Hormone Pellet Implant Therapy in Yuma

by Mandie Gillmor, ADN | Oct 30, 2023 | Article Sample

Medically reviewed by: Abri Johnson, MSN, FNP-C

Read this article on Elite MedSpa

Hormone Pellet Implants

What are Hormone Pellet Implants?

Who can benefit from Hormone Pellet Therapy?

Abri Johnson, MSN, FNP-C is passionate about helping you achieve optimal wellness and emphasizes the treatment goal with BHRT pellet therapy is “helping patients achieve results and improvement in symptoms that they have been trying to accomplish with depression medication, insomnia medication, and other failed treatments over the years.”

Who is not a good candidate for Hormone Replacement Therapy Pellets?

It’s important to talk to your treatment provider about any possible contraindications to treatment, as you may still be a candidate for pellet therapy. You may not be a suitable candidate for BHRT Pellet Implant treatment at this time if you:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• have active hormone-dominant cancer
• have had a stroke or heart attack within the last year
• have blood clotting disorders
• have uncontrolled diabetes or certain autoimmune diseases that can cause delayed wound healing, including: HIV/AIDs, Lupus, Scleroderma
• have a history of keloid scars or delayed wound healing

“These are the most common symptoms that patients report improvement in. With our testosterone replacement specifically, we can see benefits including: increased muscle mass, improvement in bone density, decrease in body fat, and we’ve seen some improvement in chronic pain as well.” For clients receiving estrogen therapy, also known as estradiol hormone replacement, it “tends to help more with hot flashes, can help with insomnia as well, fatigue is a big one…it really depends on what symptoms you are having” explains Nurse Practitioner Johnson.

The first step in determining if BHRT pellet therapy is right for you is to schedule an appointment at Elite MedSpa with Abri Johnson, FNP-C. “During the initial consult, we review past and pertinent lab work done within the last 6 months. We go through a variety of labs.” These labs typically include testosterone, estradiol, progesterone for the females, and DHEA for both males and females.

“We also look at complete blood count and liver numbers to be sure they are stable.” Most labs may be covered by your insurance if coded correctly, added Nurse Practitioner Johnson.

How many BHRT pellets will I need and how long do hormone therapy pellets last?

The goal is to relieve your symptoms with the lowest possible dose. The number of pellets you will need is dependent upon a number of factors. FNP Johnson explains that “it’s all dependent on patient symptoms and labs. It’s not necessarily that hormone levels are high or low because we do expect hormone levels to naturally decline with age.”

Males can expect to receive an average of around 10 pellets that can last up to 6 months. Nurse Practitioner Johnson explains that for males, “it is calculated based on weight and subjective symptoms you’re wishing to improve and which chronic medications you have on board. Some medications will actually cause you to eat up your testosterone a little quicker. We factor in alcohol consumption as well.”

Females can expect to have an average of 2 pellets inserted that last an average of 4 months and may be a combination of estradiol and testosterone. “For the females, I consider the weight, certain medications on board, and again, subjective symptoms and what they’re looking to accomplish,” added Nurse Practitioner Johnson.

It is important to note that each individual will respond to hormone therapy in their own unique way and may feel symptom relief at lower doses implanted at more frequent intervals. Some patients may also find that they need more frequent dosing based on how quickly their body utilizes or burns up the hormone pellets.

How much does hormone pellet therapy cost?

Elite MedSpa does not accept medical insurance or FSA (flexible spending accounts), but does offer a monthly subscription program that can help you save on treatment services called Club Elite. Members of Club Elite can expect to save 10%-15% off services, including BHRT pellet implant therapy. To learn more about Club Elite, click here.

Current 4th Avenue Gym members are also eligible to save 10% on BHRT pellet implant services, according to Justin Haile, owner of 4th Avenue Gym in Yuma.

What should I expect during a BHRT pellet implant procedure and how are hormone pellets implanted?

BHRT pellets are placed into the fat pad above your hip via one small incision and implanted using a device called a trocar. Pellet insertion is generally not considered painful, but you may experience mild-moderate discomfort when your treatment provider injects you with a local anesthetic. Most people say discomfort is about a 4/10. “Really, the most uncomfortable part is the initial numbing superficially. You will feel a pinch and burn when the anesthetic is injected, then it numbs the area up really nicely. It really is not uncomfortable after that initial pinch.”

Hormone pellet therapy implants are minimally invasive and generally require about 10-20 minutes to complete. Here is what to expect from start to finish:

• This process will be repeated until all pellets have been placed beneath your skin. The number of tracts required will depend on number of pellets needed. Females generally only need one pellet tract, whereas males may need up to seven tracts to accommodate their pellet regimen. Males have their pellets distributed in a fan-like pattern.
• Once all pellets have been placed, your treatment provider will apply pressure and then close the insertion sites with steri-strips and a semi-waterproof dressing
• Your treatment provider will go over the aftercare instructions with you
• You can drive yourself after the procedure and you may return to work if you feel up to it

Is there any downtime with BHRT pellet implants?

There is no downtime required for BHRT pellet implants, but you may want to modify your activities for up to one week as the implant site(s) heal. Some aftercare instructions may include:

• No immersion in water (baths, pools, etc.)
• No deep squats
• No cycling

This helps to decrease the risk of pellet extrusion (having the pellets come out of your skin). FNP Johnson suggests a low-key week after your pellets are implanted. “You wouldn’t want to schedule a vacation to a place like Disneyland right after getting the pellets where you may be going on rides or having the area bumped a lot.”

As with any treatment or procedure, there are risks and side effects that may occur. It is important to speak to your provider about these risks and be sure that all of your questions and concerns are addressed prior to moving forward.

Here are the most common risks and side effects of BHRT pellet implants:

• Inadequate relief of symptoms
• Localized tenderness at implant site for 2-7 days post-insertion
• Vaginal spotting (females)
• Water retention
• Estrogen excess (males)
• Infection at insertion site
• Extrusion of pellets
• Bleeding, bruising, and swelling at insertion site

Hormone pellet implants are a great option if you want a convenient, natural way to approach optimal hormone balance to look and feel your best.

Elite Medspa is currently offering BHRT pellet implant services with provider Abri Johnson, MSN, FNP-C.

To schedule your initial consultation with Abri Johnson, FNP-C please call: 928-341-4700. You can also visit Elite Medspa website to learn more.