring what has changed, where the field is going, and why not all deep plane facelifts are created equal. This procedure has evolved more in the last four or five years than it did over the century before, and the gap between an average result and a truly exceptional one has never been wider. We dive into the evolution from skin only lifts to SMAS lifts to the modern preservation style deep plane approach,...
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  EP 29: Same Patient, Two Surgeries, One Wild Coincidence | OR DIARIES 08.09.2026 9min

  In this episode, I take you into the operating room for a revision facelift that turned into one of those "what are the odds" situations you couldn't script if you tried. My patient had a deep plane facelift eighteen months earlier on the other side of the country, and she came to me with a smile block and a visible line down her face that her original surgeon recognized but couldn't explain. The moment I saw her, I knew exactly what had happened. We get into the technical reality of what a d...
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  EP 28: How NanoVi Fits Into My Optimized Recovery Protocol | Rowena Gates 01.09.2026 48min

  In this episode, I sit down with Rowena Gates to explore a key element of my optimized recovery protocol: the NanoVi, a device that uses specific wavelengths to create structured, ordered water that helps proteins fold and function the way the body intends. These protein functions sit at the foundation of nearly everything that matters after surgery, from cellular energy to immune response to how well the body repairs itself. We dive into how the NanoVi works at a molecular level, why oxygen...
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  EP 27: The White Belt Mentality | OR DIARIES 25.08.2026 13min

  In this episode, I share a recent full facial rejuvenation case where a patient's unusual venous anatomy forced me to make a decision in the operating room that I had not made in fifteen years. Rather than sacrifice a spiderweb of veins to take my standard approach, I reached back to a lateral technique I had learned during my fellowship at UCLA, one that had been sitting dormant since my training days. I dive into what that moment taught me about curiosity, mastery, and what I call the white...
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  EP 26: Creatine Is More Than Just a Muscle Supplement | DEEP FOCUS 18.08.2026 25min

  In this episode, I explore one of the most misunderstood molecules in medicine: creatine. Most people think of it purely as a muscle-building supplement, but its real power lies in something far broader. Creatine builds a reservoir of energy that any tissue in the body can draw on when demand spikes, whether that's the brain, the immune system, or the body healing from surgery. We dive into the science of how creatine restores ATP, why I've come to view surgery as a metabolic stress rather t...
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  EP 25: Comfort vs Competency | OR DIARIES 11.08.2026 10min

  In this episode, I share the story of the friend surgeon, a case involving a fellow physician who came to me for a complex revision after a procedure performed by a local plastic surgeon she knew and trusted. Her results included asymmetric brows and eyelids, hollowed upper lids, a bony growth on her forehead, and one of the most dreaded complications of all, lower eyelid retraction that required a graft from her hard palate to correct. We dive into why intelligent, educated people make pred...
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  EP 24: From Friends to Business Partners | Tyler Alvarado 04.08.2026 1godz 22min

  In this episode, I sit down with one of my best friends, my business partner, and my training partner, Tyler Alvarado. Tyler is a CPA turned serial entrepreneur who once led a next-level tech startup out of Coeur d'Alene, and he brought that same startup mindset into helping build our practice from the inside out. We trace how our relationship evolved from two dads crossing paths at a coffee shop and a kids' soccer team, into training partners grinding through the pain cave, into business pa...
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  EP 23: What I Wish Everyone Knew About Filler | DEEP FOCUS 28.07.2026 1godz

  In this episode, I take a deep focus on one of the most controversial topics in aesthetics: dermal filler, and specifically the hyaluronic acid gel fillers that have exploded in popularity over the past decade. These products were long sold on a set of assumptions that they were temporary, inert, stable, and easily reversible, but nearly all of those assumptions have turned out to need serious qualification. I walk through what recent research and my own daily observations have revealed abou...
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  EP 22: Things That Age You Faster | OR DIARIES 21.07.2026 18min

  In this episode, I explore the counterintuitive ways certain treatments people turn to for anti-aging can actually accelerate the aging process. I use a real patient story, a woman in her early forties who ended up needing surgery earlier than expected, to walk through how filler, tightening devices like ultrasound and radiofrequency, liposuction, Kybella, and weight loss peptides can all leave lasting structural changes in the face and neck. I get into why a youthful face is elastic rather ...
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  EP 21: What Happens to Filler After a Decade? | OR DIARIES 14.07.2026 18min

  In this episode, I share a rare and revealing case: a patient I've followed for ten years, with over twenty sets of high-quality photos documenting her natural progression from filler to full surgical rejuvenation. Through her story, I break down what actually happens to hyaluronic acid filler over time - including uncomfortable truths that challenge some long-held assumptions in our field: that filler doesn't just sit still, that dissolution doesn't make it disappear, and that "poor placemen...
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  EP 20: Marriage, Medicine & Everything In Between | Aubree Chesnut, PA-C 23.06.2026 1godz 18min

  In this episode, I sit down with my wife, Aubree, for a candid and fun conversation answering your most requested questions. We share the story of how we met, what we've learned through marriage and parenthood, our perspectives on health, beauty, and family life, and the daily habits that help keep us connected and growing together. From relationship advice and parenting lessons to rapid-fire questions and behind-the-scenes stories, this episode offers an authentic look into our life beyond ...
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  EP 19: The Patient I Almost Refused to Operate On | OR DIARIES 16.06.2026 14min

  In this episode, I explore one of the most important and often overlooked factors in aesthetic surgery: the relationship between surgeon and patient. Through a personal story about a patient I initially declined to operate on, I break down how expectations, recovery readiness, trust, communication, and long-term alignment can ultimately determine the success of a facial rejuvenation journey. CONNECT WITH HOST Website: https://clinic5c.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/che...
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  EP 18: How Surgery Triggers Inflammation and Healing | DEEP FOCUS 09.06.2026 29min

  In this episode, I explore a little-known biological pathway that may have a major impact on surgical recovery: DAMPs, or damage-associated molecular patterns. These molecular signals help the body recognize injury and initiate healing, but they also influence inflammation, nervous system stress, recovery timelines, and overall resilience after surgery. We dive into how surgical technique, tissue handling, heat-based devices, and anesthesia can affect these signaling pathways, as well as why...
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  EP 17: Maintaining Eye Character | OR DIARIES 02.06.2026 13min

  In this episode, I explore a question that sits at the heart of aesthetic medicine: what makes someone look like themselves? Using a fascinating patient case involving a former model and actress, I break down why some features commonly labeled as "flaws" are actually defining characteristics that create identity, attractiveness, and recognition. We dive into facial aging, eye aesthetics, ptosis, scleral show, eyelid surgery, volume loss, and the difference between rejuvenation and transforma...
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  EP 16: Why Optimal Health Starts with Root Cause Medicine | Leah Streich PA-C 26.05.2026 1godz 31min

  In this episode, Leah Streich, PA - Dr. Chesnut’s personal medical provider - breaks down the hidden drivers behind fatigue, hormone imbalance, poor recovery, metabolic dysfunction, and why so many people still struggle despite “normal” lab work. We explore GLP-1 medications, hormones, birth control, toxin exposure, advanced blood testing, genetics, methylation, supplementation, blood pressure, and the role personalized medicine plays in optimizing health, body composition, and longevity. If ...
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  EP 15: Why Choosing The Right Support Person Matters | OR DIARIES 19.05.2026 11min

  In this episode, I explore the hidden psychology that can unfold around major decisions, especially when identity, appearance, and social dynamics collide. Using a real patient story, I break down the cognitive biases that shape how people justify choices, project insecurities, and subtly influence those around them during vulnerable moments. We dive into cognitive dissonance, choice-supportive bias, emotional sabotage, and the social forces that quietly impact confidence, relationships, and ...
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  EP 14: How I Protect the Brain During Surgery (My Anesthesia Protocol) | DEEP FOCUS 12.05.2026 33min

  What if surgery didn’t have to come at the cost of your brain, recovery, or long-term performance? In this episode, we break down an anesthesia and pain management protocol designed to protect neurocognition, minimize risk, and optimize recovery - without relying on opioids, benzodiazepines, or routine general anesthesia. You’ll learn how a more intentional, physiology-first approach can improve outcomes, reduce side effects, and align surgical care with long-term health instead of short-term...
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  EP 13: How Stress and Cortisol Accelerate Facial Aging | OR DIARIES 05.05.2026 8min

  In this episode, I share a powerful case from the operating room that highlights how chronic stress, trauma, and elevated cortisol can rapidly accelerate facial aging. I break down the physiology behind stress hormones, metabolic health, tissue quality, and why your face often reflects what’s happening internally long before labs do. You’ll learn why surgery alone isn’t always the answer, the importance of addressing root causes, and how to think about aging through a more holistic, biology-f...
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  EP 12: Laser Specialist Reveals the Truth About Anti-Aging Devices | Dr. Ryan Kelm 28.04.2026 1godz 28min

  In this episode, Dr. Ryan Kelm, Harvard-trained laser specialist and cosmetic surgeon, breaks down what actually works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to devices, longevity science, and modern facial rejuvenation. We explore cellular senescence, regenerative approaches like fat transfer, and how surgical thinking is evolving to integrate technology without compromising outcomes. If you want a clear, evidence-based perspective on the future of aesthetics, and the biggest mistakes to avoid wit...
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  EP 11: The Surgical Reality of Thread Lifts | OR DIARIES 21.04.2026 7min

  In this episode, I break down what I’m actually seeing in the operating room when patients have had prior thread lifts. From persistent foreign material and linear fibrosis to biofilm-related inflammation that can flare after surgery. I explain why threads often fail to deliver meaningful lift, how they can complicate future procedures, and the long-term tissue changes they may leave behind. You’ll learn the real risks that don’t get talked about, what happens beneath the skin years later, an...