BIOTE^® Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

WHAT IS BIOTE® BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (BHRT)?

You are unique, and so are your hormones! The Biote® Method is a form of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy that utilizes a specialized hormone pellet that is custom-compounded to replace the hormones men and women lose over time. These pellets contain bioidentical testosterone or estrogen and are placed subcutaneously in the body so they can release a continuous stream of bioidentical hormones.

Each Biote® treatment is completely personalized based on your health goals, lab results, and the medical judgment of your Skin Artisans Biote® Certified Providers, Dr. Allison Heimer and Rachel Snyder, APRN, CNP.

 

 

HOW DOES THE BIOTE® METHOD WORK?

When your body’s ability to produce hormones is disrupted—such as a natural decline with age—you may notice a difference in how you feel. You may also experience brain fog, decreased energy and sex drive, loss of muscle mass, and just not feel like yourself.

The bioidentical hormone replacement pellet therapy used in the Biote® Method is a personalized approach to hormone replacement. It allows a patient’s body to absorb the right level of hormones at the right time using a delivery method the body can process efficiently: pellets placed subcutaneously under the skin.

Biote® pellets are small capsules (about the size of a grain of rice) that contain bioidentical hormones like testosterone or estrogen. A bioidentical hormone is the exact molecular structure of hormones the body produces naturally. Once pellets are inserted under the skin, the replacement hormones enter the bloodstream and dissolve over several months.

Hormones delivered by pellet therapy bypass the liver, do not affect clotting factors, do not increase the risk of thrombosis, and avoid the fluctuations of hormone levels some patients may experience with other methods of hormone replacement therapy. Biote® bioidentical hormone pellets are made from the yam plant to create estradiol and/or testosterone molecules, unlike synthetic hormones, which are made from animal parts or urine and have a different molecular structure than what the body produces.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE BIOTE®?

When your hormones are optimized, YOU feel optimized! Here are some of the transformative benefits our patients report experiencing following their Biote® treatments:

• Increased Energy – Having the right balance of hormones may help regulate your body and maintain normal energy levels.
• Balanced Mood – For individuals with a hormone imbalance, optimizing hormones may help promote a positive mood.
• Improved Sleep – Having too much or too little of a hormone can disrupt sleep. By balancing hormones, normal sleep may be achieved.
• Boosted Weight Loss – Fluctuations in hormone levels can make losing and maintaining weight difficult. Hormone optimization may help you better control your weight.
• Enhanced Mental Clarity – Low and high levels of hormones can cause brain fog. As you optimize hormone levels, you may experience improved mental clarity.
• Restored Libido – Shifts in hormones can cause your libido to crash. Hormone replacement therapy may help you restore your libido to normal levels.

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR BIOTE®?

Hormonal imbalances may occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. Women in perimenopause and menopause are exceptionally susceptible to the effects of hormone imbalances. Men also experience a decline in testosterone as they age, sometimes called andropause. Because of their essential role in the body, even the slightest hormonal imbalance can cause side effects throughout the body, making anyone who suffers from hormone imbalance a good candidate for the Biote® Method!

Signs and Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance in Women

There are a variety of symptoms of hormone imbalance in women that may make them a good candidate for Biote® BHRT, which may include:

• Fatigue
• Trouble sleeping
• Irritability
• Anxiousness
• Mood swings
• Low mood
• Night sweats
• Hot flashes or flushes
• Decrease sex drive
• Discomfort during sex

 

Signs and Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance in Men

Symptoms consistent with low testosterone and other cases of male hormonal imbalance may make a man a good candidate for Biote® BHRT. These may include:

• Low sex drive
• Increased body fat (especially in the midsection)
• Loss of muscle mass and strength
• Reduced mental focus
• Feelings of anxiety
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Elevated blood sugar

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A BIOTE® TREATMENT?

A consultation is required before scheduling a Biote® BHRT treatment. Dr. Allison Heimer, a Certified Biote® Provider, will determine if you are eligible for BHRT after an in-depth, in-office appointment and extensive lab work to analyze your current hormone levels and health.

During your pelleting procedure visit, you will be brought into a private exam room, and numbing will be injected into the incision site where the pellet will be placed. This site is usually somewhere around the upper buttocks. Next, a small incision is made, and the hormone pellet is inserted. Afterward, the insertion site is covered with a small bandage or steri-strip. No stitches are needed. The procedure is virtually painless.

IS THERE DOWNTIME AFTER BIOTE®?

After your Biote® pellet-insertion process is complete, your provider will advise you to abstain from lower body exercise for a short period to prevent dislodging the pellet. Walking is fine, but more strenuous exercise is not recommended. Showers are permitted, but bathtubs, hot tubs, and swimming should be avoided for three days to a week.

HOW MANY BIOTE® TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?

As each patient’s symptoms are unique, so is each patient’s path to hormone optimization! The Biote® Method is customized to fit your specific needs; as such, your Certified Biote® Provider will help map out a strategy to determine how many treatments you may need. In general, pellets last three to six months, depending on a patient’s gender, weight, absorption rates, and the amount of deficiency or surplus of hormones present within the body at the time of insertion. Pellets are reinserted between two to four times per year to help keep hormones optimized and balanced, and it may take up to two insertions before a patient feels the full benefits.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM MY BIOTE® RESULTS?

Each hormone replacement therapy patient’s symptoms are unique, and so is each patient’s path to hormone optimization! Most hormone therapy patients report some relief in as little as four weeks or sooner, but complete optimization may take up to six months or more to experience the full benefits of BHRT. Remember, your bioidentical hormone replacement therapy journey is customized to fit your specific needs. Anticipate working closely with your provider to optimize your hormones and your results and feel balanced, energetic, and like the best version of you all year round!

If you are a resident of Minneapolis, MN, or surrounding communities and are interested in learning more about the BIOTE® BHRT, please get in touch with Skin Artisans at Edina Plastic Surgery at 952-234-8414 or visit our contact page to schedule a complimentary consultation.