Hormone Replacement Therapy

After you reach a certain age, there comes a time where you don’t feel like your younger self anymore, seemingly overnight. You could find that you have suddenly have a general lack of motivation and mental clarity or less energy to get yourself through the day. You could be experiencing difficulty managing your weight, a loss of overall muscle definition or even a decrease in sexual appetite. While many individuals are quick to write-off these changes as a natural part of getting older, living with one or more of these symptoms could also be an indicator that your hormone levels have dropped too low or become imbalanced.

Often times, men and women alike can be reluctant or embarrassed to discuss these changes with their doctor, or simply choose to live with these symptoms in silence. However, recognizing the importance of male and female hormonal balance is the first step to alleviating these unpleasant symptoms and improving your overall quality of life. At 901 Aesthetics, we offer patients struggling with age-related hormonal imbalances bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to help get their hormone levels back on track and allow them to feel like themselves once again.

The Importance of Hormones

In men and women alike, hormones are chemicals in the body that control most of the essential bodily functions. Your hormones play a crucial role in things like your appetite and digestion, immune function, reproduction, mood, wellness and even your sex drive. When the hormone levels in your body drop even slightly due to age or a medical condition, it can have a detrimental impact on your overall health and sense of well-being.

While many people are already aware of the hormone fluctuations that women experience in their mid-to-late thirties from perimenopause and menopause, many men do not expect to also suffer from the same adverse side effects when they become middle-aged. In fact, men often experience symptoms similar to those women endure throughout perimenopause and menopause. Andropause, the medical term for male menopause, refers to the gradual drop in testosterone production as males get older. It is estimated that by the age of 35, male testosterone levels will drop as much as one to three percent each year.

Age-related hormone deficiencies can cause a number of unpleasant and unwelcome changes to both men and women after a certain age, such as:

• Fatigue and decreased endurance
• Low sex drive or erectile dysfunction
• Increased weight gain
• Muscle loss and lower endurance
• Depression and mood swings
• Cognitive issues
• Hot flashes or night sweats

If you are experiencing any of the following physical or psychological concerns, BHRT may be able to help restore balance to your hormone levels so that you may feel like your younger, vital self once again.

What is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, also known as natural hormone therapy or BHRT, involves the use of man-made hormones derived from plant estrogens, which are chemically identical to those produced in the human body. While BHRT is most commonly used to ease the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause in women, it may also be used to restore balance to hormone deficiencies caused by andropause in men. BHRT can be administered in many different forms; however, at 901 Aesthetics, we use noninvasive and long-lasting BHRT pellets to deliver quick relief to our patients and their symptoms.

Unlike traditional hormone therapies that utilize synthetic hormones or hormones derived from animals, BHRT is a wholly natural alternative. Studies have also shown dramatic long-term health benefits through the use of natural hormone optimization, such as improving cardiovascular health, increasing bone density, skin elasticity, and mental sharpness as well as reducing the uncomfortable symptoms that accompany hormone imbalances.

What to Expect From Your BHRT Pellet Insertion?

Since hormone requirements and needs will vary from patient to patient, your BHRT treatment plan will first begin with an in-person consultation at 901 Aesthetics. During this appointment, one of our providers will work with you to develop a customized dosage of estradiol or testosterone based on the results of your lab work, your medical history, your current activity level, and the symptoms you are experiencing. After establishing a baseline for your current hormone levels and the ideal dosage for your needs, your skin will be cleaned and prepped for your personalized hormone pellet insertion.

BHRT hormone pellets are roughly the size of a small grain of rice and are inserted quickly and painlessly just below the skin’s surface on the posterior hip. This allows the hormone pellet to seamlessly provide a consistent dosage of the hormones you require as well as quick alleviation from your symptoms. The pellet delivers the hormones you need directly into your bloodstream for several months before a new pellet insertion is required. Most patients will reap the benefits of these pellets for as many as four to five months before the body safely absorbs them.

What Are the Benefits of BHRT?

Immediately after your BHRT pellet has been inserted, you can expect to resume your regular daily schedule without discomfort or interruption. As your hormone levels are quickly brought up to a more optimal range, you will start to observe your symptoms subsiding over time significantly. The benefits of BHRT can be incredibly far-reaching, and may include:

• A heightened sense of well-being
• Reduce hot flashes
• Boosted energy levels
• Improved moods
• Increased libido and restored vitality Increased mental energy
• Improved sleep quality
• Decreased body fat
• Increased muscle tone