Men’s Health

At Refine Medical Aesthetics, we provide comprehensive men’s health services while making you feel at ease and comfortable with your body and any health concerns you may have.

• ViaSure
• Hair Restoration
• Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Testosterone is the hormone that puts hair on a man’s chest, deepens their voice, and it’s force behind their sex drive. It keeps muscles and bones strong, and also influences behavior and competitiveness.

Testosterone peaks just before age 20, and after 30, most men begin to experience a gradual decline in testosterone. The drop is usually 1-2% yearly. Symptoms of low testosterone (low T) may not accompany the gradual decline. On the other hand, some medical conditions and medications may accelerate the decline.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Low Testosterone is also called hypogonadism. Low T in men can alter certain masculine characteristics and impair normal reproductive function. Early signs and symptoms include:

• Decreased sex drive (poor libido)
• Decreased energy
• Depression

Over time, men with low T can develop:

• Erectile dysfunction
• Infertility
• Decrease in facial and body hair growth
• Decrease in strength and muscle mass
• Development of breast tissue (gynecomastia)
• Loss of bone mass (osteoporosis)
• Difficulty concentrating
• Poor motivation
• Hot flashes

The diagnosis of low T requires two separate measurements, and confirmation labs must also point to the specific cause. Primary hypogonadism originates in the testicles, and very little further evaluation is needed before replacement is started. Secondary hypogonadism (also called central hypogonadism) suggests a problem in the brain, specifically the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland. In the latter case, further evaluation is necessary to be sure there is no tumor.

Options available for treating low T include delivering testosterone using one of several routes that have avoided oral administration historically. This was primarily because of liver toxicity with oral androgens (medications that act like testosterone).

• Transdermal testosterone using patches foams or gels
• Intramuscular testosterone by injection
• Sub-Q testosterone pellet implants
• Testosterone undecanoate capsules orally

Each of the above options have pros and cons, including a wide range in cost. Refine Medical Aesthetics offers 30 years of experience in managing hormone-related conditions. For more information, request an appointment online or contact us today at (412) 347-1733.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
50 percent of men over the age of 50 will experience sexual dysfunction. That percentage goes up each decade afterwards, and often begins beforehand. ED can damage your self-confidence and cause stress in relationships. Sexual performance may be difficult to talk about, but can be so important to a person’s well-being.

As men age, there are changes that begin to take place. The body stops regenerating new blood vessels which are vital channels that deliver necessary blood flow in order to have a strong erection. Fewer channels result in less blood flow. As the aging process continues in these blood vessels, micro-plaque begins to build up, restricting blood flow causing weaker erections and ultimately leading to ED.