bio-identical hormones that are identical in molecular structure to the hormones women make in their bodies. Making these hormones starts with a natural substance, such as soy or yams, and then chemically altering it to be exactly like the hormones our bodies produce. Patients sometimes gush about the results.
“I’ve been called a fairy godmother,” PreFontaine said with a laugh. “Women have said, ‘You gave me my life back.’ ‘You changed my life.’ ‘My husband thanks you.’ “I also have failures,” she added. “Sometimes I try all year to treat somebody’s symptoms with hormones and I can’t. So they turn to something else — acupuncture or herbal remedies.” At Lasater’s PhysioAge office, the doctor hooks up his patients to a myriad of gizmos to determine their “real” body age. “Skin elastometer?” he offered. He said it reveals the actual age of a person’s skin after all those years of baking in the sun. Lasater was a family practice physician for 30 years before turning to the specialty of anti-aging. He offers a compre-
hensive assessment of the health of each major physiological system and then a tailored program of exercise, diet, nutritional supplements and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy to slow, and in some cases, he says, reverse the decline in their physiological age. The initial consultation, which lasts three to four hours, costs $850; comprehensive lab tests are another $900. Lasater charges an $85 monthly maintenance fee for his ongoing support and consultation. He doesn’t accept insurance. The hormones themselves, typically a cream men and women rub onto their skin a couple of times a day, generally cost $100 per month or less, he said. “I can’t guarantee everyone who comes in here will live longer,” Lasater said. “But we can reverse the detrimental effects the middle-aged person has from low hormones. We can make some difference. It’s not just the years in your life. It’s the life in your years.” Lasater said patients gain cardiovascular strength, bone density, mental clarity — and sex drive. “It’s amazing how many people give up that area of their lives when they don’t have to,” he said. “The kids are out of the house — have a little fun.” Debby Buck DeJonge rummaged in the back seat of her car and pulled out a big bottle of vitamin supplements called “Stay Young and Sexy.” The capsules, made by Health Freedom Nutrition, are part of her personal anti-aging regimen, along with bio-identical hormone replacement. DeJonge, who once ran the Longevity Center on East Paris with her late husband, Robert, was at her class reunion recently, scrutinizing her former classmates. “I looked around and could tell you who was on bio-identical hormone therapy,” said DeJonge. “Two women: One looked great. One looked phenomenal.” DeJonge gives hormone replace-
Christy Roth, a certified medical assistant at PhysioAge, ues a SthygmoCor to measure the condition of blood vessels. At right, the InBody520 is a tool used by PhysioAge to measure body mass index. June 2012 / Grmag.com 45
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