Southern Skin and Wellness is located directly in the heart of the New Orleans CBD.
Patients whose laboratory studies confirm a deficiency, and who respond to therapy, commonly report improvement in the symptoms that prompted treatment. Response varies considerably between patients, and not everyone improves. Changes patients most often report include:
Dr. Lindley will review the risks of hormone therapy, what the evidence does and does not establish, and the monitoring involved, before you decide whether to proceed.
For men we typically prescribe testosterone; for women, testosterone and estradiol paired with progesterone. Laboratory studies and a clinical evaluation guide each plan, and dosing is adjusted over time based on repeat labs and how you respond.
Both men and women can suffer from a hormone deficiency. While this condition may have a similar cause, the symptoms can differ. Men typically suffer from a testosterone deficiency, while women can suffer from deficiencies in multiple hormones.
Insufficient hormone levels in both men and women can negatively affect the quality of life and ability to function daily. Some of the most common symptoms of hormone deficiency include the following:
Hormone pellets are about the size of a grain of rice and release hormone steadily as they dissolve. We dose each pellet to the individual patient based on laboratory studies and symptoms.
The procedure is short. We cleanse and numb an area on the hip or buttock, make a small incision, place the pellet and secure it with a bandage. You can resume most normal activity afterward, avoiding lower-body workouts, baths and swimming for a few days.
The pellet then releases hormone gradually into the bloodstream over months. Unlike an injection or a cream, the dose cannot be adjusted or stopped once the pellet is placed, which is the main trade-off to weigh against the convenience. Dr. Lindley will discuss that with you before you choose this route.
Some patients feel improvements within the first week of treatment; for others, it can take a few weeks. Typically, your results can last up to six months for a man and four months for a woman.
Once the pellet is completely dissolved and absorbed by the bloodstream, you'll schedule a follow-up treatment, and we'll implant another pellet to maintain your long-term results. Most patients only need two to three follow-up treatments annually for optimal results.
While hormone pellets are our primary treatment option, we also offer injectable, oral and topical hormones for patients who need or prefer them. The choice is based on each patient's needs, as determined by evaluation and discussion with Dr. Lindley.
Injectable hormone medications are typically self-administered intramuscularly with a very fine needle. If you choose this route, we provide clear instruction on how, when and how often to administer the product.
Newer oral formulations reach therapeutic levels quickly and are designed to reduce the first-pass liver effects associated with older oral preparations. They remain prescription medications with their own risks, which Dr. Lindley will review with you.
We also offer topical hormone medications applied to the skin for absorption. If you choose this route we provide instruction on where, when and how often to apply them, along with the precautions around transfer to other people through skin contact.
Once a deficiency is confirmed and treatment begins, we monitor your response. Dr. Lindley reviews each patient during this process to check that the chosen method is working and remains appropriate.
We perform regular follow-up blood panels and adjust method and dose based on those results, your symptoms and your preferences. Not every patient responds the same way, and some need a change of formulation or dose before they notice a difference.
The best candidates for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy are men and women with a hormone deficiency. While age is one of the most common factors contributing to the need for BHRT, it's not the only factor.
Younger men and women can suffer from a hormone imbalance that negatively affects their lives due to genetics, illness, the side effects of certain medications, pregnancy, and other factors. Regardless of your age, we'll take your blood levels and symptoms into account to determine whether BHRT is the proper treatment for you.
