Testosterone...Men AND Women Need It!

Continuing on with my recent hormone blogs.....let's talk about testosterone today.

In men testosterone is responsible for sperm production and for secondary sex characteristics. In women testosterone regulates sexual desire and helps maintain bone and muscle health.

It is a well known fact that testosterone decreases with age in both men and women. Men age 30-70 lose 1-3% of their total testosterone production each year. Women age 30-40 lose 50% of their testosterone production.

Symptoms of decreased testosterone in women include:

• fatigue
• mood swings, anxiety, depression
• insomnia
• decreased libido, vaginal dryness
• brain fog, memory loss
• weight gain especially in the belly
• decreased muscle mass
• joint pain
• night sweats
• migraine/menstrual headaches

Symptoms of decreased testosterone in men: 

• fatigue
• decreased muscle mass and weight gain especially in the belly
• erectile dysfunction and decreased libido
• "man boobs"
• irritability, depression, anxiety
• joint pain
• sleep problems
• memory loss

Lots of myths surround the use of testosterone in women. So be informed and make note of the facts!

• testosterone is the most abundant biologically active hormone in women
• testosterone does not "masculinize" women unless some huge supra-physiologic dose is used
• testosterone does not deepen a woman's voice
• testosterone therapy actually increases scalp hair in women
• testosterone is cardioprotective and adequate levels actually decrease the risk of heart disease 
• testosterone decreases anxiety and irritability
• testosterone is protective to the breast and DOES NOT cause breast cancer

At Sei Bella we offer bio-identical hormone replacement therapy with pellets. Pellets are inserted in the fat of your butt under the skin every 4-6 months depending on when your symptoms recur. The procedure is very quick and painless. It doesn't even require any stitches, just a steristrip. Hormone pellet implants were developed in 1939 for women who had radical hysterectomies and they have been used in Europe, the United States and Australia ever since. 

Bio-identical hormone pellets are actually derived from sweet potatoes and are the size of a grain of rice or smaller. They have the exact same molecular structure as the hormones our own bodies used to make. They provide a steady stream of hormones in your blood stream (no peak and trough). Dosing is very individualized based on your lab work, age, height, weight, symptoms, etc. And since they are placed under the skin of your butt they last for 4-6 months.

I personally have been getting hormone pellet therapy for almost 4 years. I certainly have had no adverse effects and they changed my life. My mood is better. I can sleep! And I don't have all the soreness and muscle recovery I used to have after a long run or workout.

Call for your consult! Start feeling like yourself again before the holidays! 501-228-6237

Anne R Trussell MD

owner/physician

Literature sources:

North American Menopause Association

Davison SL, Bell R, Donath S, Montalto JG, Davis SR. Androgen levels in adult females. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2005;90(7):3847

Kaufmann JM, Vermeulen A. The Decline of Androgen Levels in Elderly Men. Endo Rev 2005;26:833-76

Gray A. et al, Mass. Male Aging Study, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1991; 73:1016

Glaser R, Dimitralakis C., Testosterone therapy in women, Myths and misconceptions: Maturitas 74 (2013) 230-234

Mishnell 41, Greenblatt 49, Thom 81, Stancyk 88

Early November Specialty Events at Sei Bella Med Spa

Filler Friday 

Nov 4th

10 am-2 pm

BellaFill is a unique filler that lasts at least 5 years. I am a national trainer for BellaFill and have been injecting it for years. On Filler Friday you can purchase 3 syringes and get 1 free or purchase 6 syringes and get 2 free! Bring a friend and split 6 syringes!

                                                              I will also have Dysport on special for $4/unit that day.

Kybella Event

Monday, Nov 7th

4:30-6:30 pm

Do you hate your double chin? You can get rid of it permanently with Kybella! It's quick! It's simple!

Buy 1 vial get a second vial half price or buy 2 vials get 1 vial free!

                                                     I love MY results!

Ultherapy Brow Lift Day

Friday, Nov 11th

9 am-4 pm

Ultherapy is the only FDA approved, non-invasive device for lifting. We have a brand new protocol for brow lifts that offers amazing results! I want you try this out! We have 24 slots on Nov 11th and the first 24 people to book and pay get a brow lift for $250 (that's a $500 savings!)

Call ASAP! 501-228-6237

Looking forward to seeing all of you for these special, procedure-focused events!

Anne R Trussell MD

owner/physician

501-228-6237

#kybella #dysport #bellafill #ultherapy #browlift #antiaging #doublechin #submentalfat #crowsfeet #frownlines #foreheadlines #nonsurgicalfacelift #PMMA #smilelines #marionettelines 

Synthetic vs. Bio-identical Hormones

Bio-identical hormones are exactly the same molecules as the hormones we used to produce. Synthetic hormones are similar but have a different chemical structure than our naturally occurring hormones and bio-identical hormones as you can see in the picture above.  Synthetic hormones can cause unpleasant and even life-threatening side effects because they interfere or block proper hormone receptor function in our bodies.

Let's talk about progesterone......
Progesterone is very active and beneficial for breast tissue because it blocks estrogen stimulation of the breast, thereby decreasing breast cancer and breast cancer risk. It prevents the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, from overgrowing and becoming cancerous. Surprisingly, progesterone also decreases the risk of heart disease and helps protect your bones to some extent.

Now let's go over progestins (synthetic progesterone)......
Progestins are a class of progestogen compounds synthesized to act like progesterone does in the body. They DO NOT however reproduce the same actions of natural progesterone in the body. Provera or medroxyprogesterone when added to estrogens will prevent overgrowth of the uterine lining, but it can cause an increase in breast tissue proliferation and cause cancer due to estrogen receptor stimulation. This is why the Women's Health Initiative Study that I mentioned in my last blog was halted early. Women taking synthetic progestins, had a much higher rate of breast cancer than those who did not take them. Synthetic progestin does not protect the heart either.

The dangers of synthetic hormones have been discussed in medical literature for years. In 2007 the lead article in The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, stated "There is a crucial difference in the way bio-identical progesterone and synthetic progestins affect the androgen receptor". (E. Friedman). In 2008 the E3N Cohort Study reported on 80,377 women that had been followed for 8.1 years.This study verified that hormone replacement therapy using medroxyprogesterone (Provera) was dangerous and resulted in a 48% increase in the rate of invasive breast cancer compared to the control group! But possibly more importantly, they confirmed that bio-identical hormone replacement therapy does not increase the risk of invasive breast cancer.

Going back to 2005 a meta analysis of 196 studies concluded that: "physiologic data and clinical outcomes demonstrate that bio-identical hormones are associated with lower risks, including the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, and are more efficacious than their synthetic and animal-derived counterparts. Until evidence is found to the contrary, bio-identical hormones remain the preferred method of hormone replacement therapy."

I hope this blog has touched sufficientlyon the need to avoid synthetic hormones, and in this case synthetic progesterone (progestins, Provera, medroxyprogesterone, and many others). Bio-identical hormones are preferred, hands down. #progesterone #htca #bhrt #bioidentical #menopause

Anne R Trussell MD
owner/physician
Sei Bella Med Spa
501-228-6237

Literature sources:
Anderson, Carl W., and Ettorre Apella 2005, Postranslational modification of p53: Upstream signaling pathways. In the p53 Tumor Suppressor Pathway and Cancer, New York

Fournier, Agnes, Franco Berrino, and Francois Clavell-Chapelon 2008. Unequal risks for breast cancer associated with different hormone replacement therapies: E3N Cohort Study. British Cancer Research and Treatment 107 (1):103-11

JAMA 2002;288(3):321-333

Menopause and Safe Hormone Replacement

Everyday 3500 women enter menopause. Natural menopause usually occurs between the ages of 43 and 55, which means we could live half our life in menopause! Our hormone levels can start dropping 15 years before that, so we should not wait until we actually stop having menstrual cycles to seek treatment. And 20% of men are in andropause by the age of 50. The symptoms are not fun!! During this pandemic, the inability to go about our daily routine adds increase stress to our lives and can actually make our symptoms worse.

Menopause impacts 25 million women worldwide each year. We all know the symptoms.....hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings or depression, sleep problems, fatigue, brain fog and no sex drive. Those are just the ones I hear most commonly. Menopause is also associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and osteoporosis. Men with low testosterone have the same risks and experience fatigue, depression, moodiness, loss of muscle mass, erectile dysfunction and low libido.

We need estrogen! It has 400 functions in the female body. Estrogen deficiency is a state of accelerated aging.  In a 2013 study, researchers estimated that over the past decade 18,600-91,600 postmenopausal women, ages 50-59 who have had hysterectomies may have died prematurely because they were not given estrogen!

WHY NOT?!

Well, in 1991 a large trial called the Women's Health Initiative was begun by the U.S. National Institute of Health. The study was stopped early due to a 41% increase in stroke, 29% increase in heart attacks, 26% increase in breast cancer and a 100% increase in the rate of blood clots. So all doctors were cautioned about hormone replacement in menopause, and to use the lowest dose possible to control symptoms and to only continue treatment for 5 years at the most. There were HUGE flaws in this study. The estrogen being given to women was synthetic, made from pregnant horse urine. These compounds have about 40 different estrogens, none of which bind to the estrogen receptors in our body correctly. Furthermore, some of these women were treated with artificial progesterone as well (progestins or medroxyprogesterone). Women on these synthetic progesterones had the highest rates of breast cancer. If you're taking synthetic hormones, then you are exposing yourself to these risks. Just because they are FDA approved, doesn't mean they are safe!

Fortunately we have very safe, effective and convenient alternatives to synthetic hormones. Bio-identical hormones are not only "natural"; bio-identical means they are EXACTLY like the hormones we used to produce. They bind to our bodies' hormone receptors EXACTLY like the hormones we used to produce. They DO NOT increase our risk of cancer, stroke, blood clots nor heart attacks. As a matter of fact, bio-identical hormones are protective against these things! Specifically testosterone replacement does not cause prostate cancer in men! The French Cohort Study published in 2002 followed 3,175 postmenopausal women taking bio-identical hormones for 9 years, proving there was no increased risk of breast cancer. There are many more studies out there proving the same facts. Most of us have heard about bio-identical creams, which are very safe. Bio-identical hormone pellets are another safe, effective, convenient alternative I provide at Sei Bella Med Spa! I personally have been getting pellets for almost 7 years. I love them! 

The process is simple. You come in for an office visit with me and I take a complete medical history. You have a panel of lab drawn. When that lab is available in about a week, it is entered into the HTCA computer formula, along with your medical history and symptoms. A dose of hormones is then generated which I can adjust as I need to. The prescription is then sent to Well's Pharmacy who then ships your pellets to you that have been calculated specifically for you. The pellets, which are the size of a grain of rice and smaller, are then inserted by me into the fat of your bottom in a quick, painless in-office procedure. It truly takes all of 2-3 minutes to insert them. Your pellets will last 4-6 months and gradually dissolve. When symptoms return, you know it's time to tell me you are ready to be repelleted. Bio-identical hormone pellets are safe, convenient and effective, not to mention healthy! And although this blog has mostly focused on menopause, pellets are very popular in men as well!

You can read more on my website at www.seibellamedspa.net.
Give us a call today and get your appointment set up to start feeling better. 501-228-6237

Anne R Trussell MD ABAARM
owner/physician
Sei Bella Med Spa

#menopause #andropause #bioidenticalhormones #bioidenticalpellets #bhrt #htca #lowT #hormonepellets #hormonereplacementtherapy

Literature sources:
de Lignieres, B., et al "Combines hormone replacement therapy and the risk of breast cancer in a French cohort study of 3175 women." Climacteric, 2002 Dec; 5(4):332-40

Friedman, 2013

Bain J, Maturitas 2010; (66):16-22 Kaufmann JM, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2001;26:833-78

North American Menopause Society

Birge,S, "The use if estrogen in older women," Clini Geriatr Med 2008: 19(3):617-27

Studd, J.W.W., Cardozo, L.Stanzyck, & Thom

Sarrel, et al, "The mortality toll of estrogen avoidance: An analysis of excess deaths among hysterectomized women aged 50-59 years." American Journal Public Health 2013: July 18

Let's Review Hypothyroidism

I've talked about hypothyroidism in the past, but I thought now would be a good time to review this again. I see hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism frequently. Some people I've diagnosed through their HTCA lab work when working them up for bio-identical hormone pellet replacement therapy. Some I've picked up on when they come in for their aesthetic treatments and happen to mention common symptoms like weight gain, hair loss and fatigue.

I had an internal medicine practice for 20 years and thought I was doing a great job managing hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Afterall, I have hypothyroidisim myself. I was always taught that TSH and T4 were all the labs you needed to screen for hypothyroidism. If they were normal and the patients didn't feel well then they were probably depressed or just needed to follow a better diet and exercise regimen. Since becoming a Diplomate of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, I now know TSH (the pituitary hormone) is not the most sensitive test. A patient's free T3 (active thyroid hormone) is the best clue as to whether or not he/she has hypothyroidism. And most importantly we want hormone levels to be "optimal" not just in the "normal" range. 

There are multiple causes of hypothyroidism, but for the purposes of this blog, let's focus on the ones I see most commonly which are primary hypothyroidism (thyroid failure) and conversion failure of T4 (inactive pro-hormone) to T3 (active hormone). Primary hypothyroidism is pretty straight forward. The thyroid basically poops out. This can be do to an autoimmune process like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, radiation treatments, or just general aging. A number of different factors can impair conversion of T4 to T3 and these include:

• Physiological factors: old age or significant calorie restriction with dieting
• Certain medications:  Amiodarone, steroids, beta blockers and synthetic progestins (by the way.... I HATE synthetic hormones)
• Pathological factors: kidney or liver disease, malnutrition, increased cortisol, post surgial recovery
• Vitamin deficiencies: Zinc, Selenium and Iodine are essential to normal thyroid function.

Hypothyroidism can also be caused by failure of thyroid receptors on organs in the body to actually take up thyroid hormone. This is often seen in adrenal fatigue. Different topic for a future blog.

In the 1920's it's estimated that about 10% of the population was hypothyroid. By 1940 that doubled to 20% and increased again in 1976 to approximately 30%. Dr. Jacques Hertoghe, a pioneer in thyroid endocrinology has estimated that by 1990 about 80% of the population had some degree of hypothyroidism. Because of all the genetically modified foods, chemicals, stress, medications and synthetic hormones we are exposed to these days, that estimate is probably pretty accurate.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism are depicted in the photos above and also include fatigue, weight gain, cold all the time, constipation, hair loss, and brain fog to name a few. Some symptoms are very similar to those of menopause and andropause. So how do we diagnose hypothyroidism? A good history and physical exam of the patient is always the place to start. After that, some or all of the following labs are indicated.....TSH, T4, free T3, rT3, and TPO antibodies. This is a good place for clinicians to start. Again, we want "optimal" levels, not just "normal". How a patient feels should be the main driver of treatment. Of course we use lab to make sure we do not make someone artificially HYPERthyroid which can have adverse effects on the body, too.

There are multiple medications used to treat hypothyroidism. Most well known is probably Synthroid (or its generic levothyroxine). Synthroid is predominantly T4. I personally prefer Naturethroid, WPThyroid or Armour Thyroid. I take NatureThroid myself. It comes in 13 different doses, is hypoallergenic and is a combination of T3 and T4. I like to have T3 on board first thing in the morning and then the T4 that remains can convert to active T3 through the rest of the day. WPThyroid is for patients with gluten sensitivities. All three are made from dessicated pork thyroid. Often patients will notice that they feel significantly better on one preparation or another. Regardless of which preparation of thyroid medication you take, I prefer brand name medication. Since generics can vary by 20% from brand name, that could be a big swing month to month in your metabolism and how you feel. If however you take a generic preparation and feel fine from month to month, then by all means continue with that cost savings. It's beyond the scope of this particular blog, but thyroid hormones can also be compounded with any strength and percentage of T4 and T3 a doctor wants to prescribe. 

And just as a side note....your fur babies can become hypothyroid, too. So if they are fat and lethargic and you haven't been feeding them junk, you might want to ask your vet to check their thyroid. But it's not just about being overweight or fatigued. Optimal thyroid function improves so many aspects of our body, not just the ones we can see and feel. It helps lower cholesterol, improves congestive heart failure by helping the heart pump better, decreases inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein and homocysteine, and helps protect the bones from osteoporosis.

This is just a brief overview of hypothyroidism. Many, many textbooks are devoted entirely to the thyroid and its diseases and metabolism. Think you might be hypothyroid? Give us a call.

Anne R Trussell MD ABAARM
owner/physician
501-228-6237

Sculpsure Results From Sei Bella Med Spa

Recent photos from Sei Bella patients. 

www.sculpsureoflittlerock.com

501-228-6237

50 year old female after one treatment of Sculpsure

                                                             

54 year old male 6 weeks after one treatment of flanks and lower abdomen.
4 inches lost with SculpSure

#sculpsure #fatloss #bodycontouring #flanks #backfat

SculpSure Open House

SculpSure Open House!

Do you have stubborn areas of fat you can't get rid of despite diet and exercise? SculpSure is for you!  Sculpsure is a comfortable, 25 minute treatment, FDA approved for PERMANENT fat loss. No surgery. No down time. No more squeezing and freezing!!

Join us on Thursday, September 15th! 4-7pm Sei Bella Med Spa 10310 West Markham Suite 202 Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 501-228-6237 We will have door prizes and the first 10 people to arrive receive a special gift bag! Refreshments will be served! We will also have our Galderma and Skin Therapeutics reps on hand that evening with specials for you on Dysport, filler and skincare! #sculpsure #fatloss #bodycontouring

SculpSure at Sei Bella Med Spa

Sculpsure vs. Coolsculpting

We are excited to offer Sculpsure at Sei Bella June 2016!

Call to get on our waiting list...501-228-6237

Xymogen Professional Supplements

All of us at some point take supplements. We want to decrease our risk of heart attack, or have more energy or sleep better or take something that helps us deal with the myriad of stressors in our life these days. We buy them at the grocery store or the local health food store, or like me, buy them on Amazon for convenience sake. I buy well known brands, but I've learned that may not be enough to guarantee quality and safety. There have been multiple reports of supplement induced medical crises. In 1989 the FDA began a large scale recall of all tryptophan containing products due to an outbreak of eosinophilia-myalgia syndromw (EMS). Toxic oil syndrome swept Spain in 1981 due to contaminated rapseed oil. So.....when I learned about Xymogen supplements, I decided to make the switch for myself, my family and what I recommend to patients.

All Xymogen products have an ePedigree. What is an ePedigree? An ePedigree is a record, in electronic form, that traces the changes in ownership of a pharmaceutical product. It begins with the manufacturer and documents the transactional history of the product until it reaches the person or organization administering or dispensing it.

Pedigree laws are being enacted because of the increasing prevalence of counterfeit prescription drugs in the U.S., intermingled with the legitimate drug supply. As XYMOGEN’s market presence increases, so does their possibility of becoming a target for product counterfeiting. Although Pedigree laws do not affect natural health and supplement companies, the many benefits to patients were too great to ignore. These benefits are why Xymogen decided to become the first company, that I'm are aware of, in the nutraceutical industry to implement an electronic track and trace program.

Online sales of Xymogen products are prohibited. They must be purchased through a physician.They contain therapeutic doses of nutrients backed by rigourous clinical studies. Many of their formulas are exclusive and patented. I can recommend supplements for you or tell you which products you need to replace your current ones with. There are supplements for many, many conditions...thyroid support, heart, bone or blood sugar support, male and female health, and detox....just to name a few. Not only do you want safe supplements, you want effective ones as well, or you're just wasting your money. You can order them online, directly throught Xymogen with my physician access code, which I can give to you AFTER making recommendations......

Call today for a consult! 501-228-6237

Anne R Trussell MD

Fantastic Raffle for the Children's Tumor Foundation

Sei Bella Med Spa Supports the Children's Tumor Foundation

As many of you know, I run on the NF Endurance Team for the Children's Tumor Foundation and I serve on the advisory board for the Arkansas Chapter of the Children's Tumor Foundation. Our mission is to raise awareness and research dollars for neurofibromatosis (NF) research. NF is a genetic disease that affects 1:3000 births. It causes tumors to grow on nerves through out the body and can cause blindness, deafness, disfigurement, pain, learning disabilities, congenital heart defects and even cancer. Currently there is no cure. 

I have some great prizes for this raffle as you can see! And 100% of the money goes to the Children's Tumor Foundation! The drawing will be held on July 12th at Sei Bella Med Spa. We are having a big party that day to celebrate the fact I made it to 50!! We hope you can join us then, but you need not be present to win.

You can purchase raffle tickets with cash or check either in person or by mail. Please make checks payable to the Children's Tumor Foundation and mail to me at:

Anne R Trussell MD

10310 West Markham, Suite 202

Little Rock, AR 72205

Why should I choose Sculptra?

Volume loss is now recognized as a major component of the aging face. Volume loss is a process that includes fat loss, bone thinning, muscle wasting, collagen loss and gravity effects. Sure you can get a face lift, but this doesn't address the volume loss, only the sagging and wrinkles. Treatments that replace lost volume are used for contouring and rejuvenating. Sculptra is an effective, and extremely safe collagen stimulator for the face that is clinically proven to last up to 25 months, and in some, even longer than that. Sculptra provides a foundation for facial rejuvenation and is easily combined with other injectables and procedures for overall renewal and rejuvenation. As you can see in the photos below, Dr. Trussell can choose exactly where to place Sculptra for the best results. The goal is to give your face the shape of an inverted triangle like you had before age and gravity set in. As we age, we lose fat in our cheeks, skin becomes lax and we develop jowls, thus our face takes on a triangular shape. Sculptra is unique in that it can be injected in areas other fillers can not.

Why would I choose Sculptra over a dermal filler like Radiesse or Voluma or Juvederm?

The great thing about Sculptra is that it can be used alone or in combination with other treatments and injectables. Unfortunately we have to accept the fact that there is not one single treatment or product, a "magic pill" if you will, that will do everything we need as we get older. The other great thing about Sculptra is that it will last at least 25 months. Results are very soft and natural looking. And results are gradual and less sudden.

How soon can I expect to see results?

There is an initial transient correction of your volume loss, but the effects are gradual over a few months. Think of Sculptra as planting grass seeds or a garden. The poly-l-lactic acid of Sculptra is reconstituted in sterile water, injected in the face and then we wait for the collagen to grow. This is much like planting grass seeds or a garden, watering it, and waiting for your beautiful lawn or plants to grow. If you're looking for immediate results, I can always use a little dermal filler like Restylane or Juvederm to treat particularly bothersome areas. You can also continue to get your Botox or Dysport. You will experience minimal or no bruising nor pain with injection and minimal or no tenderness after a treatment.

What kind of results can I get with Sculptra?

Everyone will respond to the collagen stimulationg effects of Sculptra. How well you respond depends on your age, initial volume loss, whether or not you smoke, and sun exposure. Improvement is gradual over a few months and appears very, very natural. Sandy, Dr. Trussell's nurse, has now had four vials of Sculptra over a 9 week period. Her skin looks healthier, more supple, feels thicker and certainly has fewer areas of volume loss. One of Sandy's biggest compaints was about lines that look like ripples in a pond that form outside of the smile lines and marionette lines (see below). You're only long lasting, narural looking, nonsurgical options for this are Sculptra and Ultherapy, which by the way, work fabulously together. 

How long will my results last?

Results with Sculptra will last at least 25 months as long as you take care of yourself. Smoking and excessive sun exposure without sunscreen will break down your new collagen quicker, just as it broke down the collagen you were born with. Weight loss will cause you to lose fat in your face, so you may see new volume loss that needs to be treated.

How much does Sculptra cost?

Each vial is $700. How much you need is something we determine at your consult. Some say you need a vial per decade of life. However, budget is always something we consider and we can prioritize areas we treat. A 50 year old won't necessarily need 5 vials. Everyone is different. We would never do more than two vials per session and we put 4-6 weeks between treatment sessions. It all depends on your budget and level of satisfaction after a treatment. 

Call today for your appointment with Dr. Trussell....501-228-6237

Anne R Trussell MD

owner/physician

Sei Bella Med Spa

Over the last few years, there have been a number of important changes in how we appreciate and

understand the aging face. Volume loss is now recognized as a major component of facial aging.

Treatment options that replace lost volume are increasingly used for recontouring and rejuvenation of the

aging face.

Over the last fers, there have been a number of important changes in how we appreciate and

understand the aging face. Volume loss is now rec

ognized as a major component of facial aging.

Treatment optionhat replace lost volume are increasingly used for recontouring and rejuvenation of the

aging face.

Clearing Your Pores and Smoothing Your Skin Without Inflammation

Our Epionce Keratolytic Products block the formation and activation of chronic inflammatory factors in the skin and repair the skin barrier. Keratolytic comes from the word, "kerato", from keratin (meaning skin), and "lysis", or skin shedding. This means dissolving excess and abnormal skin cells to encourage cell turnover. This also serves the purpose of cleaning out your pores. 

The Epionce keratolytic products do not cause inflammation because they contain botanical ingredients along with azelaic and salicylic acids, rather than harsh exfoliating agents. 

At Sei Bella we carry the entire line of Epionce products for every skin care need. Below are the ones we recommend for cleaning pores, preventing and treating acne while controlling oil production, encouraging cell turnover and improving skin texture.

Lytic Gel Cleanser- is non-drying but quite concentrated. It's the daily cleanser Dr. Trussell uses. It is very effective at clearing pores of dirt, oil and makeup. Willow Bark Extract and Menthol remove bacteria from the surface of your skin while Marsh Mallow Root Extract calms any inflammation. $36

Purifying Toner- contains two very important keratolytic ingredients- Willow Bark Extract and Salicylic Acid. These help control oil and also clean out pores. The Menthol in the toner kills bacteria thus decreasing acne breakouts. $29

Lytic Products- these provide the most keratolytic benefits. There are four different Lytic Tx products based on the oiliness of your skin. These products are formulated specifically to promote cell turnover, clear skin imperfections and reduce inflammation. Using a Lytic Tx product also improves delivery of your other skin care products to the areas you need them. $54

Intensive Nourishing Cream- the only Epionce product with all three technologies that Epionce is known for- Barrier Repair, Anti-Inflammatory, and Keratolytic Technology. Intensive Nourishing Cream contains low concentrations of Azelaic Acid which again clears pores but is anti-inflammatory. This cream is super-hydrating and significantly improves the roughness of your skin anywhere you apply it plus decreases the signs of aging. This is probably the product we sell the most of at Sei Bella! $108

A really nice thing about Epionce products is that they are medical grade and therefore a little bit of product goes a long way, with some products lasting 2-3 months before you need to repurchase. AND you can order refills or try new products by going to www.epionce.com and using the Expert Code: 20150922 when prompted. We stock the full line of Epionce at Sei Bella Med Spa.

Before and after with Epionce Keratolytic products

Stop in anytime to learn more about all of our Epionce products.

Anne R Trussell MD

owner/physician

Sei Bella Med Spa

501-228-6237

Another Arm Treatment with Ultherapy!

Ultherapy uses safe, time-tested ultrasound energy to lift and tighten the skin naturally—without surgery or downtime. 

Dr. Trussell has had great success using Ultherapy to treat lax, sagging skin on the face, neck and chest.  Ultherapy will work other places that you have sagging skin, too! She is having unbelievable success on the arms! One treatment! No downtime! Get rid of your "bat wings" by calling for an Ultherapy appointment with Dr. Trussell.....501-228-6237

Kybella...for Submental Fat (aka...double chin)

 

Above is a lady I treated with 2 vials of Kybella for a very common problem.....double chin. The left is a before picture. The middle is one day after (to show swelling) and the right is 3 weeks post Kybella treatment. She will continue to show improvement for 6-8 weeks, then we will assess the need for more Kybella.

Let's talk about submental fat, what we all call "the double chin".

Submental fullness, sometimes referred to as “double chin”, is a common yet undertreated facial aesthetic condition. It can impact a broad range of adults, including both men and women, and can be influenced by several factors such as aging, genetics and weight gain, and is often resistant to diet and exercise alone.

If you’re bothered by submental fullness, you’re not alone. According to a 2015 survey conducted by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS):

• 67% of people said they’re bothered by under-the-chin fullness, or double chin
• People are just as bothered by under-the-chin fullness as they are by lines and wrinkles around and under their eyes

What is Kybella and how does it work?

KYBELLA^® (deoxycholic acid) injection is the first and only FDA-approved injectable treatment that contours and improves the appearance of the “double chin”.

Dr.Trussell will design a treatment plan tailored to help you improve your chin profile. During your treatment sessions, she will administer KYBELLA^® into the fat under your chin using multiple injections. Most patients experience visible results in 1 treatment session. Up to 3 treatment sessions may be required for optimal results, spaced 6-8 weeks apart.

What side effects can I expect?

The safety profile of KYBELLA^® has been studied extensively. The most common side effects are swelling, bruising, pain, numbness, redness and areas of hardness around the treatment area. You are definitely going to swell as you can tell by the picture at the top of this post. It is most significant the first week post treatment. Patients have found that taking Zyrtec helps diminish the swelling. The area will then become more hardened and then feel like jello and then your double chin will look much smaller. The pain is minimal and occurs right when the Kybella is injected. This lasts for 4-5 minutes, is relatively mild and is greatly diminished by using an ice pack. After that the area is just numb for awhile. There could be minimal bruising or redness, but that is usually not significant. 

How long will my results last?

When injected into the fat under your chin, KYBELLA^® causes the destruction of fat cells. Once destroyed, those cells cannot store or accumulate fat. After the desired results are achieved, retreatment with KYBELLA^® is not expected. Much like with liposuction or coolsculpting, once the fat cells are gone, they are gone and can not reaccumulate fat. The procedure is much quicker and more comfortable, though, than coolsculpting or liposuction. 

Call today to get on Dr. Trussell's schedule to rid yourself of your double chin!

501-228-6237