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Spring 2016
Featured
ARTICLES
Hearing Solutions
The Joy of Better Hearing
2
6
An ear, nose and
throat doctor entrusts
Sound Advice Hearing
Solutions to treat his
hearing loss.
D
Health Care Patron
Carrier-Route Pre Sort
PRSRT.STD.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Tampa, FL
Permit No.2397
r. David Hill, 77, says he
treated hundreds of patients
over the years as an ear, nose
and throat doctor long
before he began experiencing the perils
of losing his own hearing.
“My wife, Sarah, noticed I was
turning the television up extremely loud
when we were sitting and watching it
together, and that I was having trouble
hearing in social situations,” he explains.
“As an ear, nose and throat doctor, I
know how important early intervention is in hearing preservation. I knew
I needed to get some help right away.”
Luckily for David, he already had
an established relationship with hearing specialist Audrey Hawley, HAS,
BC-HIS, at Sound Advice Hearing
Solutions in St. Petersburg.
“David and I had a longstanding professional relationship,” Audrey
explains. “At my practice, I referred
patients who needed medical intervention to David so he could clear them for
hearing aids. When he came to me for
his own hearing loss, it was an honor
12
Bowers Vein
Institute
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and a privilege to treat someone with
such deep knowledge of the ear.”
David says Audrey was the perfect
person to help him address his hearing
loss.
AUDREY HAWLEY, HAS, BC-HIS
DON HAWLEY, MS-ENG, HAS, BC-HIS
KELLY BREESE, AUD, F-AAA, CCC-A
“She’s friendly, professional and has
a great deal of expertise in her trade,” he
says. “Most of all, I know many patients
and close, personal friends of mine who
have received successful treatment of critical hearing loss thanks to Audrey and her
team. Choosing Sound Advice Hearing
Solutions was really a no-brainer.”
Leading technology
Audrey repor ts that David was
experiencing classic high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss, a typical condition
in someone his age.
Sensorineural hearing loss is the most
common type of hearing loss, occurring
in 23 percent of the population older than
65 years. The term “sensorineural” is used
to indicate that there is either a cochlear
or an eighth nerve lesion, and causes may
include prolonged severe noise exposure,
or trauma, but advanced age is the most
common culprit. If caught early enough
in the aging process, high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss can be treated with
aids that restore nearly all hearing.
“As you age, you start to lose
the high-frequency sounds first,” she
explains. “David knows the ear well
enough to know that we have to nip this
in the bud right away, before any irreversible hearing loss occurs. That’s why
it’s so important to come in and see us
as soon as any hearing loss begins. I tell
all my patients, the sooner you come in,
the more hearing we can save.”
Audrey says one of the things that
deter people from promptly coming
in and receiving hearing treatment is
their preconceived notion about “big,
chunky hearing aids.”
“What people don’t realize is, there
have been major advancements in
the field of hearing aids,” she reports.
“Patients have so many choices these
days; these are not your grandfather’s
huge hearing aids, the big bananas that sat
behind the ear and made a lot of squealing noise. New hearing aids are extremely
small, discreet and fully automatic. Some
are even completely invisible and inserted
into the ear canal, staying there for three
months at a time, kind of like an extended-wear contact lens for the ear. The
options really are limitless.”
Audrey tested David’s hearing,
identified the problem and fit him with
state-of-the-art hearing aids. She says he
was most excited about the Bluetooth®
technology features included in his new
hearing aids.
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Page 2 | Pinellas Health Care News | Spring 2016 | South Pinellas County Edition
Venous Disease, Varicose & Spider Veins
Return to Top Form
Treatment turns back the clock for patient with unsightly vein disease.
O
collapsed and are eventually absorbed by the body.
EVLA is done right in my office using local anesthesia,
just like at the dentist’s office.”
A second technique used on both of Lara’s legs was
ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (UGS). Sclerotherapy
uses a specialized solution that is injected into the
more superficial veins to make them close. With UGS,
Dr. Bowers uses ultrasound imaging to view even the
smallest branches of the veins to be treated. It, too, is
performed in the surgeon’s office.
Dr. Bowers performed a third procedure on Lara’s
right leg to remove a diseased vein. It is called phlebectomy, and it also can be performed in the comfort of the
surgeon’s office. Phlebectomy removes problem veins
through a series of very tiny incisions that heal with
little to no evidence left on the surface of the skin. The
incisions are so small, they are closed with steri-strips™,
no stitches are required.
“These and other minimally invasive vein procedures
are less traumatic than vein stripping, require little to
no downtime and are virtually pain free,” observes Dr.
Bowers. “Most patients are back to work and normal
activities the same day.
“There’s another benefit to choosing a center like
Bowers Vein Institute that is dedicated to the treatment
of vein disorders. Our services are covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare.”
riginally from Upstate New York, Lara
Mota always enjoyed the sunshine and
warmer temperatures of her adopted
Florida home. She liked to take advantage of the climate to walk outdoors for exercise, but it
became more difficult to do over time. Lara knew it was
because of the lack of circulation in her legs. They were
both unattractive and uncomfortable .
“I had a lot of very bad bumps (varicose veins) in my
leg,” she describes. “I also had pain and cramps in both
legs. If I walked a lot, they would start to ache. My feet
and legs would swell, and my legs would feel very tired
and fatigued. My right leg was worse. My leg with the
bumps (varicose veins) would get really hot sometimes,
like it was generating heat. It was not fun.”
It was not pretty, either. Lara was embarrassed by
the appearance of her legs and kept them hidden as
much as possible.
“I can’t even remember the last time I wore
shorts,” she shares.
Eventually, Lara realized she needed medical attention for her condition. She thought about her family
history and noted her possible future if she continued
to leave her legs untreated.
“I finally decided to do something because my father
always had bumps in his legs when I was growing up,
and he just let it go,” explains Lara. “We almost lost him
in July of this past year because he developed blood clots
that got so massive and severe that he was hospitalized for
more than a month. I decided it was time to do something with my own legs because I didn’t want them to
turn out like my father’s.”
Expertise and trust
Once Lara decided to find a physician to care for her
legs, she was determined to find one she could trust. She
succeeded when she discovered William D. Bowers, MD,
at the Bowers Vein Institute in Pinellas Park. Dr. Bowers
is double board certified in surgery and in venous and
lymphatic medicine. He performed vascular surgery for
more than 25 years before dedicating his skills to treating
only vein disorders.
Dr. Bowers’ practice, Bowers Vein Institute, is
devoted exclusively to helping patients with vein disease,
including varicose veins, spider veins, restless legs and
other forms of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
At her first appointment, Lara was impressed by Dr.
Bowers’ expertise and supportive manner. She felt reassured by his detailed description of her vein condition
and his explanation of the proposed treatments.
“Dr. Bowers was so sweet and nice, and I felt very
comfortable with him,” says Lara. “I had actually gone to
a different vein center last year, but I didn’t feel like I had
Before
After
Smooth sailing
“The bumps are gone!
I’m absolutely
amazed.”
– Lara Mota
gotten the attention that I did when I was with Dr. Bowers.
“At the other place, they were trying to set up
procedures without having me even meet the doctor.
At Bowers Vein Institute, I had my ultrasound and
the same day I was talking with Dr. Bowers, and he
explained everything. I thought he was very thorough
and knowledgeable, and he definitely put me at ease
with what he was going to do.”
Advanced techniques
Prior to 2000, the only option available to treat varicose veins was a serious and painful procedure to
surgically remove the diseased veins, called vein stripping. With this procedure, which is performed using
general or local anesthetic, one or more incisions are
made, usually in the groin or leg, through which the
vein is pulled out from the body.
“Today, a variety of minimally invasive procedures
have been developed to treat venous insufficiency,” states
Dr. Bowers. “I used three of these processes to address
Lara’s specific vein condition.
“First, I used a laser procedure called endovenous
laser ablation or EVLA. With EVLA, a very thin laser
fiber is guided through a tiny needle placed in the
leg vein. Using laser energy, diseased veins are gently
William D. Bowers, MD, FACS, RPVI, RPhS, earned his undergraduate degree from Indiana University and his medical
degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in general surgery
at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Dr. Bowers is the founder and medical director of the Bowers Vein
Institute and has more than 25 years of experience in vascular and general surgery. He holds certifications from both
the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. Dr. Bowers practiced
vascular and general surgery in Tennessee for more than 20 years before relocating to the Tampa Bay area. He now
devotes his practice exclusively to the diagnosis and treatment of venous disease.
For more information online, please visit www.BowersVein.com.
Like so many patients, Lara is thrilled with the
results of her procedures. She no longer feels any
heaviness and fatigue in her legs. She is also free from
the swelling and pain.
“My legs feel much better, especially after he
removed the vein in my right leg,” remarks Lara. “I haven’t had any night cramps at all, and I haven’t woken up
with any charley horses.”
Best of all, the appearance of her legs has improved
tremendously since her treatments. Now, Lara is looking
forward to the warmer weather when she can show off
her now smooth and attractive legs to the world.
“The bumps are gone!” she enthuses. “There’s not a
bump there. I’m absolutely amazed.
“This summer, I’ll be wearing shorts.”
Dr. Bowers and his staff earned kudos from Lara,
who felt they made her experience pleasant and comfortable. Her procedures were made that much easier
thanks to the support she received from everyone at
Bowers Vein Institute.
“Everybody is awesome,” Lara comments. “Dr.
Bowers is a very nice guy and he explains everything.
The entire staff is just amazing. They really take good care
of you. They comfort you. They make you feel so relaxed
when you’re there. They’re all great people.”
Lara is extremely pleased with how her legs look
since Dr. Bowers worked his magic on them, but she’s
also pretty happy with the freedom she has since the
symptoms have disappeared. Without the cramps, pain
and swelling in her legs, Lara is back to being fully active.
“I do Jazzercise® and I do a lot of walking and a lot
of working out,” she relates. “It all feels pretty good.”
FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. Photos by Jordan Pysz. Before and after images
courtesy of Bowers Vein Institute.
Relief from
Chronic Venous
Insufficiency (CVI)
If you have varicose veins, spider veins
or restless legs, you deser ve a highly
experienced physician like William D.
Bowers, MD, FACS, RPVI, RPhS, for diagnosis
and treatment. CVI is a medical condition
covered by insurance, including Medicare.
Don’t delay! For a free consultation, call the
Bowers Vein Institute at (727) 623-9999 or
1-800-VARICOSE. The Institute is located at
4900 95th Ave. N. in Pinellas Park.
South Pinellas County Edition | Spring 2016 | Pinellas Health Care News | Page 3
Minimally Invasive Spine Care
Kyphoplasty for Vertebral Fractures
Refinements in treatment of compression fractures offer relief in less than an hour.
O
“
n January sixth of 2014,
I fell against my dresser
and hit the bottom of
my spine,” recalls Jim
Doyle. “I called my family physician,
Dr. Michael Zimmer, who has been my
doctor for the last eighteen years.”
Dr. Zimmer suggested he alternate
ice and heat to alleviate the pain.
“They told me, Hot and cold, hot
and cold, and it should heal,” he explains.
“But I couldn’t do anything. I was in the
chair most of the time, because it was
very painful. When it didn’t get better,
Dr. Zimmer sent me to Dr. Trimble.”
Gerald E. Trimble, MD, is a
board-certified pain management practitioner at Minimally Invasive Spine
Care, with offices in St. Petersburg and
Clearwater.
Although he was still in excruciating
pain, Jim says the staff there helped him
feel at ease right from the start.
“The girl at the front desk was
very, very helpful,” he reports, “and
when I explained everything to the
doctor and his nurse, he told me that
he could take care of it.”
Dr. Trimble referred Jim out for
an MRI, which revealed a compression
fracture.
“There was a crack in the bottom of
the spine,” he describes. “When you’re
younger, it heals, but when you’re older,
it won’t. So they had to fill in that crack.”
About compression fractures
Dr. Trimble observes that acute pain
can be beneficial for a patient to some
degree – it serves as a warning signal
that a medical condition needs to be
addressed. “Chronic pain, however,
serves no purpose except to make a
patient uncomfortable – even miserable,”
he explains.
“At Minimally Invasive Spine Care,
we view chronic pain as a disease process,
not merely a symptom that has to be tolerated as part of an underlying condition.
The first objective is always to determine
where the pain originates and then apply
specific techniques to treat it.
MI
SC
MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE CARE
OFFERED BY THE DOCTORS AT
WEST FLORIDA PAIN MANAGEMENT, P.A.
GERALD E. TRIMBLE, MD
SUSAN K. SAMLASKA, MD
“We believe that the source of pain,
the pain generator, should be identified, the underlying pain mechanism
addressed and treatment scheduled
accordingly. In each case,” he adds, “we
approach pain relief with the least invasive methods available, with the goal of
postponing – or even eliminating – the
need for invasive surgery.”
Dr. Trimble warns that a fracture in
the spine can be an extremely painful,
even dangerous, problem.
“The bones in your spine are called
vertebrae,” he reminds, “and if the thick
block of bone at the front of a single vertebra fractures and collapses, we call that
a vertebral compression fracture.”
When a patient consults Dr. Trimble
about back pain and the diagnosis is a
vertebral compression fracture, the doctor
will typically treat the fracture with conservative measures, such as a back brace
or medication management.
Find help for your pain
Drs. Trimble and Samlaska welcome questions
regarding the management of chronic pain. For
information or a consultation, please call (727) 553-7313.
Offices are located at 1831 N. Belcher Rd., Suite A2, in
Clearwater and Bayfront Plaza, 603 7th St. South, Suite
320, in St. Petersburg.
Jim Doyle
“Vertebral fractures can sometimes
be treated conservatively,” he explains,
“because some will eventually heal on
their own. With a patient whose symptoms are mild, or who is essentially
asymptomatic, we can prescribe a back
brace to postpone or even eliminate the
need for additional treatment.
“If the fracture continues to compress
further, however – or if the patient is simply not improving – we don’t hesitate to
recommend taking more aggressive action
to alleviate the pain.”
The kyphoplasty solution
Newer technologies have enabled
surgeons to provide a fast, effective solution to vertebral compression fractures,
says Dr. Trimble.
“We now offer an alternative called
kyphoplasty, which is proving its value in
three key areas – providing significant
pain relief, stabilizing the fracture and
reestablishing much of the lost vertebral
body height. In the event that the patient
has an acute fracture on top of an old
fracture, that can often be treated with
kyphoplasty as well.”
Kyphoplasty is actually a refinement
of a procedure called vertebroplasty, but
offers additional advantages: during
the procedure, the insertion of a balloon into the fractured vertebra elevates
the compressed bone, helping to return
the spine to a more natural position.
The newly created space allows for the
injection of fast-drying bone cement,
which helps achieve the correction in
the deformity of the vertebra.
“As we inflate the balloon, we can
often reproduce much of the height in
the bone,” describes Dr. Trimble. “The
other advantage to the balloon is that it
pushes the healthy bone to the periphery, leaving a cavity which can then be
filled with bone cement.”
The doctor adds that the kyphoplasty
procedure contrasts favorably with its predecessor, vertebroplasty: “Vertebroplasty
is an injection of cement without inflating
a balloon into the area first,” he clarifies. “It doesn’t attempt to correct the
deformity. Secondly, the vertebroplasty
procedure requires us to put slightly
more pressure on the cement in order to
get it between the cracks of the fracture.
Consequently, I prefer the kyphoplasty
procedure to vertebroplasty.
“The bone cement hardens quickly,
stabilizing the fracture,” continues Dr.
Trimble, “and the stability from the
cement offers significant pain relief for
the patient – usually within hours of the
procedure or even sooner. We are happy
to offer this fast, effective treatment to
our patients.”
“No pain whatsoever”
Jim’s progress has been significant,
although it took some time due to the
fact that he had been down for months
before getting the kyphoplasty treatment.
“I still kind of wiggled after walking for six months with a cane,” he
explains. “I started to walk without it,
and I’ve been walking around with no
assistance at all ever since. I do have a
rolling walker if I need to get up in the
“I’ve been walking around with
no assistance at all,” says Jim
after successful treatment for a
vertebral compression fracture.
middle of the night. I’m being careful,
and I haven’t had any more falls, and I
have no pain whatsoever.”
He thanks Dr. Trimble and his staff
for all their care and concern.
“They’re all super,” assures Jim,
“from the girl who greets you and gives
you the clipboard to fill in your information, to the girl at the switchboard. The
nurse is out of this world and the doctor
is wonderful. It’s been very, very good.”
FHCN staff article. FHCN file photo.
Tried Physical Therapy or
Chiropractic, but Still Hurting?
“If conser vative treatment or even
surgery has failed to relieve your pain, our
procedures may be able to help you,” says
Dr. Trimble. “We encourage patients who
have tried these other measures to give us
a call to schedule a consultation.”
Gerald E. Trimble, MD, is board
certified by the American Board
of Anesthesiology, specializing in pain management. After
receiving his medical degree
from the University of South
Florida College of Medicine, he
completed a transitional internship at Michigan State University and Edward W.
Sparrow Hospital and a residency in anesthesiology
at the University of South Florida, where he served
as chief resident and was awarded a fellowship
in pain management. Dr. Trimble was awarded a
certificate of additional qualification in pain management by the American Board of Anesthesiology,
the only pain management certification recognized
by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
He is a diplomate of the American Board of
Anesthesiologists, and a member of the American
Society of Anesthesiologists, Florida Society of
Anesthesiologists and American Society of Regional
Anesthesia, and has published and lectured on
numerous pain management topics.
Susan K. Samlaska, MD, is
board certified by the American
Board of Anesthesiology, specializing in pain management.
After receiving her medical
degree from the Medical College
of Wisconsin in Milwaukee,
she completed a transitional
internship at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Milwaukee
and a residency in anesthesiology at Thomas
Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Dr. Samlaska
was awarded a pain management fellowship
from the Chronic Pain Center, Department of
Anesthesiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
For more information, please visit www.westflpainmanagement.com.
Page 4 | Pinellas Health Care News | Spring 2016 | South Pinellas County Edition
Hearing Solutions
The Joy of Better Hearing
(continued from page 1)
“David was so enthusiastic
about the leading-edge technology,” Audrey says. “I explained
to him that we have designs
with endless wireless features.
You can connect your hearing
devices wirelessly to your iPad®
or tablet of any sort, any kind
of cell phone, including smartphones; your landline phone,
your television or your ycomputer. Everything wirelessly
connects via Bluetooth technology. I was so happy he was open
to everything and wanted to take
full advantage of all the options
available.”
“The technology really is
amazing,” David agrees. “I’m
able to watch early-morning television news through the hearing
aids with the television speakers
silenced, so as not to disturb family and guests. I can literally have
the news playing directly through
my hearing aids! Now, if my wife
and I are watching television, I
can choose my preferred volume
directly through my hearing aids
while she listens at normal sound
levels. It’s truly fabulous.”
Audrey says in addition
to receiving Bluetooth signals
directly from the television,
David’s hearing aids also allow
him to take his cell phone calls
through his hearing aids, which
delights him.
“The benefits of the new
advancements really amaze
patients when they come in,”
215 Bullard Parkway
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Spring 2016
she reports. “More than anything
else, I think the most impressive
aspect of the improved devices
is the incredible intelligence
they have in being able to determine what is noise and what is
speech, which helps immensely
with getting sound levels right.
I’m just so happy to offer all of
these options to my patients.”
Barry P. Levine
Executive Publisher
Gina L. d’Angelo
CFO/HR Manager
Judy Wade
Editorial Manager
Michelle Brooks
Creative Director
Brian Levine
New hearing, new life
Thanks to his new hearing aids,
David says his quality of life has
improved substantially.
“My wife, Sarah, is so happy
to talk to me without having to
yell! Since she is the one who
identified the problem, I am
thankful she is no longer frustrated by it. My whole life has
been improved, really. I am
enjoying so many activities with
a newfound joy. I’m traveling,
bicycling, improving my physical fitness at the YMCA, all
with such greater fulfillment,”
he says. “I recently retired from
my medical practice, and I often
tell people, I’m busier now than
when I was working. It’s great
to be able to hear everything so
clearly now, and live my retired
life to the fullest.”
Audrey says she noticed
an immediate improvement in
David as soon as he was fit with
his hearing aids, and she adds
that this is a common occurrence
among her patients.
“I see great differences, even
Pinellas Health
Care News
Project Coordinator
Patti DiPanfilo
Susan Hemmingway
Editorial Staff
Laura Engel
Production Assistant
Nerissa Johnson
Graphic Designer
David can listen to the TV through the Bluetooth
technology of his hearing aids, while his wife, Sarah,
enjoys peace and quiet.
between when they come into
the office and when they leave
the office with their new hearing aids on their ears. It can be as
simple as how they carry themselves or how much more smiley
and jovial they are as they’re
making their next appointment.
Sometimes, I really can’t believe
it’s the same person coming in
and going out.”
David has nothing but good
things to say about the treatment
he received from Audrey and the
team at Sound Advice Hearing
Solutions.
“Working with Sound
Advice for years prior to receiving my own hearing aids taught
me a lot about the values of
their practice,” he shares. “They
genuinely care about everyone
who comes into their office. In
my experience, they never failed
to successfully treat any of our
shared patients. They’re sharp
practitioners, and they really
know what they’re doing.”
His thoughts about Audrey’s
personality and competence are
most complimentary.
“As for Audrey, she is
extremely confident, always
cheerful and available, and she
was so good at understanding
my particular needs,” he continues. “I became an ear, nose and
throat doctor because I wanted
to preserve the senses. I get the
feeling that Audrey feels the
same way about her craft, and
that’s why I respect her so much.
You can tell she really cares
about what she does and takes
pride in restoring hearing to her
patients. My life is definitely
better for having gone to Sound
Advice Hearing Solutions.”
FHCN article by Susan Hemmingway. Photos
by Jordan Pysz.
Nerissa Johnson
Jordan Pysz
Photography
Steve Turk
Vincent Ortiz
Dennis Mazanec
Distribution
Contributing Editors
Sound Advice Hearing Solutions
Hearing Solutions
Bowers Vein Institute
Venous Disease, Varicose &
Spider Veins
Minimally Invasive Spine Care
West Florida Pain Management, P.A.
Minimally Invasive Spine Care
Regenerative
Orthopedic Institute
Stem Cell Therapy/
Pain Management
Pasadena Eye Center
Ophthalmology and Optometry
Loren J. Miller, DPM
Podiatric Surgery
South Florida Eye Clinic
Ophthalmology
Coastal Jaw Surgery
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Florida Interventional
Specialists
Interventional Radiology
Audrey Hawley, HAS, BC-HIS, is a licensed
Hearing Instrument Specialist. She completed her studies through the International
Institute for Hearing Instruments Studies.
She is Nationally Board Certified in Hearing
Instrument Sciences. Audrey is a member
of the Florida Society of Hearing Healthcare
Professionals and the International Hearing
Society.
Call or visit for a
free hearing test!
The friendly staff members at Sound Advice Hearing
Solutions welcome you to call or stop by anytime. They’ll
answer your questions and give you resources for learning
about the many invisible hearing solutions available.
Ask about upcoming seminar dates, or inquire about a
convenient, complimentary appointment. For additional
information or to schedule an appointment, Sound Advice
Hearing Solutions is available to serve you at one of these
locations: 3173 4th St. N. in St. Petersburg, (727) 822-2132,
and 861 West Bay Drive in Largo, (727) 518-1111.
Don Hawley, MS-Eng, HAS, BC-HIS, is a licensed
Hearing Instrument Specialist. He completed his
studies through the International Institute for
Hearing Instruments Studies. He is Nationally
Board Certified in Hearing Instrument Sciences.
Don is a member of the Florida Society of Hearing
Healthcare Professionals and the International
Hearing Society.
Kelly Breese, AUD, F-AAA, CCC-A, is an
Audiologist. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in
communication sciences and disorders from the
University of Florida and attained a doctorate of
audiology at the University of Arizona. She is a
fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and
member of the Florida Academy of Audiology.
Kelly serves as a member of the board of directors
for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services of Florida
and also is qualified in American Sign Language.
For more information, please visit www.soundadviceflorida.com.
Mack Center: Cosmetic Surgery
– Facial & Eyelid
Facial Cosmetic/
Oculoplastic Surgery
Infinity Medical Institute
Bio-Natural Hormone
Replacement Therapy
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South Pinellas County Edition | Spring 2016 | Pinellas Health Care News | Page 5
Stem Cell Therapy/Pain Management
Back in the Swing of Things
Stem cell therapy regenerates aching knee joints.
W
hen he’s not playing the
top courses, golf pro
Joe Blanc spends hours
instructing his students
in the finer points of the game. He’s a
traveling pro who spends most of his time
teaching the game up and down the east
coast of Florida.
Joe’s position is demanding of both
his skills and his body. Not only does it
require traveling, it also requires strength
and stamina.
“I teach golf for National Golf
Schools,” he relates. “These are not
one-hour golf lessons. They are usually three-day, eight- to nine-hour, very
intense, boot camp-type golf lessons.
They’re also known as resort lessons.”
He loves his job, but those long hours
on his feet put a great strain on his legs
and, especially, his knees. Soon, kneeling
down to line up a putt became more and
more difficult. Pain and stiffness in his
knees began to interfere in other areas of
his life as well.
“I’d say about ten years ago, I felt my
knees start acting up,” shares Joe. “Just a
little tightness and soreness at first, and
then over the past five years, it got bad
enough that I quit in-line skating. I was
constantly wearing braces and living on
ice packs and Aleve®.”
Joe’s remedies did help him manage,
Joe no longer
needs knee
braces, ice
packs and
pain relievers
to spend the
day on the
golf course.
but he knew he was just masking the pain,
which he rated an eight on a scale of one
to ten. His bigger concern was how the
changes in his knees were affecting his activities, especially those related to his livelihood.
“It was debilitating,” states Joe. “I was
representing the Putter Company, which
I loved, but I had to give that up because
my legs couldn’t take the eight hours on
demo days.”
With that, Joe had had enough. He
wasn’t interested in any type of surgery
on his knees, but he knew he had another
option because a neighbor had been to
Erick A. Grana, MD, of Regenerative
Orthopedic Institute in Tampa. Dr. Grana
offers leading-edge treatments for joint
conditions using the patient’s own stem
cells to regenerate tissue and heal injuries.
“One of my neighbors recommended Regenerative Orthopedic
Institute,” says Joe. “He had the procedure with the stem cells done, and I
followed his progress, which impressed
me. That’s what led me to Dr. Grana.”
Skip the surgery
The knee problems faced by Joe are commonly seen at Regenerative Orthopedic
Institute. Dr. Grana and his staff have
extensive experience treating them, as well
as treating other joint issues.
“In Joe’s case, he is a professional golf
instructor, and he was having a difficult
time playing golf,” explains Dr. Grana.
“He came to us with complaints of knee
pain that was interfering with his activities. He wanted to avoid surgery.”
ERICK A. GRANA, MD
Pain, blood loss and scarring are
associated with invasive surgery, so many
patients with joint issues seek to avoid
this. There is a revolutionary technology today that gives patients like Joe the
chance to avoid taking on the risks of a
surgical procedure.
“There are other options now that can
be offered to osteoarthritis patients, especially before they get to the stage where
they need joint replacement,” informs
Dr. Grana. “Not only can we relieve the
pain, but we can also reverse some of the
damage that happens from osteoarthritis.
This is accomplished by regenerating the
cartilage and connective tissues in and
around the joint area.
“Regenerative medicine treats diseases and injuries by harnessing the
body’s own healing powers,” continues
the doctor. “The natural healing process
is accelerated by a combination of growth
factors and bioactive cells, resulting in a
safe, effective, nonsurgical treatment.”
Dr. Grana has developed a system
for the delivery of stem cells, platelet-rich
plasma and growth factors into the pain
generators in and around joints, such as
shoulders and knees. This treatment is
called RegenaJoint. He has also developed
a system to treat the spine in a similar
manner using fluoroscopic, or live x-ray,
guidance, a process called RegenaSpine.
These treatments restore function and
improve quality of life, enabling patients
to avoid surgery and reduce, or eliminate,
the need for narcotic medications.
“They work especially well for those
people who have moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis and have been told they need surgery,”
states Dr. Grana. “This is a great way to avoid
surgery, whether it is a meniscus repair procedure or even knee or hip replacement,
because these treatments work.”
Procedure plus
RegenaJoint and RegenaSpine use stem
cells from the patient’s own body, called
autologous cells, to regenerate cartilage and
connective tissue in joints, spinal discs,
tendons and ligaments. When combined
with concentrated platelets and growth
factors, the stem cells become a powerful
repairing mechanism for aching backs
and painful joints.
Don’t Operate, Regenerate
For more information, or to schedule a
consultation, please call (813) 868-1659.
Regenerative Orthopedic Institute is
located at 8011 North Himes Avenue,
Ste. 3, in Tampa.
“We extract stem cells from bone
marrow or fat and platelet-rich plasma
from the patient’s own blood to use in the
problem areas,” Dr. Grana explains. “We
perform RegenaJoint by placing injections
into the knee joint and ligaments surrounding the knee; the ligaments around
the shoulder and inside the shoulder joint;
or into the hip joint area. If the problem
is in the back, the RegenaSpine procedure
can be performed on the discs, facet joints
and ligaments of the spine.”
The main culprit in many of the joint
complaints patients bring to Regenerative
Orthopedic Institute is osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of
the joint that happens over time. It is a
mechanical as well as a chemical disease,
where harmful chemicals inside the joints
prevent them from repairing themselves.
“Within three minutes, RegenaJoint
reduces chronic inflammation,” he educates. “It restores the normal chemistry
of the knee joint so there’s balance again,
allowing regeneration that can heal the
wear and tear occurring inside the joint.
At the same time, it can repair some of
the damage that has occurred previously.
“With treatment, patients usually
have three goals: first, to get their pain
relieved; second, to resume former activities that they were not able to do because
of their arthritis; and third, to avoid surgery. These are the main goals that most
patients want to achieve, and Joe achieved
all three of them.”
Amazing relief
A huge advantage of regenerative therapy
over surgery is the quick recovery and
return to activities. It also requires no
rehabilitation after treatment.
“Six weeks after treatment, I was on
my feet for nine hours a day because I give
lectures for group classes from eight in the
morning until eight at night,” reports Joe.
“I was on my feet teaching and going up
and down the hills of North Carolina.
Not once did I take a pain reliever. No
ice packs. No braces.
“My golf game is back to where it
was. I’m not worried about twisting. I’m
not worried about pain afterward.”
The personalized patient care he
received from the doctor and staff at
Regenerative Orthopedic Institute also
impressed Joe, and he’s happy to pass
along the news.
“If you ask Dr. Grana a question,
you’re going to get an answer and you’re
going to get a good answer,” he states. “I
think he has a nice personality, and to me
that’s critical. The staff is very helpful.
They are always on time, and they make
sure that everything works out well.
“I would recommend them to
anybody.”
FHCN article by Patti DiPanfilo. FHCN file photo.
Erick A. Grana, MD, is a diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board
of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, with subspecialty certification in pain medicine. After he received his medical degree from the
University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, he completed his internship and residency at the university’s hospital and was subsequently awarded a fellowship from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr.
Grana is a former assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and a member the American Medical Association,
the International Spinal Injection Society and the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine.
Visit Regenerative Orthopedic Institute on the web at www.dontoperate.com.
Page 6 | Pinellas Health Care News | Spring 2016 | South Pinellas County Edition
Customized Cat
As a
teacher,
Karol is
grateful to
no longer
have a need
to wear
eyeglasses.
K
Ophthalmology
Cataract surgery can be customized to the p
arol Gotte was prescribed
her first pair of eyeglasses
in the third grade and
remembers the experience like it was yesterday.
“They were awful!”
she bemoans. “They were very thick, like
Coke® bottles! I just really hated them.”
In high school, Karol was thrilled with
the idea of contact lenses and maintained
those through her college years until her eyes
decided they had had enough.
“I developed astigmatism and suddenly
the contacts just no longer wanted to cooperate,” Karol explains. “I could not wear
them for long periods of time without my
eyes becoming irritated. My only option was
to go back to wearing eyeglasses, and there
was just no way I wanted to do that. That’s
when I decided to have LASIK [laser-assisted
in situ keratomileusis] surgery.”
In her search for an experienced surgeon, Karol was referred to David E. Hall,
MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist at
Pasadena Eye Center. That was in 1998, and
she’s been a patient there ever since.
“I’ve been a school teacher for over
thirty years, so I know a lot of people,
and everyone I know seemed to recommend Dr. Hall, so I felt really good
about going to him,” Karol shares. “He
just made me feel at ease and comfortable
from the moment I met him.”
On the day of the LASIK procedure, patients receive eye drop anesthesia
to numb the eyes. Then, a specialized
The doctors and staff are dedicated to providing the highest quality eye care
to patients, along with the latest advancements in ophthalmology.
Services:
• Complete eye exams
• Personalized glaucoma care
• Bladeless cataract surgery
• SLT & ECP laser treatments for
with implant lenses and
glaucoma
astigmatism correction
• Contact lenses
• TECNIS®
• Full-service optical shop with
• ReSTOR®
custom fittings and digital
lenses
• Alcon® AcrySof® IQ Toric IOL
Pasadena Surgery Center is a state-of-the-art facility, conveniently located
in St. Petersburg, offering excellent patient care in a comfortable setting. The
facility utilizes new, top-of-the-line equipment to perform surgical procedures.
David E. Hall, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. He graduated from the
University of Mississippi and received his medical degree from the University of
Tennessee College of Medicine. He completed his internship at Erlanger Hospital
and his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Tennessee. He is a diplomate
of the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the Florida Medical
Association, Pinellas County Medical Society, American Academy of Ophthalmology
and American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons. He is also on staff at Palms
of Pasadena Hospital and Pasadena Surgery Center.
instrument called a microkeratome is used
to lay back a flap on the corneal surface,
allowing the laser to reach the underlying
corneal tissue. Careful measurements from
an eye exam are used to guide pulses of
cool laser light, reshaping the tissue and
changing the way the cornea transmits
light and focuses it on the retina.
“I had the LASIK surgery done on my
birthday in 1998 and within twenty-four
hours, I was out with my husband at the
mall Christmas shopping,” Karol remembers. “That is how fast the recovery was.”
“At that time, LASIK was an amazing
breakthrough in refractive surgery,” describes
Dr. Hall. “As a result, patients see clearly
immediately following the procedure and
have no further need for glasses.”
Karol’s vision was crystal clear, she says,
until a cataract developed in her right eye in
2004 and then in her left eye just recently.
“Back when I had the LASIK, he
adjusted the right eye for distance and left
eye for reading. So, I really did not notice
when the right eye started to develop the cataract back in 2004. The left eye was the one
where I really noticed a change when I was
reading, especially when it came to trying
to grade papers and do my job. It was very,
very cloudy. And I always thought it was odd
that they developed so far apart, but Dr. Hall
assured me it happens a lot.”
“Cataracts are going to develop in all of
us at one point or another,” Dr. Hall assures.
“We are all prone to them, but I want to
stress that cataracts can be removed easily,
even after someone has undergone eye surgery, like LASIK. The procedure itself may be
different, but the results are always the same.”
With Karol, because of the change
in the shape of her eyes following the
LASIK, Dr. Hall chose to proceed with
traditional surgery.
In traditional cataract surgery, surgeons use a hand-held metal or diamond
blade to create an incision in the area near
the cornea. Then, the cataract, which is
located just behind the pupil, is broken
up and removed. Next, an intraocular lens
(IOL) is inserted and implanted to replace
the cloudy, natural lens.
“Without the laser being used, the procedure takes a bit longer and requires a lot
more precision,” Dr. Hall says.
“Because of the prior LASIK surgery,
the shape of the eye does change a bit, so
there are specific adjustments made when
calculating the kind of implant lens to use in
order to achieve maximum results. We don’t
typically make the same adjustments in an
eye that has never had surgery before.”
Pasadena Eye Center for three decades. In
fact, she’s been a patient longer than Dr. Hall
has practiced there. She says she would never
entrust her eyecare anywhere else.
“I’ve worn glasses since I was a teenager, and once I moved to this area, I started
going to Pasadena Eye
Center,” she relays. “I
was going there even
before Dr. Hall joined
the practice. They are
experts in the field,
DAVID E. H
especially Dr. Hall,
NATHAN R.
and they do everything
DENNIS C. R
so effortlessly.”
In her spare time,
Kathleen keeps busy dabbling in painting and cross-stitching. Prior to cataract
surgery, she says she had a difficult time
threading the needles and choosing the
proper paint colors.
“I like to keep busy and those are two of
the crafts I really enjoy,” she says. “It can be
frustrating when you want to do something
but you can’t because you can’t see clearly
enough. I could not wait to get the cataracts
removed once and for all.”
Kathleen says over the years, her eyesight grew worse. In fact, her glasses were the
first thing she reached for when she rolled
out of bed each morning.
“I went from only needing them for
reading to needing them all the time,” she
recalls. “Then, of course, as I aged, cataracts developed. They got so bad that even
the paint on the walls looked like a different color than it actually was. So, it was
then that I knew I needed them removed.
And I was also really happy to hear about
the femtosecond laser Dr. Hall uses. It
sounded scary, but wasn’t.”
Laser-assisted technology
Dr. Hall says the staff at Pasadena Eye Center
is thrilled to be able to offer patients, like
Kathleen, the femtosecond laser technology.
“With the femtosecond laser-assisted
tool, a laser makes the incisions, both at the
surface of the eye and inside the eye, and it
Patients for decades
Kathleen Dusil has been a patient at
Nathan R. Emery, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. He completed his
undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, before serving a
two-year mission in England. Upon his return to the United States, he completed
his medical degree at the Chicago Medical School in Illinois. He served his internship at Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago, and completed his residency at the
University of South Florida, Tampa. Dr. Emery is a diplomate of the American Board of
Ophthalmology and is a member of the Pinellas County Medical Society, American
Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract & Refractive
Surgeons. He is on staff at Palms of Pasadena Hospital and Pasadena Surgery Center.
Please visit Pasadena Eye Center on the
and
South Pinellas County Edition | Spring 2016 | Pinellas Health Care News | Page 7
Optometry
taract Removal
Kathleen
can do her
stitching much
easier now.
patient’s needs, even after LASIK™ surgery.
is always a precise, flawless cut,” Dr. Hall
explains. “It is computer generated; therefore, it is exact and there is no chance of
errors. The cut made by the laser is sharp
and exact. The laser divides the cataract into
segments that are then removed. And the
surgery is performed
much more quickly
and accurately with
the femtosecond
laser. As a result, it
more accurately treats
HALL, MD
patients with astigmaEMERY, MD
tism, like Kathleen.
RYCZEK, OD
Her astigmatism was
totally eliminated after
this surgery. Overall, the femtosecond laser
leaves patients with sharper vision and less
dependence on glasses in the future.”
Lens options
Dr. Hall reiterates that it is routine for
patients to have IOL implants after cataract removal.
“Based on the health of the eye and factors determined in the exam, we’ll decide
which lenses to use and discuss lens and
surgical options with the patient. In today’s
market, we have many options to choose
from that will suit the needs and long-term
goals of the individual.”
Monofocal lens: These lenses are the most
commonly implanted lenses today. They
have equal power in all regions of the lens
and can provide high-quality distance vision,
usually with only a light pair of spectacles.
Monofocal lenses are in sharpest focus
at only one distance. They do not correct
pre-existing astigmatism, a result of irregular
corneal shape that can distort vision at all
distances. This does not make the surgery
more risky. People with significant astigmatism require corrective lenses to have the
sharpest vision at all distances. Patients who
have monofocal intraocular lenses implanted
usually require reading glasses.
Multifocal lens: Multifocal intraocular
lenses are one of the latest advancements in
lens technology. These lenses have a variety
of regions with different powers that allow
some individuals to see at distance, intermediate and near ranges. While promising,
multifocal lenses are not for everyone.
They can cause significantly more glare
than monofocal or toric lenses. Multifocal
lenses cannot correct astigmatism, and some
patients still require glasses or contact lenses
to achieve the clearest vision.
Toric lens: Toric lenses have more power
in one specific region in the lens to correct astigmatism as well as distance vision.
Due to the difference in lens power in different areas, the correction of astigmatism
with a toric lens requires that the lens be
positioned in a very specific configuration.
While toric lenses can improve distance
vision and astigmatism, the patient still will
require corrective lenses for all near tasks,
such as reading or writing.
A clear choice
Karol says the cataract surgery was “a piece
of cake” and would recommend it to anyone.
“I went in around seven in the morning,
and I was sitting in a restaurant by ten-thirty,
having breakfast with a friend,” she recalls.
“That’s how fast it was. And it was so easy
– nothing to worry about at all. And the
results are well worth it.”
Karol says the fact that so many people referred her to Dr. Hall was a sign that
she had to go see him and not another
ophthalmologist.
“With so many people singing his
praises, I had to give him a chance, and I
am glad I did. He’s fantastic, the staff is great
and the experience was wonderful!”
Kathleen says her experience with
cataract removal using the femtosecond
laser was fast and easy. Now, she says her
vision is so clear, it’s as if she were given
a new set of eyes.
“That waxy, yellowish coating that was
on everything I looked at is gone, finally,”
she says. “I can see to thread the needles,
and I see colors much clearer now. It is truly
amazing. The world looks so different.”
FHCN article by Judy Wade. Photo by Jordan Pysz. FHCN file photo.
What are cataracts?
When cataracts develop, patients describe a variety of symptoms,
including a loss in the vibrancy of colors or the need for frequent
changes in eyeglass prescriptions. It also becomes increasingly difficult
to read, especially in low-light situations. As a cataract becomes more
advanced, a decrease in clarity of vision, not fully correctable with
glasses, is noticed. In addition, there is a loss of contrast sensitivity,
meaning shadows and color vision are less vivid.
Cataracts occur when “protein clumping” clouds the eye’s lens to
negatively affect vision. During traditional cataract surgery, an
ultrasonic device is used to emulsify, or break up, the cloudy, natural
lens. Once the broken-up material (cataract) is removed, an intraocular
lens (IOL) is usually implanted into the eye to permanently correct
vision.
Cataract surgery generally takes less than 15 minutes to perform.
Including preparation and post-op observation, the stay at the surgery
center is about 90 minutes. The vision may be blurry for the first few
days, but is nearly always much better within a few weeks.
Annual, comprehensive, dilated eye examinations are recommended
for anyone age 60 or older. Early-detection treatment for eye diseases
such as cataracts may save your eyesight.
Common symptoms of cataracts include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Blurry or cloudy vision
Colors appear faded
Glare, especially in
regard to lighting such
as headlights, lamps and
sunlight
Poor night vision
Double vision or
multiple images
Changes in prescription
eyeglasses or contact
lenses
Envision great results
Dennis C. Ryczek, OD, is a Florida-certified optometrist. He attended St. Petersburg
Junior College and the University of South Florida. He graduated summa cum laude
with a doctorate in optometry from the University of Houston, TX, and completed
his externship at Hermann Hospital, Houston. Dr. Ryczek has received extensive
training in primary eye care, including pre- and postoperative care for cataract and
refractive procedures. He currently serves as a Clinical Investigator for both Johnson
& Johnson’s Vistakon Division and Bausch & Lomb and is a member of the American
Optometric Association, Florida Optometric Association, Pinellas County Optometric
Association and American Optometric Association’s contact lens section.
web at www.pasadenaeyecenter.com.
Pa s a d e n a E y e C e n t e r o f fe r s l e a d i n g - e d g e,
comprehensive eye care. For additional information
or to schedule an appointment, please call the office,
located at 6950 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg, at (727)
343-3004. Pasadena Eye Center also offers the services
of a top-rated optical shop, which can be reached
directly by calling (727) 347-9648.
Page 8 | Pinellas Health Care News | Spring 2016 | South Pinellas County Edition
Free to Run Again
G
Podiatric Surgery
Outpatient treatment relieves chronic bunion pain.
abrielle Ringler is only 26
years old, but the bunion on
her right big toe, possibly
caused by years of ballet, was
becoming more and more painful.
“I like to run 5Ks, and even after a
simple workout, I had to come home and
really stretch out my foot,” she recalls. “I
always thought it would get better, but I
noticed it was just getting worse. So when
it started causing me a lot of pain, I knew
it was probably time to do something
about it.”
She decided to seek bunion removal
surgery and consulted podiatrists on her
insurance plan. In her search for a foot
surgeon, Gabrielle was looking for a doctor she felt comfortable with and who
would answer all her questions.
She chose board-certified podiatrist
Loren J. Miller, DPM. “I felt like I had
Dr. Miller’s undivided attention. He made
me feel very much at ease and was reassuring,” she notes.
Treatment options
“A bunion is usually a hereditary and progressive deformity. Shoes can aggravate it,
they can make it worse, but typically shoes
are not the cause,” says Dr. Miller.
“Certain inherited characteristics of
the foot are most likely to predispose a
person to bunions, and those who have
pronated, or flat, feet are particularly susceptible,” he explains.
“When a person’s arch flattens out,
the foot has a tendency to roll, or overpronate. The repetitive motion weakens the
tendon that stabilizes the big toe, allowing
the bone to drift and eventually causing
bone enlargement and pain.”
Although bunions tend to worsen over
time, symptoms can begin at a young age
like they did for Gabrielle, notes Dr. Miller.
Special shoe inserts or spacers to
control foot movement may resolve
modest bunion discomfort or prevent
further problems with asymptomatic
bunions, the doctor continues. He also
may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications or suggest careful selection of
accommodating footgear.
“For patients who do not find longterm relief from these remedies, or for
those, like Gabrielle, who have pronounced bunions, a surgical procedure
performed in an outpatient setting is recommended,” says Dr. Miller.
“Age is not the determining factor for
seeking treatment, and the pain doesn’t
need to be severe,” he adds. “If a bunion
is bothersome, either with shoes or during
certain activities, that’s an indication for
having it corrected.”
Dr. Miller uses an osteotomy (a surgical procedure whereby a bone is cut to
shorten or lengthen it or to change its
alignment) to realign the bones of the
toe, securing the corrected position with
a small, titanium screw. His advanced
technique uses leading-edge instrumentation and fixation devices. In most
instances, patients begin wearing soft,
comfortable shoes within just two weeks,
and return to wearing their favorite shoes
soon thereafter.
Running again
Gabrielle’s surgery was “easy breezy,” she
reports. “I think Dr. Miller is awesome.
His staff is very thorough and nice, too.”
Now that the bunion is
removed, the pain she once felt
is gone as well.
She can wear dressy shoes for
her job as a real estate agent. She can
also run during her off-hours without
discomfort. One of Gabrielle’s favorite
pastimes is competing in 5ks that raise
money for charities.
“My foot is feeling awesome now,”
she enthuses. “I wore my first pair of heels
on the day I got a new job.”
FHCN article by Susan Hemmingway. Photo by
Jordan Pysz.
Gabrielle
can wear
dressy shoes
again.
LOREN J. MILLER, DPM
4167 5th Ave. North
St. Petersburg
(727) 321-3100
Loren J. Miller, DPM, is board certified in foot surgery by the American Board of
Podiatric Surgery, and is also a certified wound care specialist. He completed his
undergraduate degree at Wayne State University, Detroit, and received his Doctor of
Podiatric Medicine degree from the Dr. William Scholl School of Podiatric Medicine,
Chicago. Dr. Miller completed a postgraduate residency in medical and surgical
treatment of foot and ankle disorders at Wayne General & Podiatric Hospital, Orrville,
OH, and the Foot Clinic of Youngstown, OH. He has additional training in ankle
arthroscopy, endoscopic foot surgery and laser foot surgery. He is a Fellow of the
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and a Diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.
Dr. Miller is a member of the American, Florida and Pinellas County Podiatric Medical Associations. He is
affiliated with St. Anthony’s Hospital, St. Petersburg General Hospital, Bayfront Medical Center, Columbia
Northside Medical Center and St. Anthony’s Physician’s Surgery Center.
Ophthalmology
Eye Floaters?
E
ye floaters − those tiny specks or
strings that float into your field
of vision periodically − can be
concerning. Typically caused by
age-related changes to the vitreous humor,
the thick fluid inside the eye, eye floaters
become more common with age. But can
they cause blindness?
SOUTH FLORIDA EYE CLINIC
SCOTT L. GELLER, MD
“By our usual definition, of course
not,” says Scott Geller, MD, a boardcertified ophthalmologist at South
Florida Eye Clinic in Fort Myers who has
a special interest in the treatment of eye
floaters. “But imagine if you only had
one good eye. Imagine that the floater in
it was so large that when it came across
your field of vision, you could not even
see the big E on the eye chart. Imagine
if it were a car on the highway or a road
Laser treatment for
eye floaters is safe
and effective.
sign. By the statutory definition of legal word to more ophthalmologists that this
blindness, that would qualify, if only for is a safe technique,” he explains. “And
the short period of time the floater was even more than that, we need to educate
in your field of vision.”
ophthalmologists that in many instances,
Patients with eye floaters of this size − eye floaters can disable.
even if their vision is perfect − are actually
“The current ophthalmic dogma is
quite disabled, stresses Dr. Geller. “Most that an ophthalmologist will say, Well, I
ophthalmologists don’t seem to under- have floaters; what are you complaining
stand that when a patient is complaining about? So they write off the patient and
of serious eye floaters, but their vision is tell them it will go away. In most cases,
20/20, they are actually having a real prob- this is true, but the patients that come to
lem,” he says. “It’s not something that’s me have serious problems.”
only in their mind.”
When eye floaters are severe, some
Dr. Geller should know: he is one ophthalmologists may offer a vitrectomy,
of the most recognized eye floater laser the surgical removal of the gel where
specialists in the United States and the floaters reside. However, this is rare
around the world.
because the operation has some serious
“We have had patients come from drawbacks and complications, and it is
all over the world to our facility in Fort an expensive, invasive procedure.
However, the complication rate for
Myers for treatment,” says Dr. Geller.
laser treatment of eye
“Many patients come
floaters is very low.
from countries where
“ONE OF THE LEADING Furthermore,
there is
medicine is socialized,
and there is a lack of EYE FLOATER FACILITIES no risk of infection with
laser since there is no
training and proper
IN THE US”
equipment. During the
cutting with a scalpel.
past twenty years, we www.vitreousfloaters.com
Dr. Geller has
have treated thousands
treated many medof patients and have performed nearly ical doctors for their eye floaters as
twenty thousand laser sessions.”
well. “When other doctors and ophthalmologists come to you for their
Master of floater treatment
own problems, I would say that speaks
Dr. Geller is a master of this treatment for itself. We love doing laser surmodality. He has trained doctors from gery on eye floaters, and love dealing
Holland, Italy, the United States and with our patients on a personal basis.”
Central America. “We need to spread the FHCN staff article. FHCN file photos.
Scott L. Geller, MD, is board certified by the
American Board of Ophthalmology. He is a
graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and
Rush Medical College. While in medical school,
he was awarded a student fellowship to study
tropical medicine at a missionary hospital in
India, and pursued additional studies at the
famous Brompton Hospital in London, England.
He interned at Presbyterian Hospital, Pacific
Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, and completed his residency in ophthalmology at Sinai
Hospital of Detroit, which was affiliated with
Wayne State Medical School and Kresge Eye
Institute. Dr. Geller was fellowship-trained in
anterior segment and refractive surgery with
Dr. William Myers of the Michigan Eye Institute.
Dr. Geller is a fellow of the American Academy
of Ophthalmology, and has presented papers on
eye floater laser treatment at the International
Congress of Ophthalmology, European Congress
of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, European
Congress of Ophthalmology and the Florida
Society of Ophthalmology.
For eye floater solutions...
Call Dr. Geller at (239) 275-8222 or
toll-free at (877) 371-3937. South
Florida Eye Clinic is located at 4755
Summerlin Rd. in Fort Myers.
www.vitreousfloaters.com
Oral
and
South Pinellas County Edition | Spring 2016 | Pinellas Health Care News | Page 9
Maxillofacial Surgery
Same Day Teeth
™
It took Coastal Jaw Surgery only one day to erase decades
of dental embarrassment.
F
or years, Edward White had a
secret. His mustache was more
than a fashion accessory; it
was also a cover-up.
Decades ago, while serving his nation
through the US Army, his teeth began
deteriorating. Three of his top teeth had
to be pulled and replaced with a denture
while he was still just a young man.
“So I grew my mustache long,”
admits Edward. “I used it to cover my
teeth so no one noticed.”
Later, as a blue-collar father of three
who also had to care for his mother, he
had to work for the phone company
six to seven days a week in order to pay
the bills. Such a schedule and unselfish
Edward is
ecstatic to
have a full
mouth of teeth
again.
THE DOCTORS AT
COASTAL JAW SURGERY
are affiliated with five area
hospitals and are members and
officers of numerous professional
organizations, including
the Florida Society of Oral &
Maxillofacial Surgeons; American
and Florida Dental Societies of
Anesthesiology; American, Florida,
West Coast, West Pasco, Upper
Pinellas, and Hernando County
Dental Associations; Academy of
Osseointegration; and American
Academy of Implant Dentistry.
Additionally, the doctors sponsor
dental implant study clubs for the
area’s general dentists.
lifestyle made it difficult for him to find
the time to sit in a dentist’s chair to have
his teeth cleaned. Consequently, his bottom teeth began falling out as well and
were also replaced with a denture.
“It was terrible,” Edward says of the
bottom denture. “The upper denture was
easy to handle. It sat right and had the
right suction so I was able to chew effectively. But when my bottom teeth had to
come out and get replaced with a denture,
everyone told me I would never be able to
handle it. I laughed at them and said that
I could – no problem. Well, let me tell
you, they were right; I couldn’t handle it.
“I’m not a foodie, the type of guy
who needs to eat all day. I’m simple; I only
eat when I need
to. But even
that was tough.
Having to take
my dentures in
and out to eat
just doesn’t cut
the mustard.”
The bottom
denture was
so bothersome
that he often
chose not to
wear it, preferring to be seen
toothless rather
than deal with
the discomfort.
A mustache
couldn’t hide
the bottom of
his mouth, nor
did he care. He
lived the next
few decades
showing off his
missing teeth to
the world.
After a lifetime of putting others
above himself – first his country and then
his family – one of his daughters recently
convinced him to finally do something for
himself and get his teeth fixed.
It was at Coastal Jaw Surgery that
he received new teeth, and he did so in
just one day.
Same Day Teeth
Michael A. Pikos, DDS, is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with
Coastal Jaw Surgery on the west coast of
Florida. Dr. Pikos is one of the world’s
most respected clinicians and educators
in the field of dental implantology. He is
founder and CEO of the Pikos Implant
Institute, where he has taught advanced
grafting techniques to clinicians from all
50 states and 32 countries. Since 1983, he
has placed more than 15,000 implants
and performed thousands of hard- and
soft-tissue grafting procedures.
Dr. Pikos and his team provide surgical, restorative and laboratory protocols
for full arch and full mouth reconstruction that include placement of implants
and new teeth all in the same day. The
Pikos Institute has trademarked the procedure Same Day Teeth.
MICHAEL A. PIKOS, DDS
G. THOMAS PEAK, DDS
JOSÉ F. LÁZARO, DMD
ANDRÉS E. GUERRA, DMD
more than rebuilding a smile; they are
also rebuilding self-confidence.
Furthermore, Coastal Jaw Surgery
believes they are doing more than
improving patients’ appearances; they are
improving their overall quality of life by
making it easier for them to eat.
“I’m enjoying the teeth,” declares
Edward. “It’s the little things that most
people take for granted that I am enjoying. For instance, who knew that eating
a pizza could be so easy? Until I went to
Dr. Pikos, I didn’t. I used to have to cut it
into four squares to eat.”
Edward’s new teeth don’t mean he is
ready to shave off his mustache, though.
“I’ve had it for forty-five years,”
he says with a laugh. “I don’t think I
could cut it off, but I am ready to cut
it back a little bit. I can finally show off
my smile.” FHCN staff article. FHCN file photo.
24
Graphics from istockphoto.com.
This comprehensive approach
begins with a complete diagnosis and
treatment planning appointment featuring the use of 3D cone beam CT
(CBCT) technology. The CBCT provides three-dimensional views that allow
their surgical, restorative and laboratory
teams to determine an appropriate diagnosis and customized treatment for each
patient. In addition, the CBCT allows
for evaluation of the quantity of bone
that will anchor the dental implants as
well as for precision placement of the
dental implants. Finally, this unique
protocol minimizes complications.
“After Dr. Pikos performed all his
tests, he said I was a good candidate
for implants,” recalls Edward. He
was also told that on the same day he
received them, he could walk out with
a mouth full of teeth.
Such a process in one day did not
seem possible to Edward. He was relieved
to learn he was wrong.
He hid his mouth for decades, but
it took Dr. Pikos just one day to erase
all of Edward’s insecurities.
Improving lives
The doctors of Coastal Jaw Surgery take
pride in how they treat their patients,
looking at each as a member of their
extended family. They find the experience of providing a patient with a new
smile to be one of the most rewarding
of their jobs, knowing they are doing
Improve your bite!
Coastal Jaw Surgery, The Center for Dental Implants/Facial & Oral Reconstruction,
welcomes calls regarding this article and other oral surgical topics. For a free brochure
about dental implants or to schedule a consultation visit, please call any of their
locations: 4372 Commercial Way, Ste. 4, in Spring Hill, phone (352) 596-6804 or (800)
NEW-LOOK; 2711 Tampa Rd. in Palm Harbor, phone (727) 786-1631 or (800) NEWLOOK; or 8845 Hawbuck Street in Trinity, phone (727) 375-0469 or (800) NEW-LOOK.
Download free reports at www.CoastalJaw.com. Call today for a complimentary
consultation and a CT scan.
See educational videos at www.CoastalJaw.com
Facts You Need to
Know about Dr. Pikos
• High school class president and valedictorian
• Summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa – The
Ohio State University
• Completed dental degree with honors from
Ohio State College of Dentistry
• Board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon
• Diplomate, American Board of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery
• Diplomate, American Board of Oral
Implantology/Implant Dentistry
• Diplomate, International Congress of Oral
Implantologists
• Has completed over 4,000 hours of continuing studies
• Aaron Gershkoff Memorial Award for outstanding contributions in implant dentistry
• Founded Coastal Jaw Surgery (1983)
• Has placed more than 15,000 dental implants
• First in Tampa Bay area to acquire cone beam
computed tomography equipment
• Founder of the Pikos Implant Institute
• Has taught over 2,700 dentists – at least one
from 35 different countries and each of the 50
United States – surgical techniques relating to
dental implants, bone grafting and soft-tissue
grafting
• Named Dentistry Today Leader in continuing
education 2008 – 2013
• Founder of Pinnacle Study Club in 1988
• Serves on the editorial board of Journal of
Implant Dentistry and Case Reports in Dentistry
• Scientific board member of Implant News
Magazine
• International educator and lecturer on dental
implant reconstruction
• Consultant for international surgical and
regenerative technology-based companies
• Adjunct Assistant Professor, Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery, The Ohio State University
College of Dentistry, and Nova Southeastern
University School of Medicine; Courtesy
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of
Periodontics, University of Florida College of
Dentistry; and Courtesy Assistant Professor,
Department of Prosthodontics, University of
Florida College of Dentistry
• Named Health Care Hero by Tampa Bay
Business Journal
• Direct affiliation with Sheriff ’s Youth Ranch,
Gulf Coast Dental Outreach and St. Jude’s
Research Hospital
• Advisor to the Board for the Shepherd Center
of Tarpon Springs, Florida
Page 10 | Pinellas Health Care News | Spring 2016 | South Pinellas County Edition
Interventional Radiology
New Relief for Prostate Enlargement
A
promising procedure that
shrinks enlarged prostates
offers a new treatment option
for one of the most common
health complaints of older men. The prostate is a male reproductive gland normally
about the size of a walnut. It tends to grow
larger, sometimes much larger, as men age.
In fact, the condition occurs so frequently
that more than half of all men are affected
by an enlarged prostate by age 60.
CLIFFORD R.
DAVIS, MD
SHAWN R.
MEADER, MD
Prostate enlargement, also called
benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH,
is unlike prostate cancer in that it isn’t
a malignancy. But for some men, it can
have a strongly negative effect on their
quality of life.
“The most common issue that men
start complaining about early on is needing to urinate frequently,” states Clifford
R. Davis, MD, of Florida Interventional
Specialists. “They may have to go five or
six, maybe seven times during the day.
When it really starts becoming an issue is
when they wake up three or four times at
night. At that point, it has been proven in
sleep studies that deep REM sleep is interrupted, and men become sleep-deprived.
“One of the things we always look at
when evaluating patients is quality of life.
If they’re having complications, such as
urinary tract infections, or feeling tired all
day from waking up so much, or experiencing frequent urination during the day
or night, that’s when they need to seek
treatment,” adds Dr. Davis.
The trouble starts with how an
enlarged prostate affects the urethra, the
tube that carries urine from the bladder
to outside the body. The urethra passes
through the prostate and is squeezed
when the prostate grows.
Not every man with an enlarged
prostate is affected by symptoms, but
for many, the urge to urinate becomes
more frequent. At the same time, the
condition can make it more difficult to
fully empty the bladder.
“Not being able to empty the bladder can lead to two things we’re really
concerned about,” warns Dr. Davis. “It
can injure the kidneys because they are
constantly infected or not draining all
Minimally
invasive
procedure
requires only
light sedation.
the way. Sometimes, there is a sudden
inability to urinate at all, which is called
acute urinary retention. The urethra has
become so tight that one day you wake
up and it’s closed – this has to be treated
as a medical emergency.”
Prostate artery embolization
Traditionally, enlarged prostates are
treated with medications to relieve troublesome symptoms, or through surgery
called transurethral resection of the prostate, or TURP. The surgery physically
removes excess prostate tissue to create
more space for the urethra.
At Florida Interventional Specialists,
Dr. Davis and Shawn R. Meader, MD, are
now treating patients with a new, minimally
invasive procedure called prostate artery
embolization, or PAE. The outpatient procedure is performed in less than two hours
while the patient is under light sedation.
Microscopic particles are injected
through a catheter into the arteries that
supply blood to the prostate. This results
in reduced blood flow, which causes the
prostate to shrink. “The technique is
similar to how uterine fibroid tumors are
treated through embolization,” says Dr.
Davis. “Tiny particles are injected into
arteries that supply the uterus, resulting
in shrinkage of the fibroid growths.”
PAE Studies Recruiting Patients
Interested in learning more about how
to participate in studies now underway
on prostate artery embolization?
Contact patient coordinator Haydy
Rojas at (813) 347-8695.
PAE has been used to treat men in
Europe and South America. Dr. Davis
and Dr. Meader have traveled to Brazil to
train with Francisco Carnevale, a medical
professor in Sao Paulo who is one of the
world’s leading experts on PAE.
The procedure is now in the evaluation process needed for approval by
the US Food and Drug Administration.
Florida Interventional Specialists is part
of a multi-site study in the United States
currently underway to evaluate the procedure’s effectiveness. Dr. Davis is also
leading another FDA-approved study on
the procedure at Tampa General Hospital.
The studies at Florida Interventional
Specialists and Tampa General are being
conducted in cooperation with USF
Health Urology and Florida Urology
Partners. As there are several diseases that
can mimic the symptoms of BPH, including early prostate cancer, Dr. Davis always
performs the procedure in cooperation
with a local urologist to assure no other diseases are present which would not improve
with the prostate embolization procedure.
Urologists specialize in treatments of
the lower urinary tract and offer tests that
can differentiate disease.
“Most men feel that if they have difficulty urinating, they just have an enlarged
prostate but that is not always the case,”
notes Dr. Davis.
Patients are being recruited for both
studies. “The patient coordinator for the
studies can discuss the procedure and
evaluation process in more detail and
discuss criteria,” says the doctor.
“We think PAE is going to offer a
great alternative to traditional surgery,” he
continues. “The promising aspects are that
currently there have been no reports of
associated erectile dysfunction or serious
bleeding associated with PAE. Those are
two major risk factors of traditional surgery.”
Continued improvements
Because PAE requires only light sedation, it’s safe for men with other
significant health issues who aren’t able
to undergo general anesthesia and therefore can’t have traditional surgery for
prostate enlargement.
“This is one of the big advantages
of PAE over traditional surgery. We can
perform PAE on patients who have heart
disease, lung disease, cancer or other
problems and need treatment for prostate
enlargement just to improve their quality
of life,” explains Dr. Davis.
Another favorable difference is that
PAE only requires a urinary catheter
during the procedure itself. Patients who
Clifford R. Davis, MD,
earned his undergraduate degree at Virginia
Polytechnic I nstitute
and received his medical
degree from the Medical
College of Virginia at Virginia
Commonwealth University
in Richmond. He completed
his residency in diagnostic
radiology and a fellowship in interventional
radiology at the University of Florida. Dr. Davis
is board certified by the American Board of
Radiology and is an assistant professor of vascular and interventional radiology at the University
of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine.
For more information, please visit the Florida Interventional Specialists
website at www.flinterventionalspecialists.com.
undergo TURP may need a post-surgery
catheter for one or more days.
“With the PAE procedure, patients
typically will notice a reduction in urinary symptoms after one to two weeks,”
notes Dr. Davis. “Based on studies done
outside the United States, symptoms will
keep improving for three to six months as
the prostate continues to shrink.
“Having a new treatment option may
help men who are just trying to live with
symptoms as best they can instead of seeking a solution,” says Dr. Davis.
“If you talk to men who are sixty and
older, they all sit around and joke about
how they have this condition,” he reports,
adding that too often, men believe their
only treatment alternatives are medications or traditional surgery.
“They might try the medicine, then
stop because of complications or side
effects, but they decide not to have surgery
because they don’t want to take the risk.
“Based on research outside of the
United States and our early findings with
PAE, we think it’s going to give men
a great option for finding relief from
prostate enlargement.” FHCN article by Susan
Hemmingway. Stock photo from istockphoto.com. Graphic
courtesy of Florida Interventional Specialists.
High-quality care
on leading edge
of medicine
Florida Interventional
Specialists specialize in
minimally invasive procedures
i n v a s c u l a r r a d i o l o g y,
neurovascular endosurgery
and interventional oncology.
In addition to treating patients,
FIS doctors are dedicated
to the missions of medical
research and teaching. They
serve as faculty members of
the University of South Florida
Morsani College of Medicine,
Department of Radiology. FIS is
conveniently located in Tampa
at Harbourside Medical Tower,
5 Tampa General Circle, Suite
820, which can be reached by
calling (813) 844-4570.
South Pinellas County Edition | Spring 2016 | Pinellas Health Care News | Page 11
Facial Cosmetic/Oculoplastic Surgery
Keep
Your
Chin
W
orking as the front desk
receptionist at a busy
facial cosmetic surgery
practice gives Erika
Fieger a heads-up on breakthroughs in
technology. Between her responsibilities
of greeting patients, reviewing insurance, making appointments and assisting
coworkers, she learns all she can about
the exciting, new procedures and services
offered by her employer, William P. Mack,
MD, at the Mack Center in South Tampa.
Melt double chin fat with this revolutionary nonsurgical treatment.
Treatment time
About KYBELLA
Total treatment may require several
sessions, but the sessions themselves
are short. There’s no general anesthesia
needed, minimal side effects and little to
no downtime.
“It’s a quick procedure,” confirms Erika.
The procedure takes 15 to 20 minutes.
After an evaluation, Dr. Mack determined how many treatment sessions it
would take to effectively resolve Erika’s
condition. Most patients, according to the
surgeon, require two to four treatments
spaced no less than a month apart. Erika
notes the careful approach Dr. Mack took
when treating her.
“I thought he was great,” she states.
“He explained the process to me and what
was going to take place. He checked on
me while he was injecting the KYBELLA
to make sure I was comfortable. He
checked on me that evening to see about
my swelling, and he also checked up on
me the following morning to make sure I
wasn’t in any discomfort.
“You are marked with a chart underneath your chin,” she describes. “Dr. Mack
maps out where the KYBELLA will go,
then he tells you as he’s injecting each spot,
We’re injecting here, here. He asks periodically if you’re in any pain or discomfort.”
“Discomfort is minimal, as is the
post-procedure bruising and swelling,”
adds Dr. Mack. “These are among the
most common side effects of KYBELLA
treatment, and they resolve quickly.”
Erika agrees. She reports that her
daily life was barely affected by having
the procedure.
“I was back to work the next day and
doing my activities with no downtime at
all,” she reports.
“Submental fullness is a common condition that often goes untreated,” explains
Dr. Mack. “It can make a person look
older, and it can disrupt the balance of the
face. Women and men of all ages can be
affected by submental fullness, and it tends
to be very resistant to diet and exercise.”
Researchers have linked several
factors to the development of a double
chin, most notably aging and genetics.
Whatever the cause, it leads to a great
deal of stress in many people. According
to a survey by the American Society for
Dermatologic Surgery, nearly as many
respondents were as bothered by double chin as by lines and wrinkles around
the eyes. That’s one reason the release of
KYBELLA was so timely.
A treatment with KYBELLA consists of a series of tiny injections of
deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring
substance in the body. It helps the body
break down and absorb fat.
“KYBELLA is a type of drug called
a cytolytic,” informs Dr. Mack. “When
it is injected into tissue, it destroys the
cell membranes. Therefore, when it is
injected into the fat, the fat cells are
destroyed. In this state, they can no longer store or accumulate fat, permanently
eliminating the fat cells in the chin.”
AFTER
BEFORE
Last summer, a groundbreaking procedure became available that hit Erika
close to home. The procedure addressed
an issue that had been nagging at her – her
double chin. She tried diet and exercise to
eliminate it, but to no avail.
“I had a little bit of fat underneath
my chin,” Erika shares. “It bothered me. I
could see it in pictures. I wouldn’t say that
everybody else would notice it, but I think
you notice little things about yourself that
make you feel self-conscious.
“I tried to fix it, but it’s hard to get
rid of it, even if you lose weight. It seems
to be a problem area.”
Then, in June 2015, a highly anticipated,
new treatment for double chin became
available called KYBELLA®. It is the first
FDA-approved, nonsurgical treatment for
the reduction of excess fat under the chin.
“Prior to the release of KYBELLA,
the only treatment for submental fat,
or neck fullness, was liposuction with a
facelift or a chin lift,” notes Dr. Mack,
a board-certified ophthalmologist who is
fellowship trained and specializes in oculoplastic and facial cosmetic surgery.
Dr. Mack and his physician assistant,
Loralee Koontz, MPAS, PA-C, provide
the new treatment at the Mack Center.
Providers must be trained on the safe use
of KYBELLA and its FDA-approved indication – for chin fat only – to obtain and
treat patients with this product.
“It’s a great addition to the Mack
Center,” observes Dr. Mack. “My physician assistant, Loralee Koontz and I
can add it to our complete treatment
of cosmetic patients, from skin care to
BOTOX® Cosmetic and fillers and facial
cosmetic surgeries. For appropriate candidates, we’re achieving great results.”
With this new therapy available that
addressed the nagging issue she’d long
been battling, Erika’s interest was piqued.
She opened up and made Dr. Mack and
his clinical staff aware of just how interested she was.
UP
Visible results
Many patients notice visible chin fat
reduction in four to six weeks, but Erika
saw a difference even sooner. Her double
chin responded quickly to the treatment,
and she couldn’t be happier.
She is thrilled with what the first
treatment achieved. “I’ve noticed a great difference in the fat going away since my first
treatment,” says Erika. “I just had my second treatment, and I am very pleased with
the results so far. There is already more definition in my chin from the first treatment.
“I would say within a couple of weeks,
I noticed changes. Then, probably at the
one-month mark, between four to six
weeks, I could really tell. There was a definition in my chin that hadn’t been there
before. A tightening of the skin is also
something that happens with KYBELLA.”
That new definition has given Erika
greater confidence. Now, when she looks
at herself, she sees a smoothly contoured
chin, and she’s thrilled. Even the people
who never saw the problem have picked
up on the change in her.
“It’s gone,” she enthuses. “I’ve seen
photos of myself and that little pouch of
fat is no longer there. I’m not self-conscious about it anymore.
“People have noticed that it’s no
longer there.”
Erika has a message for others in a
similar situation, feeling down because of
the way they look. She thinks this treatment could help them, too.
“I would tell anybody who feels
self-conscious about having a double chin
that KYBELLA is something they would
really appreciate having done.
“I can’t be more pleased with the
results I’ve had.” FHCN staff article. Photos by
Jordan Pysz. Before and after images courtesy of Mack Center.
To learn more
about these and other facial cosmetic
procedures/surgeries, please contact The
Mack Center at (813) 875-5437 to schedule
your private consultation. The Mack Center
is located at 3109 W. Azeele St. in Tampa.
William P. Mack, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist who received
American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery fellowship
training in eyelid and facial plastic surgery at the Albany Medical College in New
York. Dr. Mack received his Bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University in
Cleveland, where he graduated cum laude, and completed his medical degree
at the University of South Florida, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega
Alpha Medical Honor Society. Following medical school, Dr. Mack completed his
internship and residency at the University of South Florida. He is a member of the
American Academy of Ophthalmology, Florida Society of Ophthalmology, Tampa
Bay Ophthalmological Society and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.
Loralee Koontz, MPAS, PA-C, earned her Bachelor of Science degree with honors in
microbiology/cell science at the University of Florida, Gainesville, before completing
her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the same university. She is a member of
the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), the Society of Dermatology
Physician Assistants (SDPA) and the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants (FAPA).
Loralee volunteers her time to the Junior League of Tampa.
PLEASE VISIT WWW.MACKMD.COM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EXCELLENT RESULTS DR. MACK ACHIEVES IN COSMETIC OCULOPLASTIC AND FACIAL COSMETIC SURGERY.
DR. MACK’S PATIENTS ARE PLEASED THAT HIS COSMETIC CONSULTATIONS ARE COMPLIMENTARY.
Page 12 | Pinellas Health Care News | Spring 2016 | South Pinellas County Edition
Bio-Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy
A Better You
Bio-natural hormone pellet therapy can help your overall health from the inside out.
J
uliana Daniel’s battle with endometriosis ended in 2008 when she
underwent a full hysterectomy.
Endometriosis is defined as a
painful disorder in which tissue that
normally lines the inside of the uterus –
the endometrium – grows outside the
walls of the uterus, causing severe pain
and intense bleeding sometimes lasting
for weeks, or months, at a time.
“I went through a very difficult time
prior to making the decision to have the
hysterectomy,” Juliana recalls. “The endometriosis took a serious toll on my life and
my body for months. I was in constant
pain, and I would bleed for days on end. I
would say it profoundly affected my quality of life. I was at peace with the decision
I made to have the hysterectomy when I
did. I really had no other choice.”
Once the hysterectomy was complete, Juliana says her body went into full
menopause, accompanied by the various
symptoms that go along with it, including night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings
and weight gain.
“It’s very normal for the menopausal
symptoms to kick in right away after the
hysterectomy,” she explains. “So, as my
luck would have it, I got rid of one problem and moved on to another.”
Juliana says she tried a hormone
patch at the time, but found the side
effects to be too much.
“I started having heart palpitations
and decided that I wanted to find an
all-natural alternative. I was tired of putting chemicals in my body.”
Juliana says her menopausal symptoms suddenly returned in full force.
“I had bad night sweats. I would
turn the air conditioning way down,
and my husband would come to bed
wearing sweatpants, and he had three
blankets on top of him,” she says with a
laugh. “He would say, It feels like Alaska
in here. When your situation starts
affecting other members of the family,
it is time to do something.”
Juliana researched her options online
and came across bio-natural L 3 pellet
hormone replacement therapy offered at
Infinity Medical Institute in South Tampa.
After her initial consultation with
Moriah R. Moffitt, MD, Infinity Medical
Institute’s staff physician, Juliana decided
to begin bio-natural L3 pellet hormone
replacement therapy.
“Dr. Moffitt was very informative.
She explained everything to me about
the pellet therapy,” Juliana says. “Once I
started treatment, the results were almost
immediate. Within a few days, I was feeling so much better. It was a world apart
from what I felt like before I started.”
Bio-natural hormones
Through Infinity Medical Institute’s
bio-natural L3 pellet hormone replacement
therapy, patients can achieve consistent
absorption of the proper, predictable
levels of hormones their bodies require
for optimum health through the simple
insertion of a pellet approximately every
three to five months. These bio-natural
hormone pellets are made from wild
yam plants, a natural plant material that
is molecularly changed in structure and
function for a 98 percent bio-identical
match to the body’s own composition,
whereas synthetic hormones can be as
little as six to eight percent bio-identical.
“Hormones affect everything,
including our growth through childhood, our sexual development, our
moods, how we break down our food,
sleep patterns, stress, how much weight
we gain – just about every function in
the body, big and small,” Dr. Moffitt
says. “They also play a role in many
health conditions such as diabetes, an
over- or underactive thyroid, osteoporosis, obesity, anxiety and depression.”
The bio-natural L3 pellet hormone
replacement therapy is the most natural and
effective solution for hormone-related issues.
“The body can never restore lost
hormones again unless it is done
endogenously, like we do here with the
bio-natural L3 pellet therapy,” according
to Michael Montemurro, president of
Infinity Medical Institute.
Michael emphasizes that patients
appreciate the all-natural products used
at Infinity Medical Institute.
“Our bio-natural L3 pellet hormone
therapy really helps to give us an edge as
we provide patients with a product that
is all-natural, and we stand behind it,”
Michael says. “It’s the most effective hormone treatment on the market. It is felt
to be extremely safe because it is replacing
natural, normal hormones with biologically identical hormones that the body
is used to seeing, rather than synthetic
versions of the hormones.”
A better you
Dr. Moffitt and the staff at Infinity
Medical Institute truly care about each
patient and take the time to get to know
the individual person they are treating.
“Every patient is unique and we
understand that,” she says. “We get
to know the person and understand
their lifestyle so that we can treat
them appropriately.”
Overall improved quality of life is a
key factor for patients seeking hormone
replacement therapy.
“We see a transformation of our
patients from the first time they come
through the door and then throughout their treatment,” Dr. Moffitt relays.
“Patients come in saying that they’re not
feeling vibrant, energetic and they have
other various symptoms. After treatment,
they come back in and they’re smiling.
They get that confidence back. We want
our patients to look and feel good from
the inside out.”
Juliana says before she began her
treatment at Infinity, her quality of life
was gravely compromised. Now, she says
she feels like a new person and is much
more pleasant to live with.
Look good, feel great
The experienced staff at Infinity Medical
Institute looks forward to working with
you. For more information or to schedule
an appointment, please call (813) 280-0833
for their location at 1715 N. Westshore
Blvd., Suite 100, in Tampa.
Moriah R. Moffitt,
MD, is the staff physician at Infinity Medical
Institute, Inc. Dr. Moffitt
earned her medical
degree from The Ohio
State University, where
she was inducted into
the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.
She also attended the University of South Florida
Plastic Surgery Program. She has received board
certification from the American Board of Plastic
Surgery and is a member of the American Society
of Plastic Surgery.
For more information, please visit www.infinitymedicalinstitute.com.
Juliana has a renewed energy
and is back to living life again.
“Everything I went through affected
the people I love, so I wanted to make that
right,” she explains. “I was tired all the
time, to the point where I would dismiss
it by telling myself I was just getting old,
which was not true.
“Today, I have increased energy,
the mood swings are gone and the hot
flashes are gone. Now, I leave the thermostat at seventy-five degrees, and it is
comfortable for everyone.
“I feel like I have returned to normal
living,” she continues. “I take advantage
of every minute of my days because sometimes, twenty-four hours is not enough to
fit everything in.”
She adds that she is grateful to
Dr. Moffitt and everyone at Infinity
Medical Institute for making such a
difference in her life.
“The impact this has had is really
profound,” Juliana says. “I would highly
recommend Infinity Medical Institute to
anyone looking for hormone therapy that
is all natural, with no chemicals included.
It truly changed my life.”
FHCN article by Judy Wade. Photos by Jordan Pysz.
Additional services
offered at Infinity
Medical Institute
T
he practice has expanded
i t s s e r v i ce s t o i n c l u d e :
BOTOX® Cosmetic, VOLUMA®,
JUVÉDERM®, weight loss programs
such as hCG and PhenTabz™,
exclusive PRP treatments
such as the Vampire FaceLift®,
Vampire Breast Lift®, Adi-Prep®
adipose tissue transfer long term
volumizers, the male ED Pria pus
P-Shot® and the female O-Shot®,
which corrects sexual dysfunction
and incontinence. They also now
accept CareCreditsm.
“The O-Shot not only increases
sensitivity for females to help them
reach climax, but it also can reverse
incontinence as well,” Michael
explains. “It is a really remarkable
product for women. The market has
always had a multitude of products
for male erectile dysfunction, but
nothing for females to treat sexual
dysfunction. Now, that has all
changed with the O-Shot.”
Additionally, the Adi-Prep
FaceLift procedure delivers ten
times the volume and longevity
found with traditional fillers and is
completely natural. “The women
treated are seeing amazing, longlasting results, with fullness, volume
and evenness,” he adds. “We are
happy to now provide more options
for our patients.”