Do you take insurance?

Some of our specialty testing facilities offer a discount for certain insurances and about ½ of our clients’ insurance plans cover their bi-annual blood testing. However, as a functional medicine practice whose goal is to uncover the root cause of disease process, insurance companies do not cover the therapy we provide because the standard care model considers our approach “elective”. This is unfortunate considering much of what we do allow our clients to reclaim their lives and they certainly do not believe that the ability to get out of bed each day feeling good should be considered “elective”. It is certainly our prayer that one day the insurance model in the US will truly cover health care and not only a this for that model such as: high cholesterol = a statin drug. Insurance coverage focuses on disease management and emergency care; whereas, our true focus is maintaining or regaining wellness without the use of drugs accompanied by never-ending side effects. Our goal is to help our clients to achieve optimal health; which, we believe cannot be done when confined to the standards of care imposed by the insurance model. Therefore, we encourage our clients to prioritize their health and create a budget that provides for the care they truly deserve.

Can I bring a loved one with me to my consultation?

The DaSilva Institute not only has no objection, but actually encourages you to bring a family member or friend with you to your appointment. Having a friend or family member along can help ease anxiety if your nervous about your appointment. After all, you’ll be receiving quite a bit of information and having that supportive person around when it’s time to remember and process what transpired during your visit can be extremely helpful.

Who is the Clinical Director?

As an autonomous Nurse Practitioner, Arielle Bennett functions as our primary consultant and Clinical Director. She has been with our practice since serving under the guidance of the late Guy DaSilva, MD in 2014 and has since been certified in functional medicine, nutritional IV therapy, bio identical hormone and pellet therapy, and as a nutraceutical supplement specialist. She is well prepared along with a great support team of highly qualified registered nurses to serve our deeply valued clientele with excellence.

Can hormone imbalance cause you not to be able to lose weight even if you are working out 3-5 times a week and watching what you eat?

Yes, absolutely! Weight gain is a very common and an unfortunate side-effect symptom that comes along with pathologic (premature) aging. As we age, our hormones decline. There are receptors for these hormones all over the  body. When our hormones decline it affects our metabolism, ability to build muscle and maintain bone strength. As a  result, we gain weight, and no matter how diligent we are with exercise and diet without balancing and correcting the hormone deficiencies we cannot lose weight. The good news is when you balance your hormones with the use of bioidenticals and under the proper care of a facility who understands the body‘s complete biochemistry, you can lose weight, build muscle, and bone and get back the younger you!

What are the tests to ask for to accurately measure hormones to check for all  levels?

In order to get proper measurements of your hormones, we advise our clients to have specific blood work done. Also, it is important to check the levels of your hormones aside of the basic three; estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The BioAge evaluation that we start our clients with assesses over 100 different markers of aging, which  includes over 20 hormones that help us to assess the body’s functionality .

Unfortunately most physicians are not trained to assess these markers and then formulate the proper bioidentical  compounds needed to meet an individual’s challenges.

How long does it typically take to receive results back from the laboratory?

The DaSilva Institute offers a wide variety of testing which can take up to 4 weeks to receive back from the lab. Typically, for example, hormone testing takes about 2 weeks for us to receive results.

Once you complete a lab test, please call our office and book your consultation to ensure a timely appointment. 

What studies have been conducted regarding the safety of bioidentical hormone use?

One of the common myths or misunderstandings about bioidentical hormones is that there is a lack of proper studies that have been performed.This statement couldn‘t be farther from the truth. Growth hormone, one of the most controversial hormones, has had over 90,000 studies done, which are available to the public on Pubmed.com. Over the counter aspirin has had 43,000 studies performed, and it is a fact that about 16,500 people die from the appropriate dose of NSAIDs every year. There have been extensive studies performed on the efficacy and safety of bioidentical hormones.

Brown spots and how BHRT can help.

Bioidentical hormones can do wonders for your skin. Fine lines and wrinkles, sagging, drooping, and even dry skin can all be dramatically improved when your hormones are balanced back to proper physiologic levels. Bioidentical hormones work from improving your skin from the inside out, but will not affect existing external  damage.

How does age affect our hormones?

It is a scientific fact that as we age our hormones decline. That decline however has rapidly progressed and is now considered pathologic, premature aging. At the age of 30 our hormones begin to decline, and this is why we encounter so many hormone-related challenges as we age. Unfortunately due to the environment, the foods we eat which are void of most nutrients, the stress we live in, and many other factors, we are aging faster than ever.

For women specifically, the endocrine gland known as the ovary begins to decline at age 35 and by age 55 is no longer able to produce 3 wonderful hormones; estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone. This then causes the other hormones of the body to become imbalanced, setting up an event we see in all  aging called human frailty. Symptoms may include; bones weakening, muscle loss, the brain can no longer remember, the immune system fails to defend itself and so on.

Immunosenescence refers to the gradual deterioration of the immune system brought on by natural age advancement. As age advances, our bodies decline leading to increasing frequency and severity of diseases such as cancer, chronic inflammatory disorders and autoimmunity and hormonal imbalances. A great way to remember this concept is to understand that, “We age because our hormones decline and not the other way around”.

Are Bioidentical hormones covered by insurance?

Empathetic physicians interested in improving healthcare are frustrated because they are increasingly forced to spend less and less time with patients due to insurance company dictates. On an average, physicians can only spend 5.2 minutes with each patient. A typical consult with a well-trained anti-aging specialist lasts a minimum of 30 minutes. The specialist will spend much time reviewing labs and asking specific questions that will unveil whether or not balanced is achieved.

Most preventative and exploratory procedures are not covered under the traditional healthcare paradigm. In the future, it is hoped that the value, and the ultimate reduced cost of such procedures will be recognized and a change in the orientation of healthcare will take place that will benefit individuals and  the society as a whole. Remember this: life insurance reimburses you at death, car insurance when you get into an accident and health insurance when you get sick. Our goal is to keep you healthy, something insurance companies would not comprehend.

Can your body utilize bioidentical  hormones?

Yes. Unlike a synthetic form of hormone replacement, bioidentical hormones are designed to identically match the molecular structure of your hormones and are thus easily recognized and used by the body. Since there are no synthetics, fillers, or foreign elements, the body’s receptors are open to receive the bioidentical hormone and act as if the body had made the hormones independently.

Identical means identical. Ask yourself this, is there a difference between H20 and H202? The first is water while the second, by adding only one oxygen molecule, becomes hydrogen peroxide. Water gives life, hydrogen peroxide kills life.

Is once a year blood testing adequate for hormone level testing? (How often should someone be tested  for hormones?)

We believe that proper follow up and retesting is a crucial part to ensuring that the patient is properly balanced and monitored on an Anti-aging regime. Our hormones can fluctuate and change over time and knowing what those patterns typically model allows for us to stay on top of a patients hormonal needs. In most cases, we like to retest hormone levels every six months, but in some cases, there may be additional tests at more frequent intervals.  It all depends on what the patients‘ challenges are.