+1 (858) 555-0142|7821 Girard Ave, Suite 200, La Jolla, CA
Mon–Sat 9–7 · Closed Sunday|Serving Coastal San Diego County
Marea
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A note on our practice

We're here for the long, quiet result.

Marea was founded on the belief that aesthetic medicine, done well, should not announce itself.

Origin

A different kind of medspa.

Dr. Elena Marquez opened Marea in 2017 after a decade in internal medicine. She had noticed, treating patients in academic clinics in the morning and at a medspa one evening a week, that the aesthetic industry was drifting toward volume — and that her quietest patients, the ones who asked the most thoughtful questions, were not being served by it.

Nine years on, the practice is still small by design. We treat fewer patients than we could. What we offer instead is care that compounds — protocols refined over many visits by the same provider, treating skin we know well.

What we hold

Four principles, observed.

01

Conservative by default.

We treat less, more often. A second appointment is always available; a reversal often is not.

01

Continuity over convenience.

Patients see the same provider visit after visit. We do not staff our practice with rotating contractors.

01

Documentation, always.

Standardized lighting, three angles, every visit. So you can see what we see.

01

No quotas, no pressure.

If a treatment isn't right for you yet, we say so. Our providers are salaried, not commissioned.

The Team

Who you'll see.

A small bench of board-certified providers and licensed clinicians — the same faces, visit after visit.

Dr. Elena Marquez

MD, FACP · Founder & Medical Director

Stanford-trained internist; aesthetic medicine specialist since 2014. Allergan Medical Institute mentor faculty.

Sophie Chen

MSN, NP-C · Master Injector

Eleven years of injectables experience. Galderma Premier & Allergan Diamond. Lip and chin specialist.

Naomi Rivera

LE, CLT · Lead Aesthetician

Licensed corneotherapist. Leads our microneedling, peel, and laser resurfacing protocols.

Hannah Park

PA-C · Injector

Dermatology-trained physician assistant. Six years aesthetic experience. Particular focus on neck and jaw contouring.

Mei Watanabe

RN, BSN · IV & Wellness

Critical-care trained RN. Leads our IV therapy and NAD+ protocols in the seaview infusion lounge.

James Okafor

Patient Experience Lead

Eight years in luxury hospitality. Coordinates new-patient visits, scheduling, and the Tide Club membership.

The Studio

Two blocks from the cove.

Our studio occupies the second floor of a 1924 building on Girard Avenue, with original Douglas fir floors, four private treatment rooms, and a small upstairs infusion lounge that overlooks the rooftops down to the water.

The space was designed by Anna Llopis at Estudio Marejada in 2020 — lime-washed plaster, oak, brushed brass, and a quiet acoustic envelope. We chose materials that would soften, not chip, over time.

4
Private treatment rooms
2,400
Sq ft over two floors

As mentioned in

Vogue Allure The Cut San Diego Magazine Coastal Living RealSelf

Visit

Meet us in person.

Every new patient begins with a 45-minute consultation. Same-week appointments are sometimes available.