empoweredwoman
and the other is more of the ‘let’s be reactive. We didn’t do all of the
preventative stuff, so we have to be reactive, and try to fix it.’” Having
a procedure done was once a secret only the wealthy could afford, but
it is becoming more acceptable, with med spas and clinics popping up
everywhere.
Dr. Rivera interjects, “And, just the research, too! Before, I remember
my mom telling me... I would go to the beach and slather on baby
oil and now all this research is out and it’s not just wrinkles, but its cancer
and that can be prevented by using sunblock every day. So all
that research with the media has the younger population saying that
they want to maintain it. We also have older clients that we help, too.”
“So, I think we just know more about aesthetics now and I think it’s
easier for people to talk about it because of media and social media,
making us more aware of it. I will be honest,” said, Dr. Panchal, “when
I was younger, I didn’t think about it really. I didn’t hear about it. It was
no big deal. So, I think now that we are talking about it more and people
are doing it more, it feels more acceptable. I think that part is just
the way that we talk about aging.” Dr. Panchal passionately continues,
“So when we talk about aging,
or anti-aging, I feel like it
always has this negative connotation,
like its vain, or we
just care about what we look
like, you know? And, I think
if we change the way we talk
about aging, then people will
perceive it differently.”
She continued, “If you
talk about it like it’s more of
a lifestyle, a wellness or like
when you go to work out,
it’s to stay fit and feel good.
You’re looking at these things
as maintenance, or as ways
to help boost your confidence.
It should be looked at
like it’s in the wellness category
instead of something that is
vain, or something that people
of a certain class do…”
The doctors say it is common
for someone to come in
for one thing and then realize
that there is actually a solution
to something else that is troubling
them, that they didn’t
Jen Wead speaks with the doctors about their practice.
know was even possible. A common example of that is in the female
health category. They pride themselves on providing a safe haven for
women to ask those embarrassing questions. It is common for women
to experience incontinence, lack of libido, or sensation, but women are
often uncomfortable talking about it. Most accept it as part of life and
aging or being a mother, but it doesn’t have to be. They are women
too, and with backgrounds in OB and Endocrinology, they want their
clients to know that they’re relatable and they understand them on a
very deep level.
“Vaginal Rejuvenation is a procedure that not only treats urinary
incontinence, but you also treat the vaginal lining, sensation, lubrication,
all of those things, without any hormones, and it’s all based on
your own collagen, making new tissues, new veins, new nerves. We
treat the inside and the outside. We have patients that are young that
just want to feel better, and we have had patients that have had breast
cancer that have those problems, and we have patients that have urinary
incontinence,” explained Dr. Rivera.
The doctors say they have found a larger facility and are excited
about moving, as they have quickly outgrown their current location.
They look forward to continuing to learn everything they can about
each new treatment that becomes available and providing their patients
with even more services. They also plan to reach out to more
men, too, and want them to feel comfortable and know that these services
are not just for women.
The doctors are grateful for their partnership and acknowledge the
challenge just like other women have of maintaining a work/life balance
as entrepreneurs, with their other practices and families, but say
that changing lives and reading how they have affected their patients
in the reviews that have been written make it worth it.
Before I left them, I asked the doctors what their single, best advice
for anti-aging practices at home would be. They both had the same
answer: Retinol, morning and night and sunscreen. Both women agree
that investing in a good Retinol cream gives the biggest results for
keeping skin moisturized and
regenerating.
Read about the services
that Dr. Panchal and Dr. Rivera
offer with Bella Mia
Medical Aesthetics and Laser
Institute on their website at
bellamiamedical.com.
Author’s note:
The doctors and I spoke
in great detail about the many
procedures they offer, everything
from peels to fillers, Botox
to lifts. They are a wealth
of information, and, as a 46
year old woman that is on
the “reactive” side of things, I
had a lot of questions. I know
you have a lot of questions
too, therefore we are starting
a regular feature to answer
all of your questions. Our six
part feature will cover many
of the preventative and reactive
procedures currently
available to women. We will
dive deeply into what is involved
with the procedure itself, how it feels and costs and will answer
all of the common, even embarrassing questions that we know you
have. With some of the stories, we will offer ourselves as guinea pigs,
with real before and after pictures that will show you the real results.
No doctored photos or reviews.
Dr. Panchal and Dr. Rivera have agreed to help us kick off the series
by performing ClearLift on me to tighten my neck and face. Have
you ever wondered if your aging neck is a lost cause? I have. I can’t
wait for the beautiful doctors of Bella Mia Medical to do their 4 part
skin tightening procedure to see what kind of real results we will receive.
They will offer their expertise to answer your questions and are
available for consultations by our readers afterwards. The entire thing
will be documented and I will submit before and after photos. Look
for our New You series and Dr. Panchal and Dr. Rivera (and my naked
face and neck) in upcoming issues.
8 • JANUARY 2020 813.682.9364 FLORIDA WOMEN MAGAZINE
/bellamiamedical.com