Our new minor surgery suite is operational!

We now offer endometrial ablations, Essure permanent birth control, labial reductions, D&C's, polypectomies, and other minor procedures right in the office. These procedures are performed under general anesthesia, which is provided by a board certified Anesthesiologist from Valley Anesthesia, the same group we use in the hospital. The Anesthesiologist comes to the office along with a nurse and a full set of equipment to insure your safety. Anesthesia is administered in the procedure room, the desired procedure is performed, and you go home after you are awake and comfortable. Easy, quick, simple.

Procedures offered:

• Thermachoice Endometrial Ablation
  Endometrial Ablation is an uncomplicated solution for heavy periods. We use the Thermachoice system, which involves placing a balloon filled with hot saline inside the uterus and allowing the heat to burn the uterine lining down to its base. The uterine lining is what sloughs off once a month to cause a "period", and by reducing or eliminating this lining, the period is either greatly reduced or eliminated.
   
  Endometrial Ablation takes about 20 minutes. Upon waking up from your light anesthetic, you will experience some cramping that is normally controlled with Ibuprofen. Over the next few weeks, you will experience a watery bloody discharge. Most women are able to return to their normal activities in a few days.
   
  Women who bleed heavily despite a relatively normal uterus are the best candidates for this procedure. Women with adenomyosis or large fibroids are better served by a laparoscopic hysterectomy.
   
  Visit www.gynecare.com/thermachoice for more information.

• Essure Permanent Contraception
  The Essure procedure does not require any cutting into the body. Instead, an Essure trained doctor inserts small flexible micro-inserts™ through the body’s natural pathways (vagina, cervix, and uterus) and into your fallopian tubes.
  
  During the 3 months following the procedure, your body and the micro-inserts work together to form a natural barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg. During this period, you must continue using another form of birth control (other than an IUD or IUS).
  
  Unlike birth control pills, patches, rings, and some forms of IUDs, Essure does not contain hormones to interfere with your natural menstrual cycle. Your periods should more or less continue in their natural state. Visit Essure.com for more information.

• Labial Reduction
  The inner lips of the vulva are called the labia minora. Most women are not bothered by this tissue, but some women have large labia that catch on clothing, pull during sports activities, and are inconvenient or painful during sexual intercourse. Some women simply do not like the "look" of large labia minora, and some simply want their labia to be more symmetrical.
  
  Reduction of the labia involves trimming excess tissue from the labia so that the labia are smaller and less bothersome. Women who undergo labial reduction are able to choose how much tissue is removed. Some women simply want asymmetric labia to be more closely matched.
  
  Recovery after a labial reduction is approximately one week. This does not mean that activities are to be completely curtailed, but sitting for long periods of time or exercise would not be recommended due to potential discomfort.
  
  This type of skin generally heals without visible scarring and the results are great. Talk to your provider next time you come into the office if this is an issue for you.
  
  For more information, google "labial reduction" or click here for one of the best informational web sites.

If you are interested in any of the above procedures, please make an appointment with one of our physicians by calling 480-860-4791.

Visit us on-line at www.skintiquemd.com or call 480.860.9383 for a free consultation!

Hi! This is Lori from Skintique! I wanted to let you know we have decided to extend our IPL/Photo-Facial special due to its popularity! For those of you who aren't familiar with that particular special, it is our best treatment for sun damage, brown spots, broken capillaries, rosacea, and collegen building. We are extending the $150.00 price (normally $200.00 for the full face) through the month of October! Why not start the fall season with the skin you have always wanted? Especially after summer when our skin takes a beating from the weather, the IPL gives your skin an even tone and texture and helps you to show off the most beautiful skin ever!

In addition, we have decided to offer the IPL for neck and chest for $140.00 and this is usually $175.00. This special offering will be extended to the end of October as well! We have received so many requests for this we have decided to go ahead and create this offer, so now your radiant skin won’t be limited to just your face!

The next time you have an appointment in the main office, please check out the Skintique display! I am running a raffle for a FREE Li-Lash! That is the amazing new eyelash stimulator! Yes, it really works! Your lashes will be longer and thicker in about 4-6 weeks! All you have to do to enter is schedule an IPL between October 5-16! Just drop your name with your phone # in the raffle box, schedule your appointment and you are eligible to win! The Li-Lash sells for $140.00 normally, so this is your chance to have the best lashes of your life-free!

If any of you ever considered getting a dermal filler such as Restylane there is no better time than now! Well, I hope you are sitting down………. because we are offering two syringes for the price of one! This is only good for September and October as we have a limited supply of complimentary syringes. We are asking that both syringes be used at the time of initial appointment. If you think you only will want one, feel free to bring a friend to use the other syringe! For those of you who aren't familiar with dermal fillers, we use them to fill in the folds around the mouth and to correct severe wrinkles. This is also the way you get pouty, kissable lips! Restylane is made of Hyalruonic Acid, a naturally occurring substance found in young skin so it is very safe to use.

Higher stroke risk tied to early untreated menopause

Women who reach menopause before the age of 42 years are twice as likely to suffer a stroke in later life as women who reach menopause after age 42. Several mechanisms could account for the increased rate of stroke. Estrogen deficiency is thought to promote cardiovascular disease through functional or structural changes in arteries. Other risk associations are being looked at as well.

We all hear about the dangers of estrogen, but studies like this one suggest that estrogen is, in fact, a protective hormone.

There is quite a bit of evidence out there that estrogen, particularly non-oral bioidentical estrogen, guards against heart attacks and strokes. This includes the estradiol patch, estradiol creams, or pellets.

So when you are making a decision about whether to take advantage of hormone replacement therapy, consider all of the facts and talk to your practitioner about your options.

In our office, the demand for bioidentical pellets is increasing rapidly. Estradiol pellets are easy to insert under the skin of the hip and last for months at a time. Testosterone pellets can be added for remarkably increased sex drive and energy level. For women with a uterus, we now have progesterone pellets as well!

Check out our web site for more information on Balance pellets.

So you think you are getting correct information from your pharmacy?

A recent study conducted by Harbor-UCLA Medical Center revealed unsettling results. Researchers called 1,440 pharmacies with questions about "Plan B" or the morning after pill. Plan B is available over the counter to anyone 17 years and older and is most effective in preventing pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of exposure.

Female interviewers were trained to speak hesitantly to the person who answered and to say that she and her boyfriend had had sex the day before and he had just admitted that he did not use a condom. She then said that she had heard that maybe there was something she could take to keep from getting pregnant, and asked the person on the telephone if he or she knew about this.

• 6% of pharmacies referred the woman to her clinician for a prescription, which is actually not needed for Plan B.
• 1% of pharmacy personnel said that they knew that emergency contraception was available without a prescription but that nevertheless, they required women of any age to have a prescription.
• 19% of pharmacies responded that they did not carry Plan B and only 15% of those pharmacies referred the caller to a pharmacy that did carry the drug.
• The rest told the caller to go to "any pharmacy".
  

Some pharmacies provided inaccurate information. Callers were told that the pills had to be taken within 12 hours, within 24 hours or 48 hours (the correct window is 72 hours). One pharmacy said that it was too early for the caller to use Plan B, that the pills need to be taken 2-3 days after intercourse.

One pharmacist told the caller that Plan B used to be available over the counter but was not anymore, and two pharmacists said that the caller needed to be at least 21 to receive it.

Seventeen pharmacists hung up the phone after hearing the caller's question, and some asked personal questions such as "Are you married or single?" or "How long have you known him?".

It is encouraging that one pharmacist said, "We were going to close in 10 minutes, but if you can get down here, I'll stay open for you."