Seasons Team Members Take Advanced Course in The Big Easy

Susan McWhorter, RN and Anna Stephens, WHNP, recently returned from New Orleans where they received comprehensive Aesthetic training for Botox and dermal filler procedures. Anna has previously received advanced training but it was Susan’s first opportunity to complete a course in Botox and dermal fillers. The Aesthetics course was a comprehensive certification program that provided Anna and Susan with extensive, hands-on, live patient training along with lectures and written materials. They learned essential physiology and anatomy of unique facial skin types to help in determining the best treatment for their patient’s desired results.

Being a nurse has always been my passion. In 2005, I became a Registered Nurse and have always been interested in furthering my education to help my patients. I wanted to complete a course on Botox and dermal fillers because I have had Botox and was thrilled with the results. I wanted to be able to offer that experience to others. Being a nurse for the past 5 years, having extensive knowledge about the human anatomy and giving injections on a daily basis has prepared me for this next step in my career. I felt I could successfully apply my knowledge towards the use of Botox and dermal fillers.

The course I recently completed was an in depth muscle training course with lots of hands-on practice. I studied the uses of Botox and creating desired looks for patients such as: bringing up the eyes, helping to move the eyes further apart, and relax and smooth the muscles to lift the eyebrows. Botox is also great for pre-existing conditions such as hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), brow asymmetry, frown lines, sad smile (down-turned smile), gummy smile, bunny lines (nose), and smoker’s lines (mouth). Our course instructor is an expert physician who worked closely with me to ensure my sculpting technique with dermal fillers were sufficient. I now have ease and comfort and feel 100% confident in performing procedures. This course provided me with the ability to use Botox, Juvederm, Prevelle and other collagen products on patients.- Susan McWhorter, RN.

I love my job and I love New Orleans. Taking an advanced course on Botox and Dermal fillers in The Big Easy? Yes, Please! Susan and I were more than happy to support the city’s economy while furthering our education in aesthetics.

I have previously completed an advanced course in Botox and dermal fillers but I wanted to learn different techniques and stay up on the newest and best products. The instructor was really engaging and taught more efficient methods. One interesting fact: Botox isn’t just for your “mean face”- There are over 90 different uses for Botox! This advanced course taught cosmetic applications that focus on the art and science of Botox and dermal fillers. At our training course, we were introduced to a new product, Prevelle Silk. Prevelle Silk is a dermal filler that compliments Botox because it lasts 3-4 months. This product is great for those who may be interested in dermal fillers but not ready for a longer lasting product like Juvederm or Radiesse. The Prevelle Silk is mixed with lidocaine which makes the procedure virtually pain-free. I enjoyed how smooth Prevelle Silk was to inject so I decided to jump in the chair – I had Susan inject my lips! This was my first opportunity using Prevelle Silk and I really enjoyed the results. -Anna Stephens, WHNP

Book your next appointment with Anna or Susan at Seasons – The Spa at 318.255.1155 or It’s Permanent at 318.340.1778.

Hormones And Their Effects On The Body

People ask me all the time for more information about hormones and why we need them. Hormones are the communication tools of the body. They deliver messages. So here is a list of a few hormones and what they contribute to your body.

Estrogen

• Protects against osteoporosis, heart disease, memory loss, colon cancer, incontinence and tooth loss
• Enhances sleep, emotional well-being, mental acuity and focus, memory, attention span, communication ability, vision, hearing, taste, touch, smell, digestion, libido and skin tone.
• Relieves menopausal symptoms and depression
• Increases tolerance to pain

Progesterone

• Has a calming effect and enhances mood
• Regulates fluid balance
• Increases blood sugar, thyroid function and mineral balance
• Relieves menopausal symptoms
• Decreases risk of endometrial cancer and may help protect against breast cancer and fibrocystic breast disease
• Protects against osteoporosis and heart disease

Testosterone

• Builds muscles and promotes muscle tone
• Increases energy and libido
• Enhances sense of well-being
• Helps strengthen bone

DHEA

• Helps protect against heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, memory loss, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis
• Can increase and enhance energy levels, libido, memory and immunity
• Protects against the effects of stress
• Aids weight loss and healing of burns
• Helps to prevent wrinkles and dry eyes

Cortisol

• Helps in responding and coping with stress, trauma, and infection
• Increases energy and metabolism
• Helps regulate blood pressure
• Enhances the integrity of blood vessels
• Reduces allergic and inflammatory response

Balance of each of these hormones is a key element of optimal health and absence of disease. Proper testing, a customized treatment plan for out-of-balance hormone levels, and follow-up testing are all important for achieving healthy hormone levels in your body. For more information about metabolic testing at Seasons, contact our office at 318-255-3223 (Ruston) or 318-387-2828 (Monroe).

Delta Style Makeover Contest Winner – Tiffany Spillers

Seasons – The Spa, Seasons Medical Aesthetics and It’s Permanent have teamed up with Delta Style Magazine to provide aesthetic services to one hopeful makeover candidate. The lucky lady, West Monroe resident Tiffany Spillers, is a wife and new mother looking to revamp her image and give herself some much needed tender-loving-care.

At Tiffany’s initial consultation, Tiffany, Terri Grayson of It’s Permanent, Elizabeth Drewett of Seasons, and Sarah Jeffords of Seasons discussed some of the cosmetic procedures that she was interested in and the results that she was hoping to accomplish. Following her consultation, Tiffany decided to enjoy the following services:

• Electrolysis
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) for hair growth reduction
• Spray Tan
• Sudatonic Wrap
• Permanent Makeup – Eyeliner
• Microdermabrasion
• Obagi-C Facial Cleansing Kit

One of Tiffany’s concerns was hair removal. To address that concern, Tiffany had electrolysis on her eyebrows and upper lip and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) under her arms to reduce hair growth.

To give her a healthy glow without the risk of tanning, Tiffany enjoyed several spray tans throughout her makeover journey. “I really enjoyed the streak-free glow. And it lasted over a week,” she said.

To boost her weight-loss efforts, Tiffany received six Sudatonic wrap treatments. “I really loved the Sudatonic wraps,” said Tiffany, “and I saw a dramatic difference in inches lost and water weight.”

Tiffany was also interested in having permanent cosmetics but was hesitant to do something permanent and possibly painful. Following the procedure, her anxiety was replaced by joy. “I am so glad I decided to have the permanent eyeliner done,” said Tiffany. “I love it!”.

To exfoliate and improve the appearance of her skin, Tiffany had two microdermabrasion treatments. In conjunction with the microdermabrasion treatments, she used the Obagi-C Facial Cleansing Kit. Obagi, the leader in cosmeceutical products, is designed to prevent and improve the most common and visible skin disorders in adult skin. “I will never use anything else,” said Tiffany. “My skin is so soft and clear, and I love adding the sunscreen as part of my daily routine.”

While Tiffany’s makover results are obvious in the photographs on the pages of Delta Style, the team at Seasons and It’s Permanent noticed the biggest difference in Tiffany’s self-confidence and personality. “We were so pleased to play a part in transforming Tiffany into the bubbly, outgoing, and gorgeous girl that was already on the inside. We just helped the inside and the outside match!” said Terri. “We enjoyed every second of working with Tiffany and being a part of her transformation.”

For more information about the services Tiffany enjoyed at Seasons and It’s Permanent, call 255-1155 (Ruston) or 340-1178 (Monroe).

Lash Transformations with Latisse

Do you wish for long, beautiful eyelashes? Your wish has just been granted!

Grow the eyelashes you have always dreamed of with Latisse. Latisse is the first and only prescription treatment approved by the FDA for inadequate eyelashes. Latisse works gradually and effectively. As the treatment progresses, you’ll begin to see changes in length and gradually notice thickness and darkness in your lashes. Apply the solution to the base of your upper eyelashes once-a-day with the provided applicator. Results will appear in as little as 8 weeks, with full results in 16 weeks. Incorporate Latisse into your daily beauty routine for longer, fuller, darker, more beautiful eyelashes!

For a limited time, receive a $20 rebate on your Latisse purchase. For details visit www.latisse.com.

For more information about Latisse or to find out if Latisse is right for you, call Seasons – The Spa at 318.255.1155 or It’s Permanent at 318.340.1778.

Naturally Monitor Fertility Using CycleBeads

Looking for a more natural way to plan or prevent pregnancy?  CycleBeads are a color-coded string of beads that represent a woman’s menstrual cycle. Each bead represents a day of your cycle and the color helps you to determine which day pregnancy is likely to occur.

How CycleBeads work:

Move the black marker over the color-coded bead that represents fertile and low fertility days. Each day move the ring one bead forward in the direction of the arrow located on the clasp. If the ring is on a colored bead, there is a low likelihood of pregnancy and if on the white bead the probability of conceiving is high.

This inexpensive method is easy to use and most importantly more than 95% effective when used correctly. CycleBeads is the most natural way to identify potentially fertile days. No medications, no side effects!

Seasons strives to keep you informed and educated on the issues that concern you. We are happy to offer our patients CycleBeads as a more natural approach to monitoring fertility.

To purchase CycleBeads or for more information, please contact Seasons Wellness Clinic, Ruston, LA. 318-255-3223.

Celebrate the Peach Festival with Healthy Peach Recipes

Ruston is known for harvesting delicious peaches. During the month of June, Lincoln Parish celebrates this fabulous fruit by hosting the Squire Creek Louisiana Peach Festival. Seasons – The Spa is celebrating the Peach Festival with our brand new Peach Facial. We want to help YOU celebrate by creating delicious, low-fat peach dishes with fresh fruit from the Ruston Farmer’s Market.

Peach Facial. This sweet scrub exfoliates and softens while it moisturizes and brightens your skin. The Peach Facial includes cleansing, exfoliation, aromatherapy, steam and extractions. The pampering continues with an upper body massage followed by a custom mask and a moisturizer to finish. 60 minutes, $65. To schedule your appointment, call 318-255-3223.

Peaches à la mode

You will need:

• 2 medium peaches, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/3 cup low-fat granola
• 1 cup fat-free vanilla ice cream

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly coat a small baking dish with cooking spray.

Place the peaches in the baking dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon and granola. Bake until the fruit is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let cool 5 to 10 minutes.

To serve, divide the ice cream into two bowls (1/2 cup each). Top each with 1/2 of the baked peaches. Serve immediately.

Serves 2. Under 200 calories per serving!

Peach Honey Spread

You will need:

• 3 ripened peaches
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

In a large bowl, add the peaches, honey and cinnamon. Using a fork, mash until the mixture is a consistency of chunky applesauce. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serves 6. 60 calories per seving.

Recipes adapted from Mayo Clinic.

Social Media, Medicine, and a Great Story!

At Seasons, we love social media. Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, You Tube — they are all great tools to help us communicate with our patients/clients and for our patients/clients to communicate with us. Seasons has been using social media for well over a year. That process began with a blog-based website, introduced over two years ago.

While this approach to communicating in the medical industry is rare, it is working. Case in point? Watch this video which tells a great story about a woman who had a misdiagnosed wrist injury. Twitter helped her find a correct diagnosis and then treatment and recovery from her injury.

Our thoughts? This is super cool and we will continue to use social media to interact and educate our patients and clients about the pursuit of wellness!

From the Doctor’s Desk: Salivary Hormone Testing Backed by Science

Testing hormones through saliva is backed by science. But don’t take my word for it. In fact, it is well supported in the medical literature and is the right thing to do.  Below are links to several abstracts regarding salivary hormone testing. Read them for yourself and learn about the science behind this form of hormone testing.

• Belkien LD, Bordt J, Moller P, Hano R, Nieschlag E. Estradiol in saliva for monitoring follicular stimulation in an in vitro fertilization program. Fertil Steril 1985;44:322.
• Bolaji II, Tallon DF, O’Dwyer E, Fottrell PF. Assessment of bioavailability of oral micronized progesterone using a salivary progesterone enzymeimmunoassay. Gynecol Endocrinol 1993;7:101-110.
• Campbell BC, Ellison PT. Menstrual variation in salivary testosterone among regularly cycling women. Horm Res 1992;37:132-136.
• Aardal-Eriksson E, Karlberg BE, Holm AC. Salivary cortisol- and alternative to serum cortisol determinations in dynamic function tests. Clin Chem Lab Med 1998;36:215-222.

These articles are published in well-respected journals; and if you notice, they are not recent.  Salivary testing of hormones has been well published in the medical literature for some time now.

Here are a few quotes from these studies:

• “…salivary cortisol may be used as an alternative parameter in dynamic endocrine tests.”
• “…assessment of ovarian function…can be performed precisely with the saliva estradiol assay.”
• “…saliva collection has provided the medical and research community with an excellent medium for the monitoring of plasma steroid levels.”

Nowhere else in medicine do we blindly treat people without assessing a baseline and post treatment level(s). Balance is the key; not one individual hormone. Unfortunately, the medical field is very slow to learn and change.

From the Doctor’s Desk: Health and Wellness Defined

Definitions.

Health can best be defined as the absence of disease.  Wellness is best defined as the existence of positive health.  So health and wellness can be best defined as the absence of disease in the presence of positive health.

Why the focus on health and wellness these days? I think modern medicine gets a failing grade. Obesity is epidemic in the American culture today. One of my patients knew that her weight was not healthy. However, her previous physician told her that she should learn to live with her new heavier weight and maybe the weight would level out. That statement haunted her and led her to find a physician who offered her more hope and solutions.

Health and wellness cannot be achieved through a traditional, allopathic (Western modern medicine) medical approach. Why? Western modern medicine (we’ll call it traditional for our purposes) uses a disease-focused model utilizing pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals block biochemical reactions, produce mitochondrial toxins, and deplete important nutrients. There is no positive health there.

In fact, the 4^th – 6^th leading cause of death is from prescription drugs (Mol Aspects Med. 2005 Aug-Oct;26(4-5):363-78). In contrast, functional medicine is a health and wellness model utilizing natural substances found in the body to enhance cellular processes. A health and wellness model looks to work with the body, to facilitate metabolic reactions and optimize physiologic function (The principles of metabolic therapy for heart disease. Heart, Lung and Circulation 2003; 12:S55-S62).

In some ways, the two are complementary; but in many ways, the two are not. I am not advocating a boycott of traditional medicine. In fact, I still practice some traditional medicine when disease exists.

The key is this — does disease exist or not?  If disease doesn’t exist, and health and wellness or health restoration is your goal, then a functional or integrative approach is the way to go to facilitate and optimize physiologic function.

So, what is a functional medicine approach?  To help define functional medicine, let’s look at a few examples.

The traditional medicine approach.

Metformin or Glucophage is a well-recognized drug used to treat diabetes.  Metformin works to improve insulin sensitivity and thus facilitate glucose uptake inside the cells.  Type II Diabetes is marked by very poor insulin sensitivity and thus blood sugar rises.  Traditional medicine prescribes Metformin to provide a 13% improvement in insulin sensitivity.

Remember, pharmaceuticals block biochemical reactions.  Metformin reduces folic acid and vitamin B12 and can elevate homocysteine. Elevated homocysteine levels increase blood clot risk (this is one of the ways that birth control pills increase blood clot risk).  Diabetics and those with insulin resistance are already at an increased risk of blood clots. Can you see how the treatment is piling on in this situation?

The functional medicine approach.

Let’s contrast that with a functional medicine approach. Vitamin D deficiency is rampant today. Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in heart failure, myocardial dysfunction, sudden cardiac death, and is required for normal insulin release and glucose control.  Remember the 13% for metformin? Higher vitamin D levels resulted in a 60% improvement in insulin sensitivity (Chiu K., et al., “hypovitaminosis D is associated with insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction,” Amer Jour Clin Nutr  2004).

Remember, functional medicine works with and facilitates the body’s functions. Vitamin D does not block any biochemical reactions, nor does it interfere with any. Thus, there is no negative effect comparable to Metformin. Now, too much of a good thing can be a problem. Too much Vitamin D can elevate calcium. Because of this, Vitamin D should be prescribed under the watchful eye of a physician.

Why do I do what I do?

Amazing results — as naturally as possible. This is why I practice functional medicine. This is why I created Seasons. A health and wellness model, through functional medicine, works with the body to enhance and optimize physiologic function.  Health and health restoration can only be achieved by working with the body. Let’s get out of the way and let the body heal itself.

Confession #11: Goals, Progress And A Non-Runner’s Venture Into The Running World

I’m a big fan of goal-setting. My mother cultivated this idea in my brain from childhood. She always said, “Elizabeth, you’ll always do better if you are shooting for a goal.”

So from my earliest remembrances, I have had a goal. And it’s when I haven’t had a goal in mind that my life becomes a little derailed. When my mom notices my derailment, she will always ask, “So what’s your goal?” Sometimes I had no answer.

One thing I love about getting older is gaining wisdom. And I now truly appreciate the wisdom of my mother’s words. And in November of last year, I decided to set a goal. When spring rolled around in 2010, I wanted to wear the clothes that stayed in the back of the closet last year. However, one thing I’ve learned about myself over the years is that I cannot diet. It won’t last. For me, it’s about a healthy lifestyle.

I am a healthy eater. But the big issue for me (and most women my age) is the exercise issue. I love to walk. But it just wasn’t enough. I have always wanted to be a runner (there’s nothing more beautiful than a lean runner’s body) but one ache from a knee was all I needed to quit.

And then….the opportunity arose to have THE GOAL.

I am on the advisory council for Healthy Woman at Northern LA Medical Center in Ruston, Louisiana. During a meeting with the Healthy Woman Coordinator, Audrey Buskirk, we were brainstorming ideas to help women become more educated on being healthy. With the new year rapidly approaching (our meeting was in November 2009), we were seeking to create some sort of event or series of events that would help motivate women to pursue their fitness and nutrition resolutions they might make at the beginning of the new year. You know. THE RESOLUTION. I think I have made that resolution every year for the last 20 years. The lose weight resolution. Ugh. I said it out loud. I HATE the words lose weight.

And so, the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge was born. Who knew it would end up changing my life. The one thing I’d been looking for was THE GOAL — a reason to take that first step. As I worked on putting together tools for women to become healthier such as nutrition presentations (by Valerie Costanza, RD, and staff member at Seasons) and customized fitness programs (by Sharon Jackson, CPT and owner of Sharon’s Slammin’ Boot Camps), I found myself in therapy. Yes. What I was creating for others would end up helping me as much or even more than those who have attended!

The Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge began in January with a kickoff party. Every good event begins and ends with a party, right? Then every three weeks was another session which included healthy food (with recipe cards for each menu item), and a nutrition and fitness presentation. As I write this column, I am preparing for the fourth and final wellness session. However, the real life-changer of the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge is the final event — a fitness goal for me and all my friends — the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge 5K Run/Walk.

One of my greatest pet peeves in the whole world is a hypocrite — say one thing, do another. And so my own hypocrisy immediately convicted me. I CANNOT RUN A 5K. I cannot even run to my mailbox.

There you go. The beginning of the journey.

And here I am. The non-runner. I now own my first pair of running shoes purchased from Sport Spectrum in Shreveport. I love that place! Great customer service! They even watch how you walk to make sure that you are fit with the proper pair of shoes. I bought 2 running outfits. Every girl needs the right outfit for the occasion! And I downloaded the Couch-to-5K running program for my iPod. If you’ve never run before, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this program. In 9 weeks, you can go from couch potato to running a 5K.

It hasn’t been easy. I have had to make myself get out of my warm , cozy bed and run in 27 degree weather. I have posted my running status on Facebook to force myself into accountability. And it’s working. It’s not an overnight-wake-up-the-next-morning-and-your-skinny sort of solution. It’s a life change. And that’s what it takes for a 40-something to be healthy into her 50’s, 60’s, and beyond.

I WILL RUN that 5K on Saturday, April 24th. (Actually, since I’m in charge of the race, I may have to run it the afternoon before so I can work during the race!) I may lay down on the ground after I cross the finish line, but I will cross the finish line.

If you can’t run, then come join us and walk. The point is this: everyone needs a goal. I know. My mother said so! And just for the record, I AM wearing one of those outfits that hung in the back of the closet last spring. Oh happy day!

Click here for more information about the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge 5K Run/Walk, Saturday, April 24, Lincoln Parish Park, Ruston, LA at 8 a.m.  Train Hard. Live Well.

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