Health | Panache Vue' Magazine - North Pinellas/Pasco - South Tampa

Why Does My Shoulder Hurt?

November 15, 2011 By Stephen Hanff

Dr. Stephen Hanff

Shoulder pain is a prevalent affliction that is common to both young, athletic individuals and our maturing population. Although the reasons for shoulder pain often differ, an appropriate evaluation by a physician can help to diagnose the problem, with most treatments being non-operative and quite effective.

The reasons for shoulder pain can range from inflammation of the underlying structures to tendon tears, arthritis, or even pinched nerves. However, the most common reason is impingement, or compression of the tendons in the shoulder with overhead reaching that can cause secondary tendonitis or bursitis. This condition usually occurs without major tendon tearing, and responds well to medical treatments that may include anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, or in some cases a local injection

The more severe causes include rotator cuff tears, labral tears and arthritis. These conditions are diagnosed with an appropriate exam and diagnostic imaging such as an XRAY or MRI. There is a role for non-operative treatments for these conditions, but advances in shoulder arthroscopy and joint replacement have significantly improved the outcomes for these problems which, when left untreated, may contribute to chronic pain, weakness or instability of the shoulder.

There is no precise treatment for every diagnosis, and treatments may vary from person to person depending upon age, level of activity and severity of the condition. It is important to discuss these options with your physician before starting any treatment. Visiting an orthopedic surgeon can give you the education and tools you need to maintain shoulder health and keep your active lifestyle.

Filed Under: 2011, Health, North Pinellas / Pasco, November/December 2011 - North Pinellas/Pasco Tagged With: Dr. Stephen Hanff, Florida Joint Care Institute, Health, Medicine, Orthopedic Services, Trinity

Rejuvenate Yourself for the Holidays

November 14, 2011 By Larry Lieberman

Dr. Larry Lieberman

This is the time of the year that most of us look forward to all year. But instead of joy many of us feel dread. Do you have that stressed, worn out look by the time the holidays arrive? In one visit to our office we can give you a fresh, relaxed “looks like you just got back from a vacation” look.

In our 27 years of dentistry we have offered many solutions to the question, “How can I rejuvenate my smile to help me look and feel younger? “ We are now able to offer you a long lasting, non-invasive, non surgical technique that will keep your appearance looking younger too – Botox and facial fillers. These treatments are a natural extension of the cosmetic treatments we already provide to help ease the aging process, and sustain one’s youth.

Do you have a frown that doesn’t go away, wrinkles on your forehead, a gummy smile, thin lips or creases around your mouth and nose? Botox is a protein famous for reducing the appearance of unwanted signs of aging by temporarily blocking muscle movement. Facial fillers (dermal fillers) temporarily correct and smooth facial folds and wrinkles as well as enhance the lip area.

I realize you do have many choices as to where to get these services. However, being very familiar with the anatomy of the face, years of training on what the mouth and, smile are supposed to look like and extensive training on injection techniques, I feel offering these services to you is my honor and pleasure. Now when you visit us for your routine cleaning appointment you can easily add these injections to your dental visit and leave our office looking younger and refreshed.

To add some additonal sparkle to your holidays why not consider one of the following quick dental fixes:

tooth colored bonding – to reshape your teeth, repair small cracks & fill in some gaps
crowns & veneers – to conceal spaces, crooked, chipped or discolored teeth
teeth whitening – to instantly brighten and rejuvenate your smile
Snap on Smile – to instantly snap on a beautiful new smile over your existing teeth Whichever option you choose, we are available and happy to help you find the right one. Wishing you and your family a holiday season, filled with good health, happy times together and lots of smiles!

Filed Under: 2011, Health, North Pinellas / Pasco, November/December 2011 - North Pinellas/Pasco Tagged With: Dentist, Dr. Larry Lieberman, Features, Palm Harbor, Tampa Bay

SmartLipo by Red Bamboo – It’s The Doctor Who Makes the Difference, Not the Machine

September 18, 2011 By Nina Stanley

Red Bamboo - Interior - Hallway Three years ago, Red Bamboo Medi Spa was the first to introduce SmartLipo to Pinellas County and now, at over 700 procedures, Red Bamboo has become the most successful and respected laser body sculpting program in Central Florida. Founded in 2008 by Licensed Aesthetician Raye Toscano, her husband Dr. Frank Toscano, and their partner Dr. Laszlo Teleszky, Red Bamboo has set the standard for excellence in aesthetic medicine.

Patients who have a little bulge or stubborn fat pocket that just doesn’t go away with diet or exercise are looking for more than just a solution to this problem. “Some of our patients would just like to look just a little younger, trimmer or more refreshed,” Raye told us, “but many come to us because they lack self-confidence about some aspects of their face or their body. They want to feel comforted about an aspect of their life that is highly sensitive.”

In the serene Asian-inspired atmosphere of lemongrass scented candles and the lilting sounds of bamboo flutes, clients do feel comforted as Red Bamboo’s highly-trained Board Certified Physicians melt away years of aging or inches of fat in just a few hours. And, with the SmartLipo laser they are able to tighten the skin as well. The results are nothing short of amazing.

“Our patients feel a new sense of self-confidence,” Raye says. “They look and feel better in and out of their clothes.” Many patients have described SmartLipo as a life-changing experience. They begin to wear skin-hugging clothes and even pull outfits out of closets that they haven’t been able to wear for years. “Some practices claim that their laser has more power or more wavelengths, but there is no one around who has the depth of experience that we do with this procedure,” she says. “We are proud to say that we have had absolutely no burns and no infections.”

Red Bamboo Medi Spa - Logo The entire procedure is painless. You can listen to music and sip tea while the SmartLipo Laser melts away your fat and tightens your skin. There is no general anesthesia; not even an IV. The abdomen and the waist are the most common areas chosen but many other areas, even the neck, can be artistically sculpted using the SmartLipo Laser. Most people can go back to work the very next day.

SmartLipo is not the only beauty transformation that happens at Red Bamboo. The physicians have both had extensive training in aesthetic medicine and their expertise with facial fillers is widely known. “Many of our patients travel long distances just to see our physicians,” Raye says. “No one ever leaves here looking swollen or overdone. The physicians know how to use fillers in a subtle and artistic way that enhances a person’s natural beauty.” Tampa Bay Metro Magazine recognized Red Bamboo Medi Spa for providing the “Best Aesthetic Enhancements in Tampa Bay.”

Red Bamboo has also been named as a “Gold Provider” of Botox. They never use dysport, myoblock or any of the cheap knockoffs coming out of Canada. Always real Botox Cosmetic® by Allergan – always injected by a physician – that’s the standard at Red Bamboo.

Red Bamboo also has a selection of lasers and light-based technologies that can return your skin to a silky smooth, peaches–and-cream complexion. Now that summer is coming to an end, this is a perfect time to consider treating sun spots, UV damage, red spots, broken capillaries, fine wrinkles and skin tags. Consultations are always complimentary.

Red Bamboo Medi Spa is located in Northwood Plaza at the intersection of Enterprise and McMullen Booth Roads in Clearwater (between SteinMart and Publix). You can hear comments from real Red Bamboo patients and see amazing “Before and After” photos at RBMedispa.com.

This month, Red Bamboo is celebrating its third anniversary of SmartLipo excellence by making a special offer available only through Panache Vue’.

Call Red Bamboo (727-726-6100) before October 15 for a complimentary SmartLipo consultation. If you mention Panache Vue’, you will get one area of SmartLipo for only $1000. That’s $2500 off the regular price!

Red Bamboo Interior

Filed Under: 2011, Feature - North Pinellas/Pasco, Health, North Pinellas / Pasco, September/October 2011 - North Pinellas/Pasco Tagged With: aesthetic medicine, Botox, Clearwater, Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Frank Toscano, Dr. Laszlo Teleszky, Features, laser body sculpting, Pinellas County, Raye Toscano, Red Bamboo, Red Bamboo Medi Spa, SmartLipo, SouthTampa, Spa, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tampa Bay

Help! My Heel Hurts!

September 18, 2011 By Jason Levy

Jason M. Levy, DPM, FACFAS

Lantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. Plantar fasciitis, also known as “heel spur syndrome”, is an inflammatory condition of the plantar fascia, a thick, fibrous band of tissue which originates from the calcaneus (heel bone) and inserts into the forefoot. The plantar fascia supports the arch and is placed under tension when a person stands, walks or runs. Continuous tension or strain on the fascia may lead to repetitive microtrauma or small tears in the fascia. This microtrauma results in an inflammatory response and pain. A heel spur may also develop in association with fasciitis. The spur is typically not the cause of pain, but rather secondary to the tension of muscle and ligament and inflammatory response.

Symptoms usually occur over time and begin as dull pain which can become sharp and persistent. The pain is usually worse in the morning upon the first few steps out of bed, or when standing up after sitting for a period of time. Typically, the pain occurs in the heel, however, it may also be present in the arch area or close to the ball of the foot. Pain may also be associated with standing for long periods of time, impact activities, or running. Plantar fasciitis may be seen in certain foot types, (high or low arch), patients with faulty foot mechanics, poor shoe gear, running or standing surface, change in workout, overuse, and obesity.

Treatment for plantar fasciitis, consists of rest, activity modification, no barefoot walking, immobilization, icing, stretching, use of anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injection, arch supports/orthotics, physical therapy, night splints, shockwave therapy, or surgery. Treatment may take a significant period of time. However, most plantar fasciitis may be resolved with conservative treatment and patient compliance.

Initial treatment usually consists of imaging. At Foot and Ankle Specialists, we can perform state-of-the-art imaging, including in office digital x-ray and diagnostic ultrasound. We offer biomechanical and gait analysis, and provide custom molded functional orthotics, which can be utilized in dress shoes, as well as athletic shoe gear. In addition, the latest treatment options, including extracorporeal pulse activation, “shockwave” treatment and platelet injection therapy may be utilized. These modalities utilize non-invasive technology to “jumpstart” the body’s healing response. If a surgical option is necessary, our board certified physicians are trained in minimally invasive endoscopic plantar fasciotomy procedures as well.

Doctor Jason M. Levy is board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery in foot and reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and the American Society of Podiatric Surgeons. He is the current chief of podiatric surgery at Morton Plant/Mease Hospitals and is a clinical faculty member of the USF-MPM Family Medicine Residency Program. He is currently practicing in our Clearwater and Bardmoor offices. Dr. Levy’s areas of expertise includes, reconstructive forefoot, rearfoot, and ankle surgery, foot and ankle trauma, lower extremity wound care, diabetic limb salvage, and sports medicine. He regularly treats a variety of athletes for foot and ankle ailments.

Filed Under: 2011, Health, North Pinellas / Pasco, September/October 2011 - North Pinellas/Pasco Tagged With: Clearwater, Dr. Jason Levy, Foot and Ankle, Health, Largo, Podiatric, Podiatry, Tampa Bay

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

September 18, 2011 By Nina Stanley

Dr. César Lara

It’s one word that shares millions of unique meanings to millions of unique people. Does your inspiration motivate you? Encourage you to take action? Does it emotionally and physically affect you? Everyone’s inspiration is different, but the commonality is that any form of inspiration breeds personal energy and effort.

An area of everyone’s life that depends on the core concept of inspiration is healthy weight management. Finding the inspiration to set weight loss goals and create a healthy lifestyle begins with an idea, followed by an effort and ends with achievement. The initial idea can be as simple as starting your day with a walk. A walk may seem like an easy physical exercise, but in reality it’s the exact jumpstart needed to take on your day. It not only benefits you physically, but also allows you to mentally clear your head and prepare for your day. You can easily boost the benefits of low-impact cardio by taking it outside. By hitting the sidewalk of your neighborhood or taking the scenic route through a local park, you truly breathe in all the inspiration nature has to offer. Healthy morning activities such as a walk lead to an appetite for a balanced breakfast. This often overlooked meal is essential to keeping our metabolism and energy running throughout the day.

Starting with a morning goal is just one small step that will ignite a chain reaction of healthy changes in your life. You’ll begin to discover that you have become your own inspiration and in turn, begin to inspire the same changes in your family, your friends and everyone you meet.

These new beginnings and achievements are what inspire our weight loss programs. We are here to motivate you to take the first step in creating a healthy lifestyle. Our program will encourage you to set your own goals and be inspired first-hand by your own journey. And there at your side, you’ll find our team assisting in your efforts and applauding your results.

You can think of this as inspiration, but we like to see it as THINSPIRATION!

César A. Lara, M.D. is a Board Certified family physician and a leading expert in the field of medicine, the treatment of obesity, and weight loss management. For more than 20 years, it has been Dr. Lara’s passion to become a positive force in America’s evergrowing obesity crisis…one patient at a time. Dr. Lara’s dream of helping men and women overcome diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and other chronic conditions related to obesity was realized with the emergence of the César A. Lara, MD; Center for Weight Management as a premier weight loss center in Tampa Bay. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Dr. Lara is known for his strong personal faith and his generous contributions to the Tampa Bay community. Dr. Lara regularly appears on television as a medical contributor to Brighthouse Network’s Bay News 9 en Español and WTSP-TV Studio 10. He frequently participates in corporate health fairs promoting an active lifestyle and healthy weight loss options. He is the founder of St. Michael’s Free Clinic and Weight Away Tampa Bay, charitable organizations that provide free medical treatment to those who cannot afford it.

Filed Under: 2011, Health, North Pinellas / Pasco, September/October 2011 - North Pinellas/Pasco Tagged With: Center for Weight Management, Dr. César A. Lara, Health, Tampa Bay, Weight loss, Weight Management

HCG Diet: Looking Past the Hype

August 12, 2011 By Cesar A. Lara

Dr. César Lara

No body is physiologically built the same as another. So why are there such high expectations for a diet to work the same for everyone? Through its successes and failures, the HCG diet is clear proof that the challenge of losing weight is a unique experience, regardless of the method of choice.

To people outside the medical industry, the HCG diet might appear to be the latest craze hitting our body image obsessed culture. However, this weight-loss method traces back more than 40 years, when the discovery of hCG injections aided in rapid fat loss in obese patients. hCG, short for Human Chorionic Gonadotrpin, is a naturally occurring hormone found in pregnant women. When given in small, regular doses, hCG helps suppress appetites and drop pounds fast without jeopardizing muscle mass. Keeping the muscle mass intact allows for metabolism to remain at a normal rate and helps the patient maintain after weight loss has occurred. It has also proven to reduce stored fat – resulting in loss of inches in trouble areas like the abdomen, hips and thighs.

Sound simple? Not quite. To allow the HCG diet to work to its full potential, injections are coupled with a traditional, low daily caloric intake of only 500 calories. Small portions of lean meat, vegetables and fruits are a standard menu for the HCG diet. Seeing a loss of a pound or more a day is a typical, positive result of this effective method.

There are many patients involved in HCG weight loss programs who experience dramatic, life-changing results, free from any health risks or dangers. Success stories include losing 40 pounds in just over four weeks, decreased cravings and feeling more energized and healthier than ever before. However to others, extreme calorie-cutting and getting poked with a needle might seem too great of a risk in effort to drop unwanted weight. In fact, the latest medical recommendations from the American Bariatric Society confirm a 500 calorie diet is not safe, which is what a large percentage of HCG patients are doing. These potential risks that are being taken without qualified physician care is one of many reasons why HCG is viewed upon so negatively.

The key to making HCG or any medically-assisted diet work is finding an experienced physician who can help determine the best plan for a patient’s unique body. The right physician understands the complexity of obesity and the nature of each one of their patients. At our practice, we take the core benefits of HCG, but modify the nutritional plan with an increased calorie intake in order to promote healthy, safe weight loss. By doing this, our patients can sustain their weight loss well after the six week time period HCG can be utilized – a limitation of the diet not always made clear to patients. Our approach involves getting to know lifestyles, breaking down health habits and honing in on individual needs. From here, patients can be provided with customized tools and plans optimized to work with their personal body composition. If the HCG diet is determined as the most effective solution, our physicians will build a program that highlights HCG as one tool amongst many that helps contribute to an overall lifestyle change – not just a quick fix designed to work alone. Joining a credible physician assisted program is critical to continued success after the program. This will ensure a patient will remain vested in their journey, while utilizing other tools to help transition into a long-term maintenance program.

Treating HCG like any other one-size-fits-all fad diet is where the negativity and misconceptions stem. With a supportive physician, lifestyle modifications and a customized program, our practice will ensure a successful weight loss journey and help discover a thinner, healthier new you.

Dr. César A. Lara

César A. Lara, M.D. is a Board Certified family physician and a leading expert in the field of medicine, the treatment of obesity, and weight loss management. For more than 20 years, it has been Dr. Lara’s passion to become a positive force in America’s ever-growing obesity crisis…one patient at a time. Dr. Lara’s dream of helping men and women overcome diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and other chronic conditions related to obesity was realized with the emergence of the César A. Lara, MD; Center for Weight Management as a premier weight loss center in Tampa Bay. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Dr. Lara is known for his strong personal faith and his generous contributions to the Tampa Bay community. Dr. Lara regularly appears on television as a medical contributor to Brighthouse Network’s Bay News 9 en Español and WTSP-TV Studio 10. He frequently participates in corporate health fairs promoting an active lifestyle and healthy weight loss options. He is the founder of St. Michael’s Free Clinic and Weight Away Tampa Bay, charitable organizations that provide free medical treatment to those who cannot afford it.

Filed Under: 2011, August 2011 - South Tampa, Health, South Tampa Tagged With: Center for Weight Management, Diet, Dr. César A. Lara, Features, Health, HGC Diet, Physician, South Tampa, Tampa, Tampa Bay

They Practice What They Preach

July 14, 2011 By Theresa Depasquale and Nabilah Shamseddine

Vibe Fit Club - Theresa DePasquale and Nabilah Shamseddine

Theresa and Nabilah

People ask us every day how we do what we do…..run two businesses, take care of our kids, clean the house, do laundry, be supportive wives, sisters, daughters and friends, all while making our health and fitness a top priority. Our answer? We actually practice what we preach. We understand that we have to put ourselves as a priority, too, and everything else will fall into place. Our goal as health and fitness writers for Panache Vue’ Magazine is to inspire and educate our readers. Whether it’s the single mother of two, or the retired grandfather, our mission is to change fitness paradigms around the Bay.

Our Story:

We decided to open VIBE almost 2 years ago after we both just had babies. As busy moms, we didn’t have the luxury of spending 2 hours in the gym anymore so needed a workout that got us results in the shortest amount of time possible. After trying a workout on the Power Plate, we were both blown away at how it transformed our bodies in such a short amount of time. Our abs bounced back to their pre-baby condition, our butts lifted and cellulite disappeared. We knew this was the future of fitness and we decided to open a heath club that brought this type of training to the Tampa Bay area. We created a concept that combined fitness with wellness under one roof and our mission has been to educate our clients on the VIBE philosophy: Complete wellness- with the side effect of fat loss. Two years and two clubs later, the VIBE culture has taken off and people are not only looking the way they want but are healthy and feeling better than they ever have before.

We look forward to sharing this knowledge with you over the next year.

In Good Health,
Theresa Depasquale and Nabilah Shamseddine

Filed Under: 2011, Health, July 2011 - South Tampa, South Tampa Tagged With: Entrepreneur, Fitness, Health, Nabilah Shamseddine, Oldsmar, Tampa Bay, Theresa Depasquale, Vibe Fit Club