Bahamas Anti-Aging Medical Institute

TThe initial consultation is $300 for a 60 to 90 minute complete evaluation. Follow-up visits cost up to $150 and new you will need 1 or 2 follow-ups during the first year of treatment while the proper dosages are determined. Depending on your personal treatment plan, the cost of the prescriptions (without pharmacy benefits) ususlly run between $35 to $95 per month. The initial full panel of laboratory tests costs approximately $370-$425; follow-up tests range from $180 to $280.

Does BAMI accept health insurance?

The BAMI does not accept insurance for payment. However, your insurance provider may allow you to submit a properly coded invoices for reimbursement. The BAMI will provide you a invoice for all services performed. Some insurance plans may cover the costs as an out-of-network provider and you may be subject to an annual deductible and a co-pay, depending on your coverage. Please contact your provider for more details on coverage.

Will insurance cover the cost of prescriptions?

Most insurance companies that offer pharmacy benefits will cover the cost of drug company products, however, only some insurance plans will cover compounded medications. If you wish to determine coverage in advance, tell your insurance provider that you may be treated with compounded medications containing bioidentical hormones. PLEASE SEE CAUTION BELOW

How are hormones used? How often?

Different hormones are used different ways. You will be administering these drugs to yourself once or twice per day. If your program calls for estrogen, progesterone, testosterone you may be using transdermal creams or patches. If your program calls for progesterone, DHEA, pregnenolone, melatonin you may be using oral capsules or sub-lingual tablets. If your program calls for HGH, HCG you may be using subcutaneous injections that are relatively painless, using ultra-fine needles. PLEASE SEE CAUTION BELOW

What are hormones made from?

The bio-identical hormones such as estradiol, progesterone and testosterone are derived from the wild Mexican yam or soy. These molecules are then chemically modified to exact replicas of human hormones.  The hormone HCG is human-derived, and HGH is produced using recombinant DNA technology. In every case, these hormones fit the receptors in exactly the same way as the hormones in your body today. PLEASE SEE CAUTION BELOW

What are the side-effects from using hormones?

When restoring hormones to youthful levels side-effects are often minimal and manageable. Some individuals report swollen joints or breast tenderness when initiating a bio-identical hormone replacement therapy program. However, these and other adverse reactions can be remedied by reducing the dosage. None of our patients have reported long-term side effects. PLEASE SEE CAUTION BELOW

What if I had a hysterectomy?

Bio-identical hormone replacement is perfectly safe after a hysterectomy. In fact, since the ovaries produce much of the testosterone in the female body, replacing this hormone is even more important. PLEASE SEE CAUTION BELOW

How long will I need to take hormones?

You should continue treatment as long as you wish to see results or resolution of symptoms. Patients sometimes request to stop the treatment. If they ever consider restarting, we can assess their relative health by taking new measurements to determine if they would benefit from additional treatment. The vast majority of the more than 500 patients we have treated are continuing their treatment. PLEASE SEE CAUTION BELOW

What happens if I stop taking hormones? Will my body stop producing its own hormones ? Will my hormone levels decrease? Will I lose what I've gained?

In general, when supplementing with exogenous (or external) hormones your own endogenous (or internal) hormone production will decreased. However, the human body tends to restore hormones to pre-treatment levels after  treatment has stopped. Remember, if your own hormone production was low before treatment, it will most likely return to the same levels after treatment. As a result, most of the physical changes facilitated by the program will gradually revert back to "normal". PLEASE SEE CAUTION BELOW

Does testosterone replacement therapy shrink the testes?

When restoring hormones using testosterone, human chorionic gonadotropin the testes will likely slow production of testosterone in response to (perceived) high levels. This condition may also result in minor shrinking of the testes. However, when including HCG which emulates luteinizing hormone, is also used the testes are stimulated into producing their own testosterone, thereby preserving their function and size. These products are usually injected into muscle 2 to 3 times per week by the patient using an insulin syringe.  PLEASE SEE CAUTION BELOW

Will I continue to get my period if I use BHRT?

When undergoing Bio-identical Hormone Restoration Therapy (BHRT) the question of whether to cycle or not to cycle is complex and depends upon many factors specific to each woman. We will discuss the evidence with you and provide our current interpretation of available data.  While cycling may turn out to have benefits, there is not enough clinical trial data to mandate it for all patients. Individuals who have difficulty tolerating the fluctuation of hormones that cycling entails and are at a low risk of breast cancer may decide not to cycle. PLEASE SEE CAUTION BELOW

When should I start considering bio-identical hormones? Should I wait until I reach menopause?

Menopause is defined as beginning on the first day 12 months after you have had your last period. Many physicians suggest their patients wait until they have passed this milestone to begin BHRT. This, however, reflects an antiquated view of a woman's transition from the premenopause to menopause. Many women experience their most severe symptoms in the months to years leading up to this milestone. To wait for this single day would subject women to a year or more of unnecessary hot flashes, night sweats, mental fogginess, and bone loss. the BAMI approach is to start addressing these symptoms as soon as they appear. By beginning BHRT several years before the final menstrual period, a time called the perimenopause women avoid all the havoc that fluctuating hormone levels can wreak. the BAMI's approach is to smooth the transition from normal cycling through the menopause rather than to wait for an arbitrarily defined date. PLEASE SEE CAUTION BELOW

WWhat about supplementation?

Our bodies require raw materials to create the myriads of enzymes and compounds for building, restoring and creating. In order to meet these requirement both food and supplementation are required.  In addition, the toxic challenges that we are all being exposed to daily makes it imperative that we provide our systems with antioxidants, herbals, adaptogens, enzymes, alkalinizes, nootropics, etc. All patients are encouraged to read Suzanne Somers book, "Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones".

What are the costs involved in Low Level Laser Therapy treatment for pain management?

A Low Level Laser Therapy treatment to manage pain consists of 10 sessions with each session costing $150.00.  The total cost of the treatment is $1,500.00. Each session is between 20 to 30 minutes long.