FAQ | Gentera Med

FAQ’S

IV THERAPY | BHRT | PRP | PRP FACIALS

IV THERAPY FAQ’S

1. How painful is IV Therapy?

You will feel a prick when the needle goes in initially, but most people don’t feel any discomfort once the drip has started. Occasionally you may feel a dull aching in the arm. In this case the practitioner may adjust the speed or solution to make you more comfortable. Overall our patients report a very comfortable experience. Some people even taste the vitamins in the back of their mouth.

2. Do I feel the effects right away?

Some people notice increased energy and clarity within seconds. Other people don’t notice much during the drip itself, but find their normal routine seems easier and they have more energy the next day or two. Most people feel more relaxed during the drip. Everyone is unique and stress and current nutrient status both play a role in how fast or how much someone will feel the effects of the IV

3. Why take vitamins intravenously rather than orally?

When we take vitamins or even eat food, anywhere from 20-50% actually gets absorbed by the gut. What happens to the rest? With IV vitamins we bypass the gut allowing for 100% absorption. Also, many oral supplements often use low-quality vitamins. The vitamins in our IVs are the highest quality possible and the most bioactive forms. Additionally, by taking nutrients via an IV we can reach higher levels in our body and bloodstream. For example, if one were to take 5 grams of Vitamin C orally, it would almost certainly cause loose stool, aka diarrhea. But we can do 5 grams of Vitamin C in and IV without any bathroom issues which means a higher dosage and more immune boosting and skin enhancing power in your body.

4. How does it work? (logistics)

After discussing your needs and taking your vital signs, the doctor will decide which IV formulation would be best for you. The specially formulated nutrients are added to the IV bag and the tubing and needle are prepared. Either the doctor or nurse will prepare the site and gently insert the needle. Then they will begin the drip slowly to make sure there is no pain or discomfort. You sit back and relax while your body gets infused with top-notch vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Once the bag is empty, the doctor or nurse will remove the needle and wrap the site. You are good to go and enjoy your buzz!

5. What are the potentially negative side effects?

It is common to urinate more than usual and also to feel thirsty. As with anything that punctures the skin, there is a very small risk of infection at the site and complications are incredibly rare

6. What do I need to do before I do IV Therapy?

Tell the doctor if you are taking any medications or have any medical conditions. Eating something within 2 hours before the IV is helpful.

BHRT FAQ’S

1. What is BHRT?

BHRT is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. As we age, our hormones naturally decline and we can feel sluggish, have trouble sleeping, recover less quickly, and have issues in the bedroom. BHRT uses hormones that are molecularly identical to the hormones your body makes in order to raise your levels back up to more youthful state and decrease symptoms of aging.

2. How do I know if I need the treatment?

By discussing your medical history, symptoms and lab work with our Medical Experts, you can decide together if BHRT is right for you. How do you know if you should see your medical expert in the first place?

If you are a woman and experiencing any of the following: hot flashes, insomnia, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, fatigue, difficulty with concentration or memory, unexplained weight gain, new depression or anxiety.

If you are a man and experiencing any of the following: decreased muscle mass, hair loss, mood changes, increased body fat, fatigue, low libido, difficulty with erection, difficulty with concentration or memory.

3. How long does the process take?

First, you will meet with one of our medical experts to discuss your goals, symptoms, and medical history. Then you will get a blood test so the medical experts can see your hormone levels and rule out any other risk factors. The medical expert then determines which hormones are appropriate for you and the starting dose. The BHRT prescription is submitted and the medication will arrive at your house within a few days to a week. We will also make sure you have full instructions for the form of the hormones that were prescribed to you. It may take up to 3 months to feel the full effect of your BHRT and you may need to work with your medical experts during that time to achieve the right dosage for your body. Once the effective dose is attained, you will check in with your medical experts every 3 months to rerun blood work and check for symptoms.

4. How does it work?

Hormones decrease as we age for both men and women. By using the same hormones that your body would make naturally as your younger version, you can reduce symptoms of aging that are often caused by hormone deficiencies. Each hormone prescription is customized to you and may be delivered orally, as a cream, or a shot.

5. How do I know if the treatment is working?

You will know it is working by noticing a difference in your initial symptomatology and your medical experts will see changes in your lab work. For some patients, it can take up to 3 months to feel the full benefit. Because everyone is unique it can take some communication with your medical experts to get your dosages just right for best results.

6. Are there any side effects?

As with anything, if the dosage is too high for you, you may experience new symptoms such as:

For women: facial hair growth, irregular bleeding, mood changes, breast tenderness, headaches or bloating.

For men: acne or oily skin, fluid retention, breast enlargement, prostate swelling decreased the testicular size, mood swings, aggression.

Your medical experts will work with you to prevent these side effects and please contact your medical experts immediately if you are experiencing them.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) FAQ’S

1. What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)?

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a non-surgical procedure used to treat pain caused by degenerative joint disease, ligament laxity, and musculoskeletal pain. This method involves drawing the patient’s blood, centrifuging the blood to isolate platelets and growth factors, and then re-injecting the solution into the site that needs treatment.

2. What is PRP used for?

Musculoskeletal pain: shoulder, knee, low back, tight muscles, tendinitis, tendinitis, partial rotator cuff tears, trigger points.

Joint Pain: shoulder, elbow, wrist, fingers, hip, knee, ankle, and toes.

Degenerative joint diseases: osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel, partial meniscus and labrum tears

Ligament laxity: partial ligament tears: anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial/lateral cruciate ligament (MCL/LCL), and Sacroiliac (SI).

3. Why PRP than any other treatment?

Many treatments, such as surgery or medications, have side effects and drawbacks. Orthopedic surgery is not always successful but is it permanent. Opioids, NSAIDs and other pain medications can not only be addictive but have long-term health consequences as well. PRP is a noninvasive natural procedure with little risk to max benefit.

4. Does It Hurt?

A local anesthetic (lidocaine) is used to numb the area and decrease pain. Most patients tolerate the procedure very well with little pain. There is often some discomfort with the use of needles. It varies patient to patient. It helps to be in a relaxed mental state and to keep the muscles less tense. You may notice some discomfort over the next 2-3 days as the tissue heals and regenerates.

5. How does it work?

Your blood contains both platelets and growth factors that help heal and remodel your body. Areas like ligaments and joints have poor vascular support (blood flow). Due to the low amount of blood flow to these regions, subsequently, growth factors and platelets reach these sites in low concentrations. This results in areas having more significant pain and needing greater time to regenerate.

Average blood has a platelet concentration of about 200,000 per microliter. The Platelet Rich Plasma can exceed 2 million platelets per microliter. By injecting the PRP into the treated areas, we are not only providing an area with little vascular support nutrients but also 10x the average amount. This leads to a decrease in pain, decrease in healing time, and increase the integrity of the structures.

When the PRP is injected into the body, the inflammation causes some cells in the area to be damaged. When these cells are damaged, they release cytokines. Cytokines are messengers to the body that something has gone wrong, and that growth factors and stem cells should be brought to the area to heal the damage. In this sense, PRP not only gives direct support through the platelets in growth factors in the solution, but it encourages the body to remodel the site that has been injected.

6. How long does the process take?

The actual process of injecting often takes 15 minutes or less. Time must all be allowed for the patient to have their blood drawn and centrifuged adding another 15-20 minutes. Total time is 30-45 minutes.

7. Can I see/feel results right away?

Many patients experience some form of relief after their first procedure. The location will be acutely inflamed for the first few days. After the inflammation decreases many experiences a decrease in pain and an improvement in symptoms. Depending on the severity of the conditions most patient notice improvement within 3-4 treatments.

8. Are there any risks?

This procedure and its solutions have been proven to be safe and rarely have complications. With the use of needles, there is a chance of an inadvertent puncture of arteries, nerves, spinal fluid, and lunges. Having a well-trained practitioner that takes the necessary precautionary steps will also limit the risk of complications.

9. When can I return to work or exercise?

This is an outpatient procedure and most patients feel comfortable returning to work the same day. Exercises should be limited for the first 24-48 hours depending on how your body responds to the treatment.

PRP FACIALS FAQ’S

1. What is it? How does it work?

A PRP Facial is a procedure that uses the Platelet Rich Plasma combined with a micro needling pen over the face to increase your skin’s ability to build new collagen from the base of the skin up to the surface.

We draw your blood and process it to extract the growth factors and collagen building cells. Those cells are placed over the face and a micro needling pen is used to place those cells in the dermis layer of the skin.

The combination of the growth factors and cells combined with the micro needling process tell the skin to build collagen from the bottom up, smoothing out wrinkles, fine lines, and other imperfections.

2. What results will I see?

Most patients notice improved tone and texture almost immediately. The procedure also decreases fine lines and wrinkles, acne scarring and can give a plumper look to the face. It can also be an effective treatment for acne.

3. How many treatments will I need?

It depends on your age, lifestyle, the state of your skin and desired results. Some patients are happy after one treatment. Most patients have 3-6 treatments and only need a touch-up treatment annually. Your doctor can help you decide.

4. Does it hurt?

We will apply an anesthetic to the face or area to be treated before any micro needling begins so any discomfort is minor.

5. How long does it take? Is there downtime?

The treatment takes about an hour with prep and while there is no downtime, your face will be red and may feel and look like a mild sunburn. You will not be able to apply makeup for 24 hours and you will need to stay out of the sun for 3 days.

6. How can I maximize my results?

Your doctor will discuss lifestyle factors like diet and stress that can affect your skin and the treatment outcome. You can also combine your PRP Facial treatments with a Beauty Bomb Nutrient IV pack. Adding the extra vitamin C, zinc, biotin, and glutathione right into the bloodstream supports your body’s natural collagen building mechanisms even more. Your doctor can prescribe the IV frequency that’s best for you.