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Safe & Effective Medical Treatments to Mask Your Real Age
Just because aging is a natural process doesn’t mean you can’t turn back the clock. Today’s medical advancements offer safe, non-invasive anti-aging treatments to help you look as youthful as you feel. But how do you know which treatments are best for your skin? Start by seeking the ones that are doctor-directed and backed by science.
At Contemporary Health Center in Fort Myers and Naples, FL, we specialize in helping our patients go from unsure to confident. For many, this process begins with helping them restore their youthful and energized selves through safe and effective medical treatments.
The Best Facial Treatments for Aging Skin
We undergo changes that affect our skin texture and appearance as we age. The most noticeable signs of aging skin are wrinkles, sagging and loss of volume. While topical skincare products can help, they may not produce the lasting effects you desire. However, there are better under-eye wrinkle treatments, forehead wrinkle treatments and neck treatments for sagging skin.
These medical procedures are safe and non-surgical. And best of all, they can be administered under the supervision of a doctor for the best and most effective results.
The most significant benefit of the top anti-aging treatments is that they address the root cause of aging skin. So whether you’re dealing with fine lines around your eyes, noticeable forehead wrinkles or a sagging jawline, there’s a solution that’s right for you. Below, we’ll dive into the most effective anti-aging treatments that you can use to mask your real age.1. Botox
There’s a reason why Botox is one of the most popular anti-aging treatments; it delivers noticeable results without the need for surgery or any downtime. As a wrinkle-removing treatment, it works by making the targeted facial muscles more relaxed. This results in softened expression lines, making you look like your youthful self.
Botox works as a subtle yet effective way to rejuvenate your appearance and restore your confidence. This anti-wrinkle injection is a trusted choice by doctors because it has a well-established safety profile and allows for precise, customizable results. And Botox is also a fantastic wrinkle-removing treatment for patients, as it allows them to refresh their look without compromising their natural expression.
Doctors can use Botox in several key areas of the face, especially areas that commonly develop fine lines and
wrinkles.Botox for Forehead Wrinkles
Deep lines can form on your forehead from repetitive facial expressions, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with them. Botox for forehead wrinkles helps relax the muscles that cause those lines, giving you a smoother, more refreshed look.
Botox for Under-Eye Wrinkles
Tired of those tired-looking wrinkles that distract from the natural beauty of your eyes? Botox for under-eye wrinkles can reduce the appearance of crow’s feet, giving you a refreshed, youthful look.
2. Dermal Fillers
Not all wrinkles are caused by muscle movement. Some of the most stubborn wrinkles are created by volume loss, which can naturally occur as we age. These are the cases where dermal fillers work best. As one of the most effective anti-aging treatments available, you can use dermal fillers for wrinkles to restore lost volume. This works by filling in the sections beneath the skin’s surface and plumping areas that are beginning to sag or hollow.
Dermal fillers are a favorite among doctors and patients because they provide immediate results. They create a smoother, more youthful appearance around the mouth and mid-face. For those concerned with under-eye aging, dermal fillers for eye wrinkles can be a game-changer. They can reduce the appearance of tired eyes by restoring volume to hollowing areas. So, whether you’re looking to soften deep folds or improve facial contours, dermal fillers are a safe, effective wrinkle-removing treatment.How Dermal Fillers Restore Volume and Smooth Wrinkles
Collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production naturally decline as we get older, making it more difficult for our bodies to keep our skin firm and plump. Dermal fillers are formulated with components such as hyaluronic acid or poly-L-lactic acid to replenish what you’ve lost.
Doctor-directed clinics such as Contemporary Health Center have skilled providers who can safely administer dermal fillers for wrinkles to instantly smooth and lift your skin. They can target common areas of aging skin, such as marionette lines, smile lines and under-eye hollows.3. Kybellas
Diet and exercise are great ways to slim down, but stubborn fat, such as a “double chin,” might still remain. For those looking to enhance their profile with a more defined jawline, Kybella offers a solution to eliminate the submental fat that causes a “double chin.” This FDA-approved injectable treatment targets fat beneath the chin and tightens it to create a more refined look around the neck and jawline.
Unlike the first two anti-aging treatments we covered that focus on wrinkles, Kybella is designed to tackle fat. This factor makes it the perfect candidate for those seeking non-surgical sagging skin treatments. By eliminating fat cells beneath the chin, Kybella tightens the skin and restores youthful contours. This results in a smoother, more sculpted appearance.How Does Kybella Tighten Skin?
Kybella is an injectable that utilizes a synthetic form of deoxycholic acid. is a substance naturally found in your body. This substance is already naturally found in your body, and it helps break down fat and absorb it. When a doctor injects Kybella beneath your chin, it eliminates fat cells and tightens the surrounding skin.
Over time, as the fat cells are broken down, the treated area starts to tighten and contour. This makes Kybella an ideal anti-aging injectable for those who are dealing with loose skin around their neck and chin.Why Choose Doctor-Directed Anti-Aging Treatments
Expertise and experience matter when administering anti-aging injections. You want to make sure you’re getting the real thing and that you’re being monitored by a doctor who can recognize the signs and symptoms of potential side effects.
At Contemporary Health Center, every Botox, dermal filler and Kybella treatment is performed under the supervision of a board-certified doctor. Doctor-directed procedures ensure that your anti-aging treatments are safe and deliver the most effective results. Licensed and board-certified professionals, such as Dr. Bloy, MD at Contemporary Health Center, are trained to customize treatments to your skin type, medical history and unique profile. By choosing a doctor-directed clinic and medically safe anti-aging treatment, you can have the confidence of knowing that you’re receiving the best care during your medical aesthetic procedures.Discover Contemporary Health Center for Trusted Wrinkle and Sagging Skin Treatment
Contemporary Health Center in Fort Myers and Naples, FL brings 40+ years of experience and expertise to its anti-aging treatments. Our team specializes in functional medicine to help you feel like your youthful self again. So whether you’re looking for under-eye wrinkle treatment, forehead wrinkle treatment or neck treatments for sagging skin, we have the best customizable solutions to help you rejuvenate your appearance.
We deliver personalized consultations and treatments that allow you to go from conventional to contemporary health care. Take the first step toward a more confident, youthful version of yourself, and contact us today. -
How to Tell if Your Weight Loss Injections Are the Real Deal
Weight loss injections are one of the most popular solutions for shedding extra pounds and sculpting your dream body. They offer the excitement of rapid results, but the surge in popularity has led to a rise in unqualified providers offering questionable treatments.
As more weight loss injection clinics jump on the bandwagon, it’s crucial to be cautious about where you get your treatment. Some providers may put your health at risk by offering products that aren’t FDA-approved or properly administered. These situations could be ineffective or even dangerous.
So, how do you protect yourself and ensure you’re receiving legit weight loss injections that are administered safely?
At Contemporary Health Center, we preach the importance of medically safe solutions to weight loss that certified healthcare professionals oversee. In this blog, we’ll help identify how your weight loss injections are the real deal.Why Choosing a Doctor-Directed Weight Loss Injection Clinic Matters
You’re ready to start working toward your weight loss goals, but you want to do it in a medically safe way. The first step is to find a reputable clinic to help guide you during your journey. However, not all clinics or providers are trustworthy, and some may put your health at risk.
Qualified clinics are led by trusted doctors who provide FDA-approved treatments that are medically appropriate for your unique health profile.The Role of a Doctor in Weight Loss Injections
Contemporary Health Center, for example, is led by Dr. Richard Bloy, MD, FACOG, who has 40+ years of experience in the medical field. This professional oversight is essential, as a trusted doctor can manage any weight loss injection side effects and carefully monitor your progress. You can also rest assured that you’re receiving FDA-approved weight loss injections tailored to your needs and goals.
Meanwhile, unqualified or unlicensed providers may lack the expertise to identify or manage any side effects of weight loss injections. Plus, they may use products that are unregulated, unsafe or ineffective.Are Weight Loss Injections Safe?
Yes, weight loss injections are safe under the proper circumstances. However, their safety depends on the legitimacy of the provider, the way the injections are administered and how they align with your medical history and needs.
There are potential risks with medical treatments that aren’t administered correctly from reputable facilities. Otherwise, you could receive unregulated products, incorrect dosages, unsanitary instruments or harmful substances. So, it’s best to get medical weight loss injections under the guidance of a qualified doctor.Which Injections Are FDA-Approved for Weight Loss?
Peptide weight loss therapies, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, are effective ways to transform your physique. These medications, originally used to treat Type 2 diabetes, help patients reach a more balanced and sustainable weight.
These injectable peptides are typically administered once per week over the course of the treatment under the supervision of a doctor. Studies have shown peptides to be especially effective weight loss treatments when combined with a healthy diet and exercise.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which is a class of medications that mimics a natural hormone to lower blood sugar and reduce appetite. Patients who are administered semaglutides can have an easier time sticking to a healthy diet.
Tirzepatide works in a similar fashion, as it is a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist. Its biggest advantage is that it has a longer half-life than semaglutide, meaning it remains active in your body for more time.
Both are FDA-approved weight loss injections and have undergone rigorous testing that has shown them to be safe and effective. However, a well-qualified doctor should help you determine which option is best for you. Licensed medical professionals, such as Dr. Bloy, ensure the safe weight loss injection treatments you’re receiving are tailored to your needs based on your goals and medical history.Supplemental Weight Loss Injections
In addition to semaglutide or tirzepatide, a doctor may offer supplemental treatments, such as L-Carnitine or Fat Burn Plus shots. These injections provide natural amino acids, such as B6 and B12, that can boost how your body breaks down fats and increase muscle mass.
Red Flags of Unqualified Weight Loss Injection Providers
These treatments are highly effective under the right circumstances, but some weight loss injection clinics may provide unsafe or ineffective practices. Be wary if you come across any of these red flags:- Unlicensed or Unqualified Staff: Vet the clinic to ensure their staff includes licensed medical professionals.
- Lack of Transparency: If the clinic doesn’t provide clear information about the medications they use or how they are sourced, you should proceed with caution.
- Unrealistic Promises: If a clinic guarantees rapid, permanent weight loss with little effort, beware. Legit weight loss injections, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, work effectively. But they need to be used in tandem with the proper diet and exercise routine.
- Deals That Are Too Good to Be True: Extremely low prices likely mean the clinic is using counterfeit, altered or ineffective products.
- No Medical Consultation: Reputable healthcare providers offer full evaluations and consultations to assess which treatment (if any) is right for you. They’ll review your medical history to identify any potential risks with weight loss injections.
- No Ongoing Monitoring: Trusted doctors will schedule follow-up appointments or regular visits to monitor your progress and assess side effects.
Questions to Ask Before Getting Weight Loss Injections
Are you wondering how to ask your doctor for weight loss injections? Start by asking the right questions to ensure you’re embarking on the best weight management journey for you. Visit a reputable healthcare provider or med spa for weight loss injections, and keep these questions in mind:
- What are the qualifications of the medical professional who will be administering the injections?
- Are the injections FDA-approved?
- How will my progress be monitored?
- What potential side effects should I be aware of?
- What weight loss progress should I realistically expect?
- What other steps do I need to take to make sure I achieve my weight loss goals?
- What support will you provide throughout my weight loss journey?
Discover Contemporary Health Center for Trusted Weight Loss Injections
Safe, effective weight loss solutions require more than just the right medication. Led by Dr. Bloy, Contemporary Health Center offers personalized care with FDA-approved weight loss injections, including semaglutide and tirzepatide.
Dr. Bloy utilizes his 40+ years of experience to ensure every patient receives unparalleled care. If you want to know how to get weight loss injections in Fort Myers or Naples, FL, contact us today for a consultation with our licensed professionals. -
5 Signs You Might Have a Hormone Imbalance
Hormone levels start declining in your 30s. For many, this natural shift can lead to an array of physical, mental, sexual and weight management changes. In fact, a hormonal imbalance can affect your overall quality of life. You might notice differences in how you look or feel and dismiss these shifts as a part of aging or stress. However, these changes could be signs of a hormone imbalance.
Being out of balance can affect nearly every aspect of your life – from energy levels to mental clarity. It can even cause reproductive complications. Thankfully, these hormone imbalances can be naturally restored, bringing you back to your youthfully energetic, highly functional you.What Causes Hormonal Imbalance?
A hormone imbalance can occur for many reasons, including stress, medications and medical conditions. Your hormones will also fluctuate during periods of dramatic life changes, such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause and andropause.
At Contemporary Health Center, we treat these hormone imbalances with personalized functional medicine approaches, such as bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). Hormone therapy helps naturally restore balance and provides many benefits that allow you to feel like yourself again.How to Know if You Have a Hormonal Imbalance
Are you feeling off, fatigued or not quite like your best self? The reason could be that you’re experiencing a hormone deficiency. If so, there are several key hormonal imbalance symptoms to watch for, as disruptions in hormone levels affect everyone differently. After all, every “body” is different.
Understanding the symptoms of hormonal imbalance and how they affect your life is the first step toward feeling your best again. So, let’s do a deep dive into some of the top hormone imbalance symptoms. If you’re experiencing any of these signs, visit Contemporary Health Center for a hormone imbalance test.Hormone Imbalance Symptom #1: Less Energetic, Less Motivated
Hormones serve as vital chemical signals that control essential functions throughout the body. So, it’s no surprise that hormone imbalances often manifest in ways you can feel. One of the most common symptoms is persistent fatigue, leaving you feeling constantly drained, even after a full night’s sleep.
This ongoing exhaustion impacts nearly every aspect of your life, as it can lead to a lack of motivation, decreased drive and diminished confidence. This impairment can even make your routine tasks and hobbies feel overwhelming at times.
If you’re experiencing a sudden struggle to summon the energy you need for your daily routine, it could be a sign you’re out of balance. Once properly treated, you’ll feel more vibrant, confident and motivated so you’ll feel more energized in your daily life.Hormone Imbalance Symptoms #2: Physical Impacts
When your hormones are out of balance, they can trigger inflammation that can cause chronic pain and a weakened immune system. You may experience increased sensitivity to joint pain, muscle aches and frequent headaches. Additionally, hormonal imbalances can impair immune function, which increases your susceptibility to illnesses and makes it more difficult to defend against infections.
These hormonal imbalances can also affect your hair and skin, leading to thinning hair, balding, dry skin and acne. You may also experience a reduction in muscle tone, lower bone density, hot flashes, night sweats or insomnia.
Addressing your hormone imbalance is essential to improving your physical well-being, helping you feel healthier while restoring strength and vitality.Hormone Imbalance Symptom #3: Anxiety & Depression
Hormonal imbalances can significantly impact mental health. So, if you’re wondering, “Can hormone imbalances cause anxiety or depression?”, the answer is a resounding, “Yes.” Fluctuating hormone levels disrupt emotional stability and mental clarity, and it can lead to mood swings, anxiety, depression and stress.
For males and females, hormone imbalances during major life changes, such as menopause and andropause, can lead to significant mood shifts. A female hormone imbalance heightens vulnerability to anxiety. This makes it difficult to manage stress and emotions and can result in depression. Meanwhile, men may experience lowered testosterone, leading to similar feelings of anxiety, depression and irritability.
Correcting hormonal imbalance symptoms in females and males can help restore mental clarity and emotional stability.Hormone Imbalance Symptom #4: Reproductive Issues
Reproductive health is directly impacted by hormonal imbalances, leading to a range of issues for men and women. For females, hormonal imbalances can result in missed or irregular periods, heavier bleeding or challenges with conception.
Meanwhile, low testosterone levels in men contribute to a lower libido, erectile dysfunction and infertility issues. These common hormonal imbalance symptoms in women and men can make managing reproductive health more difficult. Regain balance and restore your sexual health, helping you feel more in control and confident in your body again.Hormone Imbalance Symptom #5: Weight Gain & Weight Loss
One of the most noticeable symptoms of hormonal imbalance is unexplained weight changes. If you’ve noticed you’re gaining weight, even when maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine, a hormone deficiency could be the root cause.
Thyroid and insulin imbalances impact how your body stores fat and processes sugar. This can result in a slower metabolism, leading to weight gain – especially around the midsection. Some people may even experience unintentional weight loss. Additionally, it can affect your appetite, as you may experience unusual food cravings or a loss of appetite.
Restoring hormonal balance can help you achieve healthier weight management so that you feel more energized and confident in your body.Hormonal Imbalance Treatment
Experiencing any of the symptoms listed above can be overwhelming, but they can be treated safely and effectively with hormone therapy. The first step is to visit a healthcare provider who specializes in hormone health, such as Contemporary Health Center in Fort Myers and Naples, FL.
At Contemporary Health Center, our doctors use hormones that are chemically identical to the hormones your body naturally produces to restore your balance and alleviate symptoms. Hormone therapy, when incorporated with a healthy diet and exercise routine, can prevent these symptoms from recurring and keep your hormones in balance.Discover the Best-Kept Secret in the Medical Industry
If you’re feeling off and suspect hormonal imbalances might be the culprit, you’re not alone. Many people experience these symptoms but don’t know it or don’t know who to turn to. Thankfully, Contemporary Health Center offers a personalized approach to functional medicine to help you feel like your youthful self once again.
Contact us today to see how we can fix your hormone imbalance. We’ll help restore your energy levels and motivation. -
5 Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), more commonly known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), gives you the tools to look and feel your best every day. The primary benefit of HRT is that it restores balance to your body by replenishing the hormones that are naturally lost as you age. And by rebalancing your hormones, you can feel a renewed sense of vitality, purpose and joy in your everyday life.
At Contemporary Health Center in Fort Myers and Naples, FL, we offer bio-identical hormone replacement therapy in the form of testosterone pellets for men and women. These HRT pellets are made of hormones that are a perfect molecular match to your body’s own hormones, making it a revolutionary method to restore balance to your life.
But what are the specific benefits of taking hormones? At Contemporary Health Center, we classify the benefits of HRT into five categories – quality of life, physical, sexual and mental. In this blog, we’ll explore the incredible benefits of hormone replacement therapy and how it can enhance your life.
1. Quality of Life Benefits of HRT
The most phenomenal benefit of hormone replacement therapy is the overall improvement in your quality of life. Most patients report feeling more balanced, happy and satisfied with their lives after starting hormone pellet therapy. The benefits of bio-identical hormones are vast and touch nearly every aspect of your life – from the way you look to the way you feel and how you interact with others.
Key quality of life BHRT benefits include:
- Delayed Aging Effects: Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy pellets are effective in reducing the signs of aging, such as wrinkles. By restoring hormone levels, you’ll look and feel younger.
- Improved Overall Health: An incredible benefit of HRT is that it can lower the risk of chronic conditions and diseases, such as prostate cancer in men and testosterone-related migraines.
- Greater Sense of Well-Being: Many patients report experiencing a greater sense of well-being after starting hormone therapy. They feel happier and more balanced, which can lead to a more fulfilling life.
- Stronger Relationships: With your hormones properly balanced, you’ll experience a wealth of improvements in your life. This feeling of restoration and rejuvenation assists you in forming stronger relationships with your friends, co-workers and loved ones.
- Increased Productivity: The mental and physical benefits of HRT lead to a boosted focus level that can increase your work efficiency and give you the drive to become more productive.
2. Physical Benefits of HRT
Patients often feel the physical benefits of hormone replacement therapy shortly after their first treatment. These positive effects can start to set in as soon as 24-48 hours. The BHRT pellets provide a sustained, consistent release of hormones that support your body, making you feel healthier and more energetic. Taking part in regular exercise and a healthy diet can help enhance the long-term benefits of BHRT.
Key physical BHRT benefits include:
- Increased Energy Levels: One of the most impactful benefits of bio-identical hormones is the revitalization of energy levels. This stamina boost can help you exercise longer and feel less fatigued.
- Improved Muscle Tone: The benefits of testosterone pellets for females and males include rebuilding muscle mass. HRT provides the tools to help you resculpt your body, leading to better muscle tone and heightened strength.
- Better Sleep Quality: Healthy sleep regulation is vital to your overall well-being. Thankfully, BHRT pellets can regulate your sleep patterns by addressing hormone imbalances, leading to more restful, undisturbed sleep.
- Radiant Skin: HRT’s skin benefits are astounding. This therapy works to restore your skin’s elasticity, moisture and collagen production. So your skin will feel more hydrated, clearer and youthful.
- Stronger Hair and Nails: Suboptimal hormone levels are among the most common causes of hair loss and brittle nails. BHRT pellets work to rebalance these levels, which promotes thicker, healthier hair and stronger nails.
- Improved Bone Health: Our bones become more fragile as we age. However, we can help our bones by supplementing them with the hormones they need to maintain ideal bone density, which helps reduce the risk of bone fractures.
- Better Immune Function: Balanced hormones support the immune system’s ability to prevent chronic inflammation, and it boosts the function of the immune cells. These HRT health benefits assist your body’s ability to defend against illnesses and infections.
- Regulated Cholesterol & Blood Sugar: Another way hormone replacement therapy keeps you healthy is by regulating how your body processes fats and sugars, improving your heart health and lowering the risk of insulin resistance. These benefits of HRT pellets improve your heart health and minimize insulin resistance, reducing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
3. Mental Benefits of HRT
Life can feel overwhelming at times. Sometimes, the weight of the feelings you’re experiencing stems from life stressors. But did you know that imbalanced hormones play a part in your mental clarity as well? If your hormones aren’t properly balanced, you might not feel as relaxed and confident as you used to be. The benefits of hormone replacement therapy enhance your mood, memory and motivation so that you can live a more productive and purposeful life.
Key mental BHRT benefits include:
- Stabilized Mood: With balanced hormones, your body is better equipped to regulate emotions. This results in fewer mood swings, allowing you to live your life with a more consistent, positive mood.
- Reduced Anxiety and Stress: Overwhelming feelings of anxiety, stress and nervousness are triggered by neurotransmitters in the brain. But when you balance your hormones with HRT pellets, you can enhance your body’s ability to cope with these feelings, allowing you to feel calmer in times of tension.
- Improved Confidence: The overall benefits of hormone replacement therapy help patients feel better about themselves. Whether it’s their improved body image, self-esteem or sexual function, this creates a natural renewed sense of confidence.
- Enhanced Mental Clarity & Memory: Hormone replacement therapy improves brain signaling and circulation, which boosts your cognitive functioning. This enhanced clarity helps improve your focus and memory while reducing mental fatigue.
4. Sexual Benefits of HRT
The most versatile benefits of hormone replacement therapy come in the bedroom, where it can help people from all walks of life. By improving your sexual performance, you can develop a stronger bond with your partner and feel an enhanced sense of vitality. Balancing your hormones directly ties into your sexual function, whether you need a testosterone boost or if you’re dealing with menopause effects.
Key sexual BHRT benefits include:
- Increased Libido: Imbalanced hormones suppress the body’s natural sex drive. Restoring these hormones via HRT pellet therapy can reignite sexual desire and arousal. This gives you the boost you need to be intimate with your partner more often while developing a stronger connection and experiencing more enjoyment.
- Improved Sexual Performance: Among the benefits of HRT for men are increased stamina, circulation and energy. These factors work together to improve your overall sexual function, giving you an enhanced ability to achieve and maintain arousal.
- Comfortable Intimacy: One benefit of testosterone pellets for women is a reduction of vaginal dryness and discomfort. Restoring your hormone balance with HRT assists the body in producing more natural lubrication, improving sexual comfort for you and your partner.
- Improved Fertility: Those who are trying to start a family may experience fertility benefits from hormone replacement therapy. Restoring hormonal balance assists women with regular ovulation and better egg development, creating a healthy environment for conception.
- Predictable Menstrual Cycles: Hormonal harmony helps regulate the menstrual cycle’s timing and flow, which can prevent irregular periods, missed cycles and heavy bleeding.
- Menopause & Andropause Relief: Managing menopause and andropause is difficult, but this life transition can become smoother with hormone replacement therapy. HRT menopause benefits include a significant reduction in night sweats and hot flashes. Meanwhile, those experiencing andropause can also feel relief by improving symptoms of muscle mass loss, reduced libido, fatigue and more.
5. Weight Management Benefits of HRT
Weight management can become challenging when you’re facing a hormone imbalance. Your metabolism can slow down, and you can face an increase in fat storage. So whether you’re looking to reduce belly fat or sculpt a leaner, more toned body, hormone replacement therapy can help restore balance.
Key weight management BHRT benefits include:
- Healthy Weight Management: Hormone replacement therapy boosts the metabolism, which directs how efficiently your body converts food into energy and burns calories. This benefit of HRT, along with increased energy levels, makes weight management easier – provided you incorporate the right diet and exercise routine.
- Reduced Belly Fat: With an accelerated metabolism rate, your body is better able to fight stubborn belly fat while building better muscle mass retention. HRT also helps regulate your appetite while enhancing your energy levels, which in turn contributes to a more effective fat management lifestyle.
Enhance Your Life with the Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy
The benefits of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy pellets span across nearly every aspect of your life. From heightened physical health to sharp mental clarity, you’ll feel at the top of your game every day. By restoring your hormone balance, you’ll feel an overall improvement in your quality of life, allowing you to form stronger connections while being happier and more productive.
The Contemporary Health Center is at the forefront of functional medicine in Fort Myers and Naples, FL, and we specialize in helping you enhance your life through hormone replacement therapy. If you’re interested in the benefits of pellet therapy, contact our team today for a consultation.
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I Tried Botox For Sweating And Haven’t Used Antiperspirant For Months
I’ve got a bone to pick with antiperspirant. I think we can agree that some type of pit protection is necessary to keep body odor at bay, but traditional antiperspirants with aluminum leave my underarms feeling stifled. The same ingredients that keep me from smelling dank refuse to come off in the shower—no matter how much scrubbing I do. So, I tried to go with a natural deodorant. But I ended up with damp armpits before I could even make it to the office.
So, I started searching around for sweat-stopping alternatives. That’s when I read about Botox for sweating. As a beauty editor, I haven’t completely ruled out the needle as an antiaging solution on my face—wrinkles are inevitable, and I try to embrace every line—but I never thought I’d get Botox in my armpits.
Since 2004, Botox has been a well-accepted treatment for excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis. But it can also be used for less serious cases of sweating—like mine. In fact, celebrities have been known to get a little underarm Botox before award season. Sweat stains are not an option when you’re wearing an expensive couture gown on loan. So, I decided to go under the needle to see if this would be the solution to all my pit troubles.
So how does Botox for sweating work?
The neurotoxin Botox stops nerves from firing by blocking the uptake of acetylcholine, one of the neurotransmitters that tells muscles to contract, explains Heidi Waldorf, M.D., director of laser and cosmetic dermatology at The Mount Sinai Hospital. When injected in the face, it essentially freezes the nearby muscles, which smoothes wrinkles and prevents expression lines that could cause even more wrinkles to form. It’s the same mechanism at work when used to stop sweat, but it acts on glands instead of muscles. Botox intercepts the message telling the glands to secrete sweat, so they don’t.
Just to be clear: Sweating is an essential and totally normal bodily function that keeps humans from overheating. Botox is used as a localized treatment, so stopping the sweat in one area doesn’t affect the other areas of the body (read: your body can still sweat in other places to regulate its internal temperature). Waldorf also explains that the efficacy of this treatment varies. It could work really well for some and totally flop for others. Generally the effects last about six months. And after testing it out, I can honestly say I have totally forgotten where my antiperspirant spray is.
The entire process takes about 30 minutes.When I arrived for my Botox appointment with dermatologist Cynthia Yalowitz, M.D., I was completely shaved (I knew there would be pictures involved). However, you don’t have to clear the area of hair for the injections to be effective. Then, I had two options: Some numbing cream or none. I wanted to be numb because…needles. And while I was getting pain protection, Yalowitz mixed the Botox, which comes in powder form and is diluted with saline to become a liquid. This particular treatment requires a full bottle of Botox, which is why it comes with a hefty $1000 price tag.
Courtesy of Jessica Cruel Yalowitz then drew a map around my armpit to mark the injection points. “There’s a starch iodine test you can do to see where the sweat glands are, and then you can target,” she says. “Most doctors don’t do that test prior to the injection because it’s pretty routine where people sweat from, especially if you don’t have excessive sweating.”
Finally, she began to inject the Botox. It didn’t hurt. Honestly it felt more like pin pricks with the occasional stinging in deeper spots. For the armpit area, Botox is injected into the muscle deeper than when you would on the face. “There are different techniques in terms of depth of injection depending on which part of the body we’re injecting,” explains Yalowitz. “Around the crow’s feet we go a little more superficial. [But around the armpit], it diffuses a little bit.” Immediately after the treatment, there is potential for bruising or pain. But I had neither.
Yes, my armpits are far less sweaty, and I no longer use deodorant. BUT I’ve got other problems.Here’s a photo of me after 20 minutes of cardio both before and after Botox.
Yalowitz mentioned that it takes about a week to fully kick in. And during the two months I’ve had Botox, I have rarely reached for the deodorant. Even when I go to the gym, I don’t worry about applying a product. But while my underarms are relatively dry, that doesn’t stop me from sweating in other places like down my back and under my boobs.
You can definitely get Botox in other places besides your underarms. “One of the other places that I find is common is the scalp because people who sweat say their hair gets drenched,” says Waldorf. The palms and soles are also popular spots to get Botox injections for sweat, but Waldorf warns that the feet can be particularly painful.
There’s also the issue of smell. “If you’re using [Botox], you still may want a deodorant because the smell is different than the sweat,” says Waldorf. “The smell is often bacterial or chemical. It may reduce it because you’re having less sweat coming out, but it’s not going to change.” I experienced this particular pitfall myself. On the very few days I reached for my antiperspirant, it was because I wanted to mask a subtle case of body odor.
So, would I sign up for another injection of Botox? Not likely. While I am totally satisfied with the results, I can just as easily get sweat-free, scent-free underarms for $5 at my local drugstore versus this $1000 treatment. However, if you you have life-disrupting hyperhidrosis, Botox can be a total game-changer.
Posted originally on: https://www.self.com/story/botox-for-sweating
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COVID-19 Should Up Urgency of Anti-Obesity Efforts, Docs Say
Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center.
The evidence linking obesity to adverse COVID-19 outcomes is “overwhelmingly clear” and points strongly to the need for aggressive obesity prevention and management efforts, two UK experts say.
“Recent successful interventions in weight management need to be extended and offered to many more people at risk,” write Naveed Sattar, MBChB, PhD, professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, and Jonathan Valabhji, MBBS MD, national clinical director for obesity and diabetes at NHS England, London, UK.
“New, simpler, innovative ways to spread evidence-based dietary or activity messages should also be examined as many people with risk factors are not currently receiving advice. If ever there was a time to improve obesity prevention and management, it is now,” they stress.Risk of Hospitalization For COVID-19 Rises With Increasing BMI
Sattar and Valabhji summarize evidence from several hundred epidemiological and genetic studies – with more than a dozen meta-analyses – linking obesity with worse COVID-19 outcomes, in their article published online August 10 in Current Obesity Reports.
The evidence suggests that the link between body mass index (BMI) and COVID-19 related mortality is stronger than for deaths from other causes, including other respiratory illnesses.
A genetic study suggests that the risk for COVID-19 hospitalization rises by about 5%-10% per kg/m2 increase in BMI.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on obesity in an apparent new way — ie, as a risk factor for an acute infectious condition that has killed more than 3 million people worldwide as well as contributing to many experiencing long COVID,” they write.Telling Patients About Obesity–COVID-19 Link May Motivate Them
The COVID-19 pandemic adds urgency to anti-obesity efforts from a clinical perspective, especially as the pandemic has promoted weight gain due to less physical activity and less healthful eating in many cases, Sattar told Medscape Medical News.
“The medical professions in each country need to up their games with respect to weight management. But the issue is few have the time or expertise to discuss in clinics. What could be done is to develop a simple menu of evidence-based options that do work,” Sattar said.
These options include lifestyle changes “first and foremost,” as in the DiRECT trial, or commercial weight-loss plans, newer medications, and bariatric surgery for some.
The once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist semaglutide (Wegovy, Novo Nordisk) was approved for weight loss in the United States in June and is under regulatory review in the UK and Europe.
“We should soon have medicines that help larger weight loss. As ever, they cost more so we cannot apply to all folk who would want them, especially in health systems with finite resources…but at least positive developments are coming,” Sattar said.
Importantly, he urged, “We need to target those at risk of obesity well before they get there. We cannot go on simply treating the end-stage diseases with more and more drugs as obesity is fueling multimorbidity, so there is much to gain by earlier evidence-based lifestyle interventions. We need to develop such clinics more widely and make evidence more accessible to all folk and make weight conversations the norm.”
Telling patients about the link between obesity and COVID-19 outcomes might be helpful, Sattar believes.
“Anything that motivates may help some folk, and as COVID-19 is an immediate risk, then some may respond better than being told about longer-term risks such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, etc.”
Fundamental Reform of Food Environment Needed
Sattar and Valabhji also discuss recent initiatives by the UK government to target obesity, including population-level proposals to ban television and online advertisements for unhealthy foods at certain hours of the day and mandating calorie counts on restaurant menus.
The National Health Service (NHS) has recently begun offering new or expanded services for weight management for people with obesity also diagnosed diabetes or hypertension, and is aiming to double the capacity of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme to support 200,000 individuals annually by 2024.
Diabetes Prevention Programmes are already offered in the United States, and other countries are also considering adopting the program.
The NHS also has “excellent” online resources for patients on weight loss tips and how GPs can help patients lose weight, for example, Sattar noted.
But overall he suspects that the UK government’s initiatives thus far will only be “modestly beneficial.” “We need to do much more, like legislate food manufacturers to reformulate to better, healthier products, but this will take time, and food companies will have to be forced to invest and cut profits, which they will lobby against, but unless we fundamentally change the food environment then it’s hard to see major population shifts in obesity,” he noted.
The issue is linked to yet another global crisis, he said.
“At the time of climate change, we really need to integrate food policy with the need to cut methane and CO2, so it could be a win-win…All governments need to think holistically.”
Sattar has reported consulting for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, MSD, Hamni, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and Sanofi, and receiving grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, and Roche Diagnostics.
From: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/956635 -
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Everything to Know About Restylane Kysse, the New, Longer-Lasting Lip Filler
Galderma’s newest hyaluronic acid lip filler, Restylane Kysse, is more than meets the eye. We sat down with Alisa Lask, general manager and vice president of the U.S. Aesthetic Business at Galderma, to find out exactly what the latest filler on the market has to offer. Spoiler alert: it’s a lot.
A smaller amount of filler is required
Findings from Galderma’s multi-phase study were surprising—the filler was found to last up to a year, for one—but the most shocking finding, according to Lask, didn’t have to do with longevity. “The results that surprised us most came from the Phase 3 head-to-head study that showed a significantly lower amount of Restylane Kysse was needed to show an improvement in lip fullness when compared to the control filler (1.82mL vs. 2.24mL),” she explains.The results are a crowd-pleaser
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While Lask explains Restylane Refyne and Defyne, both approved for laugh lines, are formulated with XpresHAn Technology—a manufacturing process which Lask says allows for a gel that “integrates into the skin for natural expression in motion” versus a firmer, more structured look—Restylane Kysse is the first and only FDA-approved lip filler to harness the technology. The result? A plush, pillowy look, as seen in the below brand-supplied photos.From: https://www.newbeauty.com/fda-approves-restylane-kysse/
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Corona Virus Update
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If any of the above, then please call before coming into the office so we can assess your specific situation and make appropriate arrangements to help you.
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