By Kathie Gonzales, ARNP, St. Petersburg Health & Wellness

Part of being a woman is learning to embrace our differences and deserving healthcare that treats us as individuals. Integrative practices can provide such treatment options.

Platelet Rich Plasma Facial Rejuvenation:

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) are the healing factors derived from one’s own blood and has been used to help heal musculoskeletal injuries for many years. Now women are using this regenerative therapy for skin correction and to reduce the signs of aging. PRP combined with micro-needling reduces the appearance of scarring, fine lines, and wrinkles by stimulating collagen. In general, most people require 3-6 treatments 4-6 weeks apart with the anti-aging effects lasting for months due to the treatment’s stimulation of new cell growth. The side effects are normally some mild swelling and peeling of the area treated. After the procedure it’s important to avoid sun exposure.

Thermography:

Is a non-invasive, pain-free, radiation-free scan of the breasts or entire body using infrared thermal imaging. The scans are read and interpreted by a certified physician with a 90% accuracy rate. It is FDA approved, but not covered by health insurance. Thermal imaging is an ideal way of detecting abnormalities or disease before progressing to a cancer state. This testing method is ideal for teens and women with dense breast tissue, implants, breastfeeding or those who have had prior breast procedures. It’s a good adjunct to those with chronic disease to identify areas of inflammation.

Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy:

Hormone balance is of critical importance in how we feel, affecting our mood, sleep, energy, and sex drive. Natural hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an individualized treatment that can alleviate many, if not all these symptoms and can improve cardiovascular health and decrease joint pain. HRT comes in multiple forms; topical creams and patches, oral troches, injectables, and pellets. Pellet therapy has been successfully used in the US and Europe since 1938. It requires a small incision in the upper buttocks or lower abdomen and the small pellet cylinder is placed under the skin in the subcutaneous tissue. Pellets provide for stable hormone levels, not dependent on remembering to take or applying properly. The hormone levels typically last 3-6months. The side effects are pain, swelling, or infection of the site.