Let Us Help You Navigate the Challenges of Menopause!

Menopause. . . all women eventually have to go through it, but many suffer silently with the symptoms, or figure there’s nothing they can do about them. In fact, a lot of women won’t ever even bring up the topic to their primary care doctor or their gynecologist. Menopause happens when the ovaries no longer release an egg every month, menstruation stops and estrogen and progesterone levels drop, and these drops in hormone levels cause all kinds of changes in a woman’s body. Even though it is a normal part of aging, the symptoms of menopause can be very disruptive to some women’s lives.

Although all women experience menopause in their own unique way, there are a number of symptoms women can end up experiencing during menopause. Here are just a few:

Hot flashes and night sweats: Studies show that about 75% of menopausal women experience hot flashes. Hot flashes are a sudden flush of heat in the face and neck and the upper part of your body. They can cause heavy sweating or can leave you shivering with a cold sweat, and often feel like a fever. They can happen several times in an hour, a few times a day, or once or twice a week. They can be during the day, or interrupt your sleep at night with night sweats. And night sweats can cause chronic sleep deprivation as well.

Insomnia/sleep deprivation: Whether it’s because night sweats wake you up in the middle of the night, or you just have trouble falling asleep or waking too early, one of the issues many women have during menopause is getting enough sleep. And that can be very disruptive in life!

Urination and bladder control: Incontinence or the loss of bladder control can also accompany menopause. You may have a sudden urge to urinate or have problems with leakage during exercise or when sneezing or laughing.

Sexuality and vaginal health: The loss of hormones quite often leads to vaginal dryness, and a lack of elasticity which in turn can make sexual intercourse uncomfortable. Or the lack of hormones could lead to you feeling less interested in sex. Or, you may find yourself feeling freer and sexier after menopause due to the fact that you no longer have to worry about getting pregnant.

Body changes: Your body just plain changes. Remember what it was like when you hit puberty and your body changed? Well, welcome to menopause, which causes a whole other range of changes. Your skin gets thinner, but your waist get larger. You can lose muscle tone and gain fat. You may feel more achey, have more headaches or have heart palpatations. You may find yourself getting more pimples.

Changes in mood: Hormonal changes often bring about moodiness and irritability. Sudden swings in mood from happy to sad or mad can come about. Remember when you were a sulky teen? Menopause can make you feel that way again.

Bigger Health Concerns

While all of these symptoms listed can be either mildly annoying or truly interrupt your life, we don’t want to step over the fact that loss of hormones can cause larger health issues in the long run as well. Because regardless of how you feel about menopause, the fact is that it increases certain health risks. Hormonal changes in the 12 months following menopause can result in a rise in cholesterol leading to heart disease. A reduction of estrogen can lead to a dramatic decrease in bone density and the onset of osteoporosis in some post-menopausal women. The loss in muscle-tone due to the estrogen decrease can lead to women falling more often and breaking more bones. The hormonal changes can affect vision and weaken the cornea, and increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

There are a number of ways to combat the effects of menopause in your life, but you have to be willing to discuss it with your doctor.

Here’s how to prepare to talk to your primary care about it:

Make a list of your symptoms, describing them clearly and briefly and noting when they started, how they make you feel and what you’ve tried already to alleviate them.
Make a list of what prescriptions and over the counter drugs, vitamins, herbal remedies and other supplements you may be taking regularly.
Make notes about your diet, physical exercise regime, smoking, drug or alcohol use and sexual history.
Include notes about any allergies you have. Note any other treatments you get from other doctors.
Make a list of questions and concerns you have and don’t be afraid to discuss the sensitive topics, for example, if sexual intercourse has become painful. Because it’s important, and can be addressed in a number of ways.
Find out about tests, treatment options and medications that can help alleviate your current symptoms or protect you from future long term health issues due the menopause. Ask about side effects, or any other concerns new medications or treatments may have.

Innovative Treatments

At PremierMD Care, we offer a number of innovative treatments for the symptoms of peri-menopause, menopause and to help lower the risks associated with post-menopausal lack of hormones.

One of the primary things we recommend for menopausal women is hormone replacement therapy, and we offer one of the newest methods for it with bioidentical pellet therapy. Pellet hormone replacement therapy is ideal because it is safe, natural and effective. The pellets deliver healthy, consistent levels of hormones for three to six months depending on dosage. Due to the steady hormone levels, users do not see unwanted symptoms or side effects caused by fluctuating levels of hormones. They do not increase blood clot risk like conventional or synthetic HRT methods. It does not carry the same risk of breast cancer as high oral estrogen doses that do not contain enough hormone metabolites or chemical progestins. Research suggests balanced hormones protect breast health. Some of the benefits of this therapy include:

More energy
Deeper, more restful sleep
Improved mood
Increase in muscle mass and bone density
Decrease in fatty tissue
Increase in strength, coordination and physical performance
Enhancement of concentration and memory
Improvement of skin tone and hair texture

Another innovative treatment we offer here is ThermiVa, which is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment option for vaginal rejuvenation. It uses radiofrequency energy to gently heat vaginal tissues, which encourages the production of collagen and elastin fibers. The process can tighten vaginal tissues, reduce urinary incontinence, enhance sexual sensitivity and reduce discomfort during sexual intercourse. Your body literally produces new fibers for better feminine wellness in general.

We look forward to helping you move into your golden years with ease and grace and in the healthiest way possible! Your health and well-being is our biggest priority! Call (239) 500-6363 for an appointment.

What is the difference between Botox and Fillers?

We hear this question all the time! But trust us, we didn’t always know the answer either until our physicians told us everything we know!

The simple answer is this:

BOTOX

Botox and comparable products relax muscles, causing less facial movement, and in turn, begin smoothing out facial lines and preventing future ones from appearing! Think about those pesky crows feet lines, forehead lines, and lines between the brows!

Fillers “fill” in areas where volume is desired or has been lost. Think about filling in those smile lines, sunken under-eye area, or plumping up your cheeks and lips. We can even create a smooth, precise jaw line with filler.

If you want a little more in depth information about Botox and Fillers, here you go:

Neuromodulators (Botulinum Toxin-A; commercially known as Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeaveau) are nearly painless, wrinkle-reducing injections. These toxins are injected directly into the underlying muscle, causing it to relax and gradually smooth out the appearance of the overlying skin. The effects vary from person to person, however, these toxins last on average around 3-4 months.

The most common areas to be treated with Botox are frown lines and crow’s feet! The amount of “units” needed per area for treatment will be prescribed by our injecting physician, Dr. Ivan Cvik, and are based on the strength of the muscle.

How do we tell how strong the muscle is? Every time you come into the office, you’ll be asked to make weird faces! We’ll ask you to smile, look surprised, and frown! It might be a little awkward and goofy, but that’s exactly how we tell the strength of the muscle and correctly prescribe the perfect amount of Botox units for you!

Downtime? Hardly! Botox needles are so tiny, they may feel like a tiny bee sting (if that) and there may be some temporary swelling/redness that will go away within a few hours tops.

Don’t forget! Results generally take anywhere from 3-7 days to fully kick in! Make sure you schedule accordingly if you’re having an upcoming event or plans that you’d like to be ready for.

Extra cool facts about Botox and similar Neuromodulators:

How long have people been using Botox?
Botox was first used in 1977 to treat muscle spasms in eyes! However, it was in 1996 that physicians first started injecting Botox for cosmetic reasons and was officially approved by the FDA in 2002!

Best age to start receiving Botox? Drum roll…..
22! Why 22? Because if you were to start receiving Botox injections at 22, you could prevent the wrinkles that 35+ year old’s are working hard towards erasing!

Hyperhidrosis (Excessive Sweating):
Botox can be used to treat excessive sweating under the arms. (Hyperhidrosis)

Migraines:
Botox injections can help alleviate the pain associated with migraines.

TMJ:
Botox injections can greatly help relieve jaw tension for many patients

Flawless Skin (looks like you have a real life photo filter on)
Botox can be microneedled into the skin, shrinking pore size. The closest thing we can compare it to is magic!

FILLERS

We could talk all day about how cool Botox is and we think the 7,437,378 people that received Botox injections in 2018 would agree, however, let’s dive in a little deeper with fillers!

Fillers are generally Hyaluronic Acid injections that create volume for up to 12 months! We know you’ve probably seen an abundance of products stating that they contain Hyaluronic Acid and the popularity of this ingredient has taken flight over the past few years, filling cosmetic and skincare store shelves.

But what is it? Hyaluronic Acid is a clear, gooey substance that is naturally produced by your body. It’s mostly found in your skin, connective tissue, and eyes. The main function of Hyaluronic acid is to help retain water and to keep your tissues hydrated.

Why is Hyaluronic Acid the ingredient they chose to use for filler injections? Because that clear, smooth, amazing gooey product not only adds silky, undetectable volume, but it also draws moisture to it, helping it to stay plump, not lose it’s shape and volume, and helps to hydrate the outer-laying skin! Let’s not forget that it’s also NATURAL! We can’t think of a dreamier choice!

Fillers are most commonly used to replace loss of volume or to plump desired areas. With the perfect filler, Dr. Ivan Cvik can create a flawless jawline, perfectly contoured cheeks (get that highlighter, ready!), a balanced profile (hate that bump in your nose?), and those plump lips you’ve been daydreaming about! Fillers are also an amazing treatment for both deep and shallow lines around the mouth, and treating under-eye bags or hollowing!

How much will I need? We wish we knew off the top of our heads, but the truth is that we can’t give you an exact answer offhand. A complimentary design consultation is the perfect answer to this question! Let our physician and clinical aesthetician provide you with a detailed skin analysis and assessment. They’ll create a customized treatment plan with results you’re guaranteed to love!

Downtime and pain? Minimal! Their can be bruising and swelling associated with Filler injections. However, these symptoms should dissipate within 72 hours. Dr. Ivan Cvik’s cutting-edge cannula techniques also ensure a flawless experience with minimal to no bruising and swelling. MedSpa 22 also offers a multitude of ways to eliminate any pain.

Don’t forget! While we barely see any bruising with our patients, bruising is POSSIBLE. Please schedule your filler appointment accordingly if you have any events or special days coming up soon!

Fun facts about fillers:

Fillers are over 100 years old!
Fillers were invented in the late 1800’s by an Austrian surgeon named Robert Gersuny (he used vaseline for filler injections!) I’d say we’ve come a long way since then!

It’s Popular!
2nd most popular treatment in 2018 according to the National Plastic Surgery Statistics!
Runner up to Botox!

It takes A LOT to over-do it
New patients to fillers may be slightly terrified walking in to talk about this procedure. We see horror stories everywhere about giant, deformed looking lips, or some other extremity. The truth is that it actually takes A LOT of filler to create these crazy, dramatic results. Our best recommendation? Choose a physician that’s been practicing cosmetic injections for 2+ years, stays current on continued education and advanced techniques, and fully understands the results your looking for! (Dr. Ivan Cvik is a great choice by the way… not that we’re biased or anything.)

EAR LOBES!
We can fix drooping ear lobes in 20 minutes with some light filler injections! This completely changes the way you wear earrings!

Non Hyaluronic Acid Based Fillers can be more permanent!
Not all fillers are made with Hyaluronic Acid
At MedSpa 22, we offer Sculptra & Radiesse and these are collagen stimulating products that work overtime to create results that last up to 5 years! Call to find out more!

Does it matter who injects you? Yes!!!! You could have the BEST product on the market, but if you’re not in the hands of a skilled, knowledgeable, and meticulous injector you could easily become a victim to results you wouldn’t even want for free, let alone results you had to invest in! You are a million percent allowed to be picky! We can’t say enough about Dr. Ivan Cvik’s injection skills and how amazing he is, but if you’ve stumbled upon this blog and don’t live anywhere near us, we highly recommend interviewing your injector prior to receiving services to check their qualifications and make sure you’re comfortable… (or just buy a plane ticket and come see us! You deserve a vacation anyway!)

If you have any more questions about the difference between Botox and Fillers, or you’re ready for treatment and can no longer hold back the excitement, give us a call at your earliest convenience! We’d love to hear from you. (239)500-SPAS(7727)

IT’S A HYDRAFACIAL NATION – #ShowYourGlow at MedSpa 22

One Hydrafacial is performed every 15 seconds around the world.

With impressive stats, celebrity endorsements, and advertisements flooding big city billboards, tv commercials, and social media; there is no doubt that HydraFacial has made it’s way into the skincare spotlight. If you’re anything like us, it’s probably made you stop, give a little eye roll, and question if this is just another costly skincare gimmick.

Our response: Not a chance.

History: The HydraFacial Company was established in 1997 in Southern California. The HydraFacial brand has spent the entirety of it’s life perfecting skin care with the use of award-winning, patented skin care technologies and solutions! Their products are currently being used in 75 different countries! The brands identity is a celebration of their uniqueness, demonstrating the emotional connection they create by revealing a brighter, more confident life through amazing skin.

What is a HydraFacial: The HydraFacial is a machine unlike any other. HydraFacial is a three to four-step medical grade resurfacing treatment that cleanses, exfoliates, extracts, and hydrates the skin with serums that are infused into pores with a state-of-the-art HydraPeel Tip (which is a pen-like device).

Why we chose to offer HydraFacials: Dr. Ivan Cvik believes in offering the best products and services on the market for our clients. We want to provide treatments and services that we would personally want for ourselves and that we know deliver incredible results. That being said, we’ve tried nearly every facial machine on the market and nothing quite compared to the glowing end result of the HydraFacial. Sometimes, it’s an easy choice. Lucky for us, this was one of them!

The Treatment: The Hydrafacial treatment begins with a deep cleanse that removes excess sebum and dead skin cells from the skin. Next, a mix of glycolic and salicylic acids are applied to break up any oil and dirt that’s blocking the pores. That HydraPeel Tip is then used to literally vacuum out all the blackheads, oil, dirt, and impurities using advanced vortex technology, while managing to also infuse nourishing serums that hydrate and plump the skin.

The Benefit: A HydraFacial can improve your skin in a ton of ways and can be completely customized to fit your precise skincare needs. The treatment helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, helps improve tone, sun spots, and texture, as well as increasing firmness and minimizing the appearance of large pores! Think it stops there? Nope! You’ll leave the spa GLOWING with a healthy, hydrated, bright, and clear complexion.

Side Effects: Minimal! You may leave the spa a little red due to the vacuum technology and mixture of glycolic and salicylic acids used. However, it’s anticipated for the redness to wear off within an hour or so. We prefer that our patients let their skin relax following the treatment and soak up all the amazing benefits of their HydraFacial. Normal skin and makeup routine can begin the very next day!

Don’t forget! The risks are low, but we do advise that it is possible to experience irritation if you have reactive/sensitive skin!

Who should get a HydraFacial: Everyone! HydraFacial is suitable for nearly every age and skin type. Want even better news? It’s completely customizable to fit YOUR needs! We’ve found that acne, hyper-pigmentation, sun damage, dull-sallow skin, and wrinkles are absolutely no match for the HydraFacial treatment.

How often? Right after a HydraFacial our clients leave with glowing, dewy skin. While it’s a great treatment and a refreshing pick-me-up, this treatment is not a quick fix. Think about it like working out. If you want lasting results – you have to put in the effort. That being said, while you’ll have great immediate results, the HydraFacial treatment is intended to improve the skin’s appearance over time. Our clinical aestheticians highly recommend receiving the treatment every 4 to 6 weeks to maintain optimal skin health. Pair it with a daily Skinceuticals regimen, and you’ve established a dream team!

HydraFacial Extras & Perks:

Lip Perk – plump & hydrate your lips! (great to get prior to lip injections!)
Eye Perk – minimize pesky lines and wrinkles (great to get right before Botox!)
Boosters – customizable boosters to brighten, tighten, hydrate, and even skin tone!

LED Therapy

Red light therapy is used to combat aging and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Blue light therapy is the perfect defense against acne, as it virtually destroys any bacteria within the skin

Lymphatic Drainage

Lymphatic Draining Reduce sinus pressure, alleviate allergies, and minimize facial swelling

Medical Grade Chemical Peels

Being that we are a licensed medical spa, this allows us the opportunity to take your HydraFacial to an entirely different level and provide you with the option of receiving a medical grade peel with your treatment. This allows us to better address and treat specific skincare concerns.

At MedSpa 22, your health and beauty is our biggest priority. We know that you deserve the best and that’s why we seek out exceptional products and treatments that provide unmatched results. So go ahead and dive into the world of HydraFacial and experience first hand what it feels like to have the best skin of your life. Book your Hydrafacial today by calling (239) 500-7727!

Neurotoxins: Botox, Dysport & Xeomin

What are Neurotoxins?

Neurotoxins are chemicals that target the nervous system, disrupting the signaling process that allows the neurons to communicate effectively. When injected in very small concentrations into humans, these toxins work by preventing signals from the nerve cells reaching muscles therefore paralyzing them temporarily. In order for muscles to contract, nerves release a chemical messenger, acetylcholine parentheses a neurotransmitter), at the junction where the nerve endings meet muscle cell. Acetylcholine attaches to receptors on muscle cells and causes the muscle cells to contract or shorten. Injected neurotoxins prevent the release of acetylcholine, preventing contraction of the muscle cells which makes the muscles less stiff.

Are these neuromodulator dangerous chemicals?

No!

Everyone knows the name Botox. Botox is the most well-known of the neurotoxins, owned by Allergan and previous to cosmetic use it was used for years for medical conditions. Botox belongs to a category of drugs called neuromodulators. Originally Botox was introduced in 1987 took your blood for a plasm eyelid muscle spasms and was injected by ophthalmologist. Botox blocks the nerves from activating muscles and stops muscles from moving by blocking the activation or firing of nerves to the muscles the muscle spasm was broken. Ophthalmologist noticed that these patients also developed less wrinkles and lines of their skin.

Botox relaxes muscles and therefore decreases the depth of wrinkles. Because you aren’t actively using the muscles you are not increasing the depth of wrinkles during the time the medication is active. Once it wears off you will not be worse off than when you started. In fact several studies have shown that long-term, continued use of Botox slows down the appearance of facial aging. There is absolutely no danger to continuing Botox once you start.

What else is Botox used for?
Botox has found many medical uses and is currently used to treat over 20 different medical conditions including treatment of migraine headaches, excessive sweating, muscle spasms in children with cerebral palsy, bladder spasms, and many more indications. The safety profile of the use of Botox is well known.

How are neuromodulators injected and are there risks or side-effects?
They are injected using the smallest possible needles. There can be a small pin prick sensation from the needles and occasionally a small pinpoint bruising or swelling can occur at the site of injection. A physician with excellent knowledge of the muscles, nerves and blood vessels of the face will be able to know where to inject and how much to inject to get the proper results. Some clients are concerned that they will look “overdone “or “not natural”. In the hands of an experienced doctor this will not happen.

These injections are typically well tolerated. Rarely an individual may have a genetic predisposition that prism results in a mild transient unusual response to the drug. About 1% of people receiving injections may develop antibodies to the toxin that makes subsequent treatments ineffective. The most common side effects reported or mild pain or local swelling or redness, numbness, transient headache, generalized malaise, mild nausea and flu like illness.

What is Dysport?
Although everyone knows the name Botox, Botox has competitors on the market. All are well studied and effective treatments with safety profiles that have been proven. Dysport is another neuromodulator, manufacture by Galderma. Some doctors report that it’s onset of action is slightly shorter (starts working a day or two earlier) and might even last a little bit longer (four months as opposed to 3 months)

What is Xeomin?
This is another neuromodulator made by a company called Merz. The unique thing about Xeomin is that it is the only neurotoxin that doesn’t have the complex proteins attached to it. So it is a purer version of the neuromodulator and therefore perhaps less chance of having an adverse reaction to it and or becoming resistant to it in the future.

Is there another, new neurotoxin on the market?
Yes! It is called Jeaveau (parabotulinumtoxinA)and it is manufactured by Evolus. it works similarly Botox, Dysport and Xeomin and lasts approximately 3 months.

Why is finding the right doctor to perform the injections so important?
As mentioned above only and experienced and skilled doctor, as Dr. Ivan Cvik, who has complete knowledge of all the facial muscles and their function, facial nerves, and blood vessels can safely and effectively perform the injections to get the best outcomes. Dr. Ivan Cvik is a highly trained professional always does an initial, consultation (going over desired outcomes, client expectations) and explains the procedure in detail before proceeding with the actual injections. For more information on neurotoxins please contact our office at 239-500-7727.

You’re hot. Skin Cancer is not.

As we’re coming into the melting summer months of Florida, we wanted to discuss a topic that we are extremely passionate about and know can be somewhat of an overly-exhausted topic for many: Skin Cancer.

We are constantly flooded with information about Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, etc. All of these cancers that are caused by genetics, or some unknown source or factor and are unpredictable and not always preventable. Skin Cancer may not always be in the spotlight, however, we think it’s one of the most terrifying cancers to date and the crazy part is that so many cases are completely preventable. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, Skin Cancer is now the most common cancer in the United States with over 5 million cases diagnosed each year. About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers and 85 percent of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to the sun.

As a staff of providers dedicated to achieving your aesthetic goals and treating all of your concerns, we know that health and beauty go hand in hand. And while we don’t want to preach, we do always want to educate. So we wanted to touch base and inform everyone about the different types of skin cancer, what it means to be diagnosed, and how to help prevent it.

The most common types of cancer are Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), and Melanoma, with BCC’s being the most common type, coming in at 4 of the 5 million cases diagnosed in the US yearly.

Basal Cell Carcinoma – Most common form of skin cancer. BCC’s often look like pink growths, red patches, shiny bumps, or even just a scar. BCC’s almost never spread from the original site and only in very rare cases has it ever become life-threatening. This may not seem like a big deal, but it still needs to be treated as it can end up becoming disfiguring if not treated promptly.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma – Second most common form of skin cancer. SCC’s often look like scaly red patches, warts, elevated growths, or open sores. They may have a tendency to sometimes crust or bleed. If given the chance and not treated, they can sometimes become deadly. The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that there are 115 cases diagnosed every single hour in the US, and that more than 15,000 Americans die each year from SCC. These numbers have increased 200% in the past 3 decades.

Melanoma – Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. These cancerous growths develop when un-repaired DNA damage to skin cells (tanning beds and being in the sun too long!) trigger mutations that provoke the skin cells to multiply at a rapid pace and form malignant tumors. They often appear as asymmetrical moles and are usually black or brown, yet sometimes will be skin-colored, pink, red, purple, white, or even blue! If melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is almost always curable. If it’s not, it can spread to other parts of the body quite quickly and become fatal. The Skin Cancer Foundation predicts that 7,230 people will die from Melanoma in 2019.

So what can you do to keep your skin healthy and glowing? We’re so glad you asked!

Sunscreen! (And yes! The sunscreen you use DOES matter!)

- - Make sure you’re using a Mineral + Chemical Sunscreen
  - Mineral (physical) filters sit on top of the skin and block UVA/UVB rays. Think about the mineral filter as a shield! Zinc oxide is a natural mineral filter.
  - Chemical (organic) filters penetrate the skin to scatter and absorb UVA/UVB rays. Think about the chemical filters as a sponge!

What does SPF even do or mean? Is using a higher SPF actually better?

- - SPF = Sun Protection Factor
  - The SPF number tells you how long the sun’s UV radiation would take to start burning your skin versus the amount of time it would take without using any sunscreen.
  - So for instance, if you use SPF 30 it would take you 30 times longer to burn than if you weren’t wearing any sunscreen! The higher the SPF number, the less percentage of UV rays are allowed to penetrate your skin which offer you more protection.
  - Don’t think you can just put your sunscreen on and you’re good for the day though! Reapplying is essential, so please always follow the instructions.

Schedule a complimentary skin evaluation with our Licensed Clinical Esthetician.

– It is our ultimate goal to help you feel beautiful and confident in the skin you’re in, as well as making sure it’s healthy. Schedule a complimentary evaluation and let us create a treatment plan along with the perfect daily product regimen! (239)500-SPAS (7727)

Keep sun exposure to a minimum!

- - We know and we won’t argue it! The sun provides plenty of health benefits. It keeps our planet warm, and our plants healthy. Sunshine touching our skin is a trigger that provokes our bodies to make Vitamin D which is absolutely essential for our well-being.
  - However, 30 minutes of sun a day is more than enough to get this healthy dose in and chances are that you’re getting it without even thinking about it. (I.E. Any time you’re walking from the car to the house, or driving, or near a window, etc.)
  - So for the rest of the time, wear a hat, try to hang out in shady areas, and if you can’t handle hiding from the sun, don’t forget to wear sunscreen!

Visit the Dermatologist yearly & keep an eye on any spots or moles on your body that may have changed in shape, size, or color!

Not so fun fact:

Did you know that your driver’s side is exposed to the sun more frequently and that having dark spots and loss of laxity is more visibly common on that side as we age? So even though you may not be a beach bum, you’re still exposed to the sun daily and need sunscreen coverage.

Getting Started with a Weight Loss Program

A monitored weight loss program is an option to consider if you’ve been trying everything that you know of to lose weight on your own. It often involves more than just a few exercises and eating healthier. As you get started with a weight loss program, there are a few things that you should know about so that it’s easier to make the changes in your life that will deliver the results that you desire.

Look at the lifestyle that you’re living right now. Keep a diary about the things that you believe have resulted in gaining weight and the things that you’ve been doing to try to lose weight but haven’t worked. If you can keep a journal with the foods that you eat and the exercises you do, you can get a better idea as to what you can change during the day to lose weight.

When you’re getting started with a weight loss program, you should set a goal for how much you want to lose and an overall target weight that you want to reach. Keep in mind that it’s more about lifestyle changes that are healthy instead of trying to lose as much weight as possible each month. Start slowly so that your body can get adjusted to the changes that you’re making and so that it’s easier to keep the weight off.

Based on how much you currently weigh and how much you want to lose, you need to determine how many calories you need to consume each day. This is where a doctor can help as you’re getting started with your weight loss program. You can talk to your doctor about the foods that you should eat and those you should avoid that might have more calories in them. There are several apps you can use to keep track of what you eat each day and the calories that you’re consuming so that you don’t have to count them on your own.

Try to get rid of the unhealthy foods in your home. This will make it easier to avoid them in general, especially if you don’t purchase them again. Start with a few simple exercises until you build your stamina and are able to exercise for longer periods of time. Within a few months, you should begin seeing noticeable changes in how you look and feel as you lose weight.

To learn more about how to get started with a weight loss program that’s safe and effective for your body, we warmly invite you to reach out and make an appointment with MedSpa 22. At our convenient locations in Fort Myers, FL, our caring and dedicated team of professionals will be pleased to explain this option to you in full and answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!

Am I a Candidate for Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy?

There are a number of reasons why people are interested in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Many women are interested in this therapy because of the constant fluctuations they experience in hormones throughout their lives. Pregnancy, menopause, PMS, and other situations can make life difficult for some women. Men also battle with hormone fluctuations, especially as they get older. Additional hormonal challenges arise based on a man’s diet and the stresses they are under.

As a person ages, they will experience a normal fluctuation in hormone levels. A person may ask, how can I know for sure if I am a good candidate for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy? There are a lot of factors to consider, but let’s focus on just a few of them.

You Have Undergone Hormone Testing

This is the obvious but not always appreciated reason why people begin bioidentical hormone therapy. In fact, before our doctor would recommend any form of hormone therapy, they are going to do some testing to make sure that your hormone levels are actually low. There is no benefit in giving someone hormone therapy if their symptoms are being caused by something else.

Doctors are able to examine your blood to determine your hormone levels. They can compare these levels with what is considered standard for someone in your age range. Some assume that when a man or woman reaches a certain age, they are automatically deficient in a particular hormone. However, this assumption is not always accurate. There are a number of individuals who are in their middle-age years or older who are still producing healthy levels of hormones that their body is happy with. If that’s the case, then there’s really no reason to make any changes.

Let’s say that you are a woman who is healthy and in your mid-20’s. You’re experiencing hot flashes and other symptoms connected to menopause. This is not enjoyable, it’s not normal, and it is definitely not healthy. This may be an example of perimenopause. Basically, your hormone levels are dropping faster than they should. In this instance, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may be a solution to the symptoms that you are dealing with.

Men may also experience an abnormal drop in their testosterone levels. There are a number of factors that can contribute to this. In some cases, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is exactly what is needed in order to help get the man feeling like he should for his age.

Learn More

Would you like to learn more about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and see if it can help you improve your quality of life? If so, reach out to the educated staff at MedSpa 22 in Fort Myers, FL. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!

The Simplicity of Getting a BOTOX Treatment

You may feel that you look older than you really are merely because of the tiny wrinkles that form on your face and forehead when you smile or frown. All it takes is a narrowing of the eyes or a pursing of the lips, and the skin on your face suddenly crinkles and is full of lines and crow’s feet. The easiest fix for the problem of dynamic wrinkles is a simple BOTOX® treatment.

Without actually treating the skin directly, this quick procedure can result in a significant diminishing of these wrinkles. Your current skin tone and thickness doesn’t matter. The injections relax the upper-level facial muscles and allow the skin to remain flat and smooth. You’re a likely candidate for BOTOX® treatment if you’re in good overall health and have the type of wrinkles that it’s designed to treat.

What It Treats

The skin gets pulled and creased every time you make a facial expression. Countless thousands of muscle contractions over the years, combined with a decreasing amount of important proteins in the skin, causes the appearance of thin wrinkles that often appear splintered. These usually occur on the forehead, in between the eyebrows, and at the sides of the eyes.

The muscles that pull and crease the skin lay just below the dermal layers. If they are forced to remain in a relaxed state, the lower-level muscles take over the job, but they don’t contort the skin surface as much. BOTOX® treatments prevent nerve signals from reaching the upper-level muscles while leaving the lower-level muscles and sensory nerves unaffected.

Performing BOTOX® Treatments

During a consultation for BOTOX® treatment, we examine your face and look at the severity of the wrinkling. We want to check the strength and depth of the muscles that are causing these dynamic wrinkles to form. Based on these observations, we will determine the proper injection sites and dosage.

The fluid itself is basically a purified protein solution. When it’s injected directly into muscle tissue, it blocks the signals from the brain, and this means less overall muscle contraction.

Results aren’t immediate. It takes days for the effect to become noticeable. The muscles will remain in a mostly relaxed, non-contracted state for about four months or so, after which time the procedure can be repeated.

Simpler Than Other Treatments

You can opt for skin ablation, but it’s a more aggressive, invasive procedure. Some individuals, perhaps yourself, worry about negative reactions to other treatments. Abrasive resurfacing is sometimes effective, but it can result in localized discolorations and a brittle appearance to the skin surface. BOTOX® treatment doesn’t target the skin directly, so there’s no worrying about problems with the skin tone afterward.

You can turn back the aging clock on your appearance with a simple BOTOX® treatment at MedSpa 22 in Fort Myers. Contact us today to book your appointment and learn more information.

Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritis

Stem cell therapy is not new to the medical community; surgeons have been using varying forms of stem cell therapy to complete major operations and other surgeries for many years. Chiropractors and practitioners are now authorized to offer stem cell injections for such orthopedic needs as torn ACLs, pulled tendons, damaged muscles and osteoarthritis in the joints right in their office.

Thousands of men and women have experienced relief from chronic pain with stem cell therapy in the past two years, relieving chronic pain and avoiding major surgeries. Stem cell therapy can be completed in one office visit with little to no downtime. Stem cells are fresh and uncoded, so when they are injected into a specific area, they are able to reproduce the cells that they have come in contact with whether it is muscle, tissue, bone or cartilage.

The amazing property of stem cells is what has allowed this state-of-the-art technology to provide many benefits for the recipients. Some facilitators harvest the stem cells from the fat on the patient’s back, but this process has proved to be inferior to the new, harvested umbilical stem cells. The stem cells taken from the back are precoded and dated according to the patient.

How Can Stem Cell Therapy Help Osteoarthritis?

If you are suffering from osteoarthritis or you have suffered an injury to your joints, the stem cell process will multiply the remaining cartridge cells to restore the area. In a matter of weeks, pain should begin decreasing and continue for months.

The treatment is not for everyone though. Before you begin stem cell therapy, the doctor will determine if you would be a prime candidate for the treatment. In order for the stem cells to multiply, there must be an adequate amount of the injured tissue still remaining, so the new stem cells have an adequate amount to copy.

In your first office visit, the doctor will discuss any pain you’ve been experiencing, and then take an X-ray to show the extent of the damage. If you are a good candidate, the stem cell injection may be given in the office visit, and you can begin to start building back lost tissue immediately.

Contact Us Today for Further Information

If you have any more questions about the extraordinary stem cell therapy and how it can benefit you, please feel free to make an appointment with Med Spa 22. At our convenient location in Fort Myers, FL, our caring and dedicated staff would love to help eliminate the pain from osteoarthritis and get you back to feeling your best again. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!

Use BOTOX Injections to Fade Wrinkles

Both men and women who are trying to reduce the appearance of wrinkles should consider BOTOX® injections. This revolutionary treatment is changing the way people see the aging process. One simple appointment can leave you looking younger for four months and results in no downtime. If you are interested in a non-surgical way to look younger, read on to learn more about BOTOX® injections.

How Do BOTOX® Injections Work?

BOTOX® works by temporarily relaxing certain facial muscles in order to allow fine lines and wrinkles to relax and fade. It is aimed at treating dynamic wrinkles, which are the ones caused by repetitive facial movements, such as squinting, laughing, and frowning. Injections are made in a very precise way so the surrounding area will not be impacted. You will still be able to make a full range of facial expressions after BOTOX® injections.

After your appointment, it will take a few days for the muscles to become paralyzed. Improvements in the appearance of the wrinkles are apparent soon after. The results can last for a number of months. If you choose not to have follow-up treatments after this time, muscle movements will resume and the wrinkles will reappear.

Why Choose BOTOX® Injections?

There are many reasons that this treatment has become so popular that it is practically a household name. Some of the highlights include:

It is the best-researched drug of its kind
Results are dramatic, even on moderate to severe wrinkles
It can target crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines
Treatments are quick and easy, typically taking 15 minutes or less
There is no downtime after treatment
It is safe and FDA-approved

Who Should Consider BOTOX® Injection?

This is an appropriate treatment for both men and women who are bothered by the appearance of dynamic wrinkles. It is not something that is only suitable for the elderly. More and more people are getting this treatment in their 40s and even 30s. There are many factors that go into when dynamic wrinkles appear, such as lifestyle and genetics. You do not need to wait until you reach a certain age to seek treatment.

Get In Touch with Us for More Information

If you are ready to fade your wrinkles and look younger, fee free to reach out and make an appointment with Med Spa 22. At our convenient location in Fort Myers, FL, we would be happy to discuss BOTOX® injections and create a personalized treatment plan just for you. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!