GUEST POST: The Science of Transformation: How Medical Weight Loss and Med Spa Treatments Support Whole-Body Wellness

By Dr. Afia Naqvi, Owner of Renove Medical Spa, is triple board certified in Internal Medicine, Aesthetic Medicine, and Regenerative Medicine. She is a highly skilled and experienced injector, who has been performing these procedures since 2004. She was also the Medical Director of the Diabetes Care Center in Indiana where she worked closely with a team of nutritionists to help patients lose weight, manage disease, and optimize their hormones.

When someone says the word “wellness,” what comes to mind? Many people envision stereotypical activities such as meditation or having a self-care day at home. But a medical spa day may be what you need! 

A medical spa is able to perform certain treatments that a regular spa cannot, such as Botox injections or light and laser treatments. These spas are also affiliated with or run by a medical doctor. So, you can be sure that you are getting treatments from someone who is qualified. Additionally, many medical spas offer traditional spa treatments like massages and facials.

If you’re now wondering about some medical spa treatments and how they can help you feel better overall, continue reading! 

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Treatment

Platelet-rich plasma treatment is an injection treatment that uses your own body’s natural healing properties to treat skin imperfections, joint pain, hair loss, and even sexual health. Your practitioner will draw a small amount of blood from your arm, centrifuge the blood to separate the platelets and growth factors, and then inject the platelets and growth factors at the affected area.

PRP is great for those who have mild to moderate symptoms of arthritis, hair loss, sagging skin, wrinkles, blemishes, and even certain injuries. PRP treatments are regenerative and leverage the body’s own natural processes for healing, improved circulation, and tissue growth.

PRP treatment is minimally invasive and has a very short recovery time. Most people experience a bit of swelling at the injection site, but can resume their normal activities shortly after doing the procedure. 

IV Vitamin Infusions

We’ve all been there—you had a great night out on the town only to wake up the next day terribly dehydrated with a massive headache. Or, maybe you just had a really bad cold and generally feel under the weather. Many of us will take a gummy, pill, or drink in order to get the vitamins and nutrients we need to feel better. But, you can get these vitamins intravenously as well!

IV vitamin infusions are a more direct and efficient way for your body to absorb vitamins and nutrients. When you consume vitamins orally, it needs to be processed by your digestive system. When using IV, it goes directly into your bloodstream. 

For example, magnesium is a mineral that can help alleviate muscle tension and anxiety. When taking a pill or gummy, it may take an hour or so to feel those calming effects. If taken intravenously, you may feel those effects within a few minutes.

The process is highly customisable. You can choose a special mixture of vitamins and nutrients tailored to your health needs or goals. It’s also only 30 minutes to an hour long, so you can take that time to relax, read, or focus on breathwork.

Medical Weight Loss

Medical spas can offer a wide range of options and plans to help aid in weight loss goals. These plans can include more traditional things like meal plans, weigh-ins, and scheduling/planning workouts. But, when used with diet and exercise, medical treatments can also be a safe and effective way to lose weight. Some treatments may have additional health benefits.

Maintaining a healthy weight can help improve your mood, energy, and cardiovascular health. Additionally, if you have any other conditions like arthritis, asthma, or diabetes, a healthy weight can help manage those conditions. That will definitely help improve your overall wellness! 

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BioTE)

Sometimes, weight gain (and loss) can be attributed to hormonal changes or conditions that influence hormones, like an underactive or overactive thyroid. BioTE can help with this and other problems caused by hormonal imbalance, such as thinning hair, hot flashes, and irritability.

BioTE is a type of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. This means that the hormones in the treatment are identical to the ones that your body produces. Because your body recognizes these hormones, it makes it easier for your body to absorb them. 

A capsule containing the hormones is placed under your skin and releases the hormones over a set period of time. Similarly to Vitamin IV treatments, BioTE can be customizable. After testing your hormone levels, you can get a capsule that is tailored to your needs.

Semaglutide Injections

Semaglutide is a medication that can help treat type 2 diabetes by regulating blood sugar and appetite. More specifically, it mimics the hormone GLP-1. It is administered by injection, typically once a week.

Semaglutide stimulates insulin production, which helps keep your blood sugar at a healthy level. It’s also being studied for its possible positive benefits for heart health. 

Semaglutide may cause some side effects like nausea or constipation, but when used with other treatments, it can help you stay healthy and happy.

Sound enticing? Looking to level up your wellness journey? It might be time to look into a medical spa!