By Cynthia Tieche, Co-Founder of Recharge Clinic
You found a GLP website. You ordered the medication. The package arrived. But now what?
Who is helping you figure out what to eat? Who is talking with you about movement and exercise? Who do you turn to when you’re struggling with your routine or wondering whether something needs your provider’s attention?
Those are the questions I think about!
I care about the medication itself, absolutely. I want people to know what they’re taking, where it came from, and who is responsible for their medical care. But I also care about what happens after the package shows up.
There is a person using that treatment, and that person deserves attention!
I started Recharge because I love helping people. Before the clinics, before all the different services, I was a personal trainer who got genuinely excited about helping someone lose weight and feel better.
If I could still spend all day doing that one thing, I would love it!
Opening Recharge with Steve meant we could bring medical care and that kind of personal support together. We could help with concerns like hormones that I couldn’t address as a trainer while keeping nutrition, movement, and everyday habits part of the conversation.
That is still what I care about. I’m excited that medication gives us another option, but I don’t want the rest of the care to disappear.
I appreciate convenience! I run a business and have a family. I understand why someone would rather avoid another drive or fit an appointment into an already busy day. We offer telehealth, too.
My question isn’t whether you met your provider through a screen. My question is what kind of help you are getting.
Do you know who to contact? Can you ask questions? Is anyone helping you work through nutrition and activity? Do you understand what is included in the program you chose?
I want people asking those questions wherever they receive care—including Recharge.
And before anything gets injected into your body, you should feel comfortable asking exactly what it is, where it came from, and who prescribed it. I would never want someone feeling embarrassed to ask about something that important!
Most people don’t need another person casually telling them to eat healthier and exercise. They need help figuring out what that looks like in their actual life.
What do you eat when you’re rushing out the door? How do you plan dinner when everyone in the family wants something different? What can you keep available so you aren’t making every decision when you’re already tired?
Those are real questions!
The same goes for movement. Telling someone to join a gym doesn’t tell them what to do when they get there, how to begin, or how to fit it into their week.
My dad was my first training client, and he never developed my love of working out. That didn’t make me stop wanting to help him! It meant his plan had to account for who he actually was—not who I wished everyone would become.
That is how I want us approaching our patients, too.
This is what I love about coaching. We can talk about what is happening instead of pretending that giving someone instructions means every obstacle has been solved.
Maybe the plan is too complicated. Maybe it works beautifully on your days off but not when you’re working. Maybe you’re bored with your meals, unsure what to try next, or discouraged because the routine you thought you could manage isn’t happening.
Tell us!
That is not you failing at being a patient. That is you giving us information we can use to help.
And when the question is about medication or a symptom, I want you connected with the medical team—not trying to sort it out through random comments online.
To me, having support means you know where to turn for the different parts of your care.
Weekly diet accountability was an important part of my dad’s experience at Recharge. I have seen how valuable it can be to have a regular conversation instead of feeling like you’re on your own between appointments.
But accountability shouldn’t mean dreading a lecture.
I want you to be able to say, “I had a rough week,” without feeling like you need to defend yourself. Let’s figure out what made it rough and what might help next week!
I am not interested in making people feel worse about themselves. I got into this because I love helping people feel better. That includes making room for honest conversations and realistic changes.
Cost matters, and I’m not going to pretend it doesn’t. But when you compare programs, I want you to understand more than the price of the medication.
Ask what the appointments include. Ask about nutrition support, activity guidance, and follow-up. Ask who answers your questions and what kind of contact you can expect.
You may need more support than someone else. You may already feel comfortable with parts of the process and want help with just a few things. The point is to choose with a clear understanding of what you’re getting.
I don’t want someone thinking, “I guess this is all there is,” when what they really need is another conversation and a little more help.
That is what I want people to understand about Recharge.
I care about your goals, your questions, and the parts of this that feel difficult. I want you to be excited about your progress! And I want you to feel comfortable asking for help with the things you haven’t figured out yet.
We can celebrate having more treatment options without forgetting why we wanted to help people in the first place.
For me, that reason hasn’t changed. I love people. I love helping them lose weight, feel better, and take better care of themselves. That is the heart of this business!
Looking for more than a prescription? Contact Recharge Clinic to talk about our weight-loss programs and coaching options. Let’s talk about the support that would help you—not just the medication you can order!
Look beyond the medication price! You should know who is providing your medical care, which licensed pharmacy is dispensing your prescription, and whom to contact with medication questions. Then ask about nutrition coaching, activity guidance, and follow-up. I want you thinking about the support you’ll have after the package arrives—not just how quickly you can place the order!
They help with different parts of the process! Medication can help regulate appetite and support weight loss and is a tool. Coaching focuses on everyday habits: what you eat, how you plan, how you move, and what gets in your way. At Recharge, I want those conversations working together. Having medication doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also have someone helping with the practical side!
Yes—let’s talk about what support you’re looking for! Maybe your medication is helping, but you still have questions about meals, exercise, or consistency. Bring your current treatment information to a consultation so we can discuss which coaching or medical weight-loss options fit your situation. You don’t have to wait until you feel completely stuck to ask for help! Recharge Clinic
Yes! Many Recharge weight-loss visits can be completed by phone or telehealth for patients in Florida. Depending on your treatment, you may still need labs, vitals, or an in-person visit. Our team will explain the next steps. I love being able to make care more convenient without making people feel like they’re figuring everything out alone! Recharge Clinic
Compare the whole program, not just an advertised medication price! Ask whether visits, prescriptions, labs, nutrition coaching, and follow-up are included or charged separately. Recharge offers different program options and levels of support, so your cost depends on what you choose. Ask us to walk through the full cost before you start—I want you to understand what you’re getting! Recharge Clinic
Yes! Recharge Clinic does offer all GLP-1 medications and other medications to use as tools in your weight loss journey!
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Let’s talk about the meals you haven’t figured out, the exercise routine you haven’t started, and the support you wish you had! Whether you’re exploring weight-loss treatment or looking for more guidance, I want you to know what your options are.
Call 352-512-9996 to schedule your free Recharge Clinic weight-loss consultation! Recharge Clinic
By Cynthia Tieche, Co-Founder of Recharge Clinic
My daughter Sofia and I have a running joke. When we finish a good workout or eat something healthy that we feel really good about, we get the same satisfaction as if we just made money.
I know that probably sounds funny, but we both know exactly what the other person means! It’s that feeling of, “Yes! I just did something good for myself.” The ROI will be huge! We get genuinely excited about it.
And when I get Lucia eating her vegetables? Same feeling! Apparently, getting my little girl to eat something nutritious qualifies as a successful investment in my world.
We laugh about it, but underneath the joke is something I take very seriously. I love taking care of my body, and I love helping my children take care of theirs. We get one body, and I have a hard time treating that casually.
I like looking good. I like feeling confident, and I understand wanting to lose weight before a trip or feel better in a picture. There is nothing wrong with any of that!
But that isn’t the whole reason I care about health.
I think about the life I want to keep living. I want to enjoy my family, be active, travel, work, and participate in the things that matter to me. I want to take care of myself for the life ahead of me—not only for something happening next month.
Sometimes I think we get so focused on what is one foot in front of us that we forget to look farther down the road.
We ask, “How quickly can I lose the weight?” I also want us asking, “What am I doing to take care of myself while I’m losing it?”
Both questions deserve our attention.
I realize that not everyone finishes a workout and feels like celebrating. Not everyone enjoys thinking about food, fitness, or what they’re going to cook.
That is okay! You do not have to turn into me or Sofia to take better care of yourself.
What I would love is for you to find your own version of that satisfaction. Maybe it’s making a meal you enjoyed instead of feeling like you were on another miserable diet. Maybe it’s finding an activity you actually want to do again. Maybe it’s following through on something you promised yourself without making the goal so enormous that you were overwhelmed before you started.
It was one of my favorite parts of personal training. Yes, I loved seeing someone lose weight. But I also loved being part of something that helped them feel better about themselves. I genuinely cared about their progress, and I still feel that way about our patients at Recharge.
Someone in our Recharge family was diagnosed with colon cancer in his twenties. Seeing someone that young go through something so serious stays with you.
Since his diagnosis, he has become incredibly intentional about what he puts into his body. He pays attention to ingredients, processed foods, and the choices he makes for himself, his wife, and his children. His approach to food is completely different now.
What stays with me is how much those everyday decisions mean to him and his family.
We don’t get to control everything that happens to our health. I know that. But seeing someone you care about go through a serious illness makes you think about the attention you give your own body and the things you do have a say in.
I don’t want to live afraid of food. I want to enjoy my life! I also want caring for my health to be part of that enjoyment—not something I keep putting off until I have a reason to be scared.
I’m glad weight-loss medications such as GLP’s and phentermine can help people. I don’t see medication and healthier habits as competing choices. I want them in the same conversation!
When someone is focused on eating less, I still want us talking about what they’re eating. When someone is excited about a smaller size, I still want to hear how they feel and whether they’re taking care of themselves.
This isn’t about one fast-food meal. I’m not keeping a list of who went through a drive-through! It’s about what we come back to day after day and whether we’re giving ourselves any attention beyond the number on the scale.
You don’t have to eat perfectly. You also don’t have to decide that because you can’t be perfect, none of it matters.
There is a lot of room between changing your entire life overnight and making no changes at all.
When I encourage Lucia to eat her vegetables, I’m not thinking about a diet. I’m thinking about helping her learn to care for herself.
That is the feeling I want adults to have, too. Not, “I hate how I look, so now I have to punish myself.” More like, “My life matters to me, and I’m going to put some effort into taking care of the person living it.”
That is a very different place to start!
Maybe you need help finding meals that work with your schedule. Maybe you need someone to talk through an exercise routine that feels realistic. Maybe you’re tired of starting over and need a plan that doesn’t depend on everything going perfectly.
Ask for that help. You don’t have to already be good at this to deserve support.
My reason is personal. I love my family, I love my life, and I love the feeling of doing something good for the bodies we get to live in. Helping other people find that feeling is a huge part of why Recharge exists.
Your reason may look different. That’s fine! It just needs to mean something to you.
Sofia and I will probably keep celebrating our workouts like we just closed a big deal, and I will absolutely keep getting excited when Lucia eats her vegetables. That’s us!
You don’t have to share our joke. But I would love to help you find your own reason to feel excited about taking care of yourself.
Contact Recharge Clinic to talk about your weight-loss goals, nutrition, and the support you need. You don’t need another impossible plan. Let’s talk about what could actually work in your life!
A useful weight-loss eating plan needs to fit your nutritional needs, food preferences, and life—not just look impressive on paper! It should help you manage portions and overall intake while including foods you enjoy. I would rather help you build a realistic routine than get you excited about another restrictive diet you already dread following.
Think nourishment, not just smaller portions! Include protein foods such as eggs, fish, beans, or Greek yogurt, along with vegetables, fruit, and other fiber-rich foods. Hydration matters, too. A reduced appetite can make eating enough more challenging, which is why personalized nutrition guidance is helpful. The goal isn’t to see how little you can eat—it’s to take care of yourself while you lose weight!
You don’t have to become a gym enthusiast! Medication can help you lose weight, but movement still matters for your health. Strength training and adequate protein are especially important for helping preserve muscle during weight loss. Start with activity that fits your abilities, whether that means walking, swimming, or a manageable home routine. I want you building something you can keep doing—not dreading every workout!
That is exactly the kind of conversation I want us having! Rather than handing you another list of rules, nutrition coaching can help you work through meal planning, portions, eating out, and the situations that keep throwing you off. A useful weight-loss program helps you problem-solve and build habits—not just follow instructions until life gets busy again.
Give maintenance some attention before you get there! Keep working with meals, movement, and follow-up that you can sustain. Some people also benefit from continuing weight-loss medication long term, so medication changes should be discussed with your provider. Reaching your goal doesn’t mean you suddenly have to do everything alone. I want you supported in the next stage, too!
But you deserve to feel good about taking care of yourself! Let’s talk about your weight-loss goals, the habits you’re struggling with, and the kind of coaching that would make this feel more doable. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you start.
Call Recharge Clinic at 352-512-9996 to schedule your free consultation! Recharge Clinic
Let’s Talk About My Goals
By Cynthia Tieche, Co-Founder of Recharge Clinic
If I could spend my entire day doing one thing, it would still be helping people lose weight and feel better about themselves. I love it! Being a personal trainer was one of the most fulfilling jobs I have ever had, and that passion is a huge part of why Steve and I started Recharge.
Every client mattered to me. When someone made progress, I was genuinely excited for them! Not because I could check a box or say my program worked, but because I cared about that person. I knew how much it meant to them, and being part of it meant something to me, too.
That never changed. Not from my first client to my last, and certainly not when we opened Recharge. We have more ways to help people now, but underneath all of it, I’m still that person who gets excited about helping someone feel better.
And that is why I have some pretty strong feelings about where the weight-loss conversation is going.
Let me say this clearly: I’m glad we have GLP-1 medications! I’m glad people have more options, and I’m glad losing weight doesn’t have to feel like such an uphill battle for everyone. Our patients are having great success with GLP medications, but that is not the whole story at Recharge Clinic. We believe in long term success and keeping the weight off.
At Recharge Clinic, I don’t want our entire conversation about someone’s health to become, “Which shot are you taking, and how much have you lost?” I want to know how you feel. What are you eating? Are you moving your body? Are you making positive lifestyle changes? Are you learning things that help you take care of yourself?
I want you to love how you look. Of course I do! But I also care about the person living in that body five, ten, and twenty years from now.
My first personal-training client was my dad. He did well, and he lost weight, but he never really developed my love of working out. He also didn’t lose all the weight he wanted to lose.
Fast forward many years, when Steve and I opened Recharge, he became our very first weight-loss patient. And then he became our first patient to lose over 100 pounds!
I still love telling that story!
At Recharge, his care included hormone therapy and weekly accountability with his diet. He embraced learning how to eat and cook differently, and had so much fun with it! He didn’t take weight-loss medication. He had medical care and consistent support that went beyond what I could offer him as a personal trainer.
That experience meant so much to me because this wasn’t just somebody I wanted to help. This was my dad!
He also taught me something important: people don’t have to fall in love with working out to make meaningful changes. He never became the person who gets as excited about a workout as I do. That wasn’t the requirement. We needed to help him find an approach that worked for him.
We have since had many other patients lose over 100 pounds with us, and those accomplishments mean so much to our team. But I’m just as interested in the person with a smaller goal, like getting ready for a wedding, the person who feels stuck with the last few stubborn pounds, and the person who is nervous about getting started.
You don’t have to reach a huge milestone before your progress matters to us!
As a trainer, I sometimes worked with people who needed help beyond what I could provide. Some had thyroid issues that needed medical attention. Some needed more nutrition guidance. Sometimes there were questions that another workout simply wasn’t going to answer.
I wanted to help those people, and I was so excited when Recharge gave us more ways to do that.
Steve brought his medical expertise. I brought my background in fitness, my love of helping people, and a strong belief that support matters. We wanted a place where someone could get medical care without leaving the everyday parts of taking care of themselves out of the conversation.
So, what happens when a personal trainer and a physician open a weight-loss clinic?
You get two people who are incredibly passionate about helping you succeed—and a program built around more than handing you a prescription!
When I talk about accountability, I don’t mean somebody scolding you because your week didn’t go perfectly. I mean having someone help you work through the things that are getting in your way.
You’re exhausted after work and keep grabbing whatever is easiest? Let’s talk about some options. You’re feeding a family and don’t want to cook a separate dinner for yourself? You want to exercise, but you don’t know where to start or what you can realistically keep doing? That is exactly the kind of conversation I want us to have.
I don’t expect people to show up already knowing how to do everything. What would be the point of asking for help?
And I certainly don’t want someone avoiding us because they’re embarrassed about a difficult week. Tell us what happened! That gives us something to work with. This is what coaching is for!
I’m excited about having more ways to help people lose weight! What concerns me is the possibility that we’ll become so focused on the medication that we stop talking about the rest of the person.
I don’t want that for you. I want you to feel comfortable asking questions, learning, adjusting, and finding a routine that fits your life.
My dad’s experience is part of our story, but so is every person who has trusted us since. I genuinely care about the patients who walk through our doors. Helping people is why I started this, and it is still the part I love most.
I want to make taking care of yourself easier!
Ready for support that goes beyond the prescription? Contact Recharge Clinic to talk about your weight-loss goals and the kind of help that would make a difference for you. We would love to be part of your progress!
Medical weight loss at Recharge Clinic brings your health into the conversation—not just your calorie count! A Recharge provider considers your medical history, current medications, and treatment options, while a comprehensive program can also include nutrition guidance, activity planning, and ongoing support. Instead of trying another diet and hoping it works, you have help figuring out an approach that fits you.
Absolutely! Medication can help with appetite and weight loss, but you may still need help figuring out what to eat, getting enough nourishment, and building an exercise routine. Weight-loss coaching gives you somewhere to bring those questions. I’m excited that we have effective medications—I just don’t want you missing out on support for everything that happens between doses!
Yes—GLP-1 medications are an option, not a requirement for everyone! Nutrition changes, physical activity, and behavioral support can be part of a weight-loss plan without medication. My dad’s experience is especially personal to me: he lost over 100 pounds at Recharge without weight-loss medication. His care included medical treatment and weekly diet accountability. The point isn’t that everyone needs his plan—it’s that we should explore what works for you!
Our structured weight-loss programs include nutrition guidance, activity guidance, goal setting, and regular accountability. But here’s what that means to me: you have someone to talk to when you don’t know what to eat, fun recipes, your schedule gets hectic, or your plan needs adjusting! Even if you need vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, or other special diet guidance, we have a plan for you! We offer different levels of support because not everyone needs the same program. Recharge Clinic
Recharge Clinic has locations in Ocala, including Golden Hills and Timber Ridge, as well as Lady Lake near The Villages and Clermont. Recharge Clinic Whether you’re exploring GLP-1 treatment, looking for weight-loss coaching, or interested in a non-medication approach, start with a conversation about your goals. You don’t have to decide which program you need before asking for help! Recharge Clinic
I want you excited about your progress—and supported along the way! Whether you’re interested in GLP-1 medication, nutrition coaching, or a weight-loss plan without medication, let’s talk about what would help you.
Call 352-512-9996 to schedule your free weight-loss consultation at Recharge Clinic! Recharge Clinic
By Dr. Steve Tieche, Co-Founder of Recharge Clinic
With so many patients asking about PRF biofiller, you may be wondering how it compares with the filler you already know. If you’ve used JUVÉDERM® or Restylane® before, would you switch? And if you’ve never had filler, where would you start?
I’m excited about biofiller because it gives us a way to use your own blood for a soft, natural-looking improvement. That appeals to a lot of people, especially if they’ve been hesitant about trying an injectable.
But the choice still comes back to what you want to see in the mirror. Let me explain how I’d talk through the options with you at Recharge Clinic.
Traditional hyaluronic-acid fillers come in different consistencies. That lets us choose a softer product for one area and something with more support for another, depending on the change you want.
I might discuss conventional filler with you if you’re looking for:
If you’ve had traditional filler and loved your result, you don’t need to assume you chose the wrong treatment. It remains a useful option, especially when you want a particular shape or more defined contour.
We’ll talk about the possible side effects before treatment, including swelling, bruising, or lumps. Rare blood-vessel complications can be serious. I want you to feel comfortable asking about the risks as well as the result.
With biofiller, we start with your own blood. If the idea of using material from your own body appeals to you, that’s probably the first difference you’ll notice.
What interests me is the combination of gentle volume and potential improvement in skin quality. If the area that bothers you is both hollow and thin-skinned, those are two things I want to think about together.
That’s why we discuss it for concerns such as under-eye hollowness, flatter cheeks, and aging hands. You may be looking for a softer, fresher appearance rather than a sharply defined change.
The skin-rejuvenation results vary, and this is still a developing treatment. I’ll explain what I think it could do for you, including where I’d expect a modest change and where another option may work better.
If you’ve felt a lump after filler, I know why you’d ask about it before trying something else. Sometimes it’s temporary swelling or the way the product has settled; sometimes it needs treatment. Let us examine it before you try to massage or change it yourself.
I like the soft way PRF biofiller can integrate, particularly in areas such as the hands where unevenness would be easy to notice. That smooth appearance is one reason I’m excited to offer it.
You can still have temporary swelling or an uneven area after biofiller. If something concerns you afterward, contact us so we can check it with you.
Hyaluronic acid holds water. That helps give it fullness, but in some people it can also contribute to puffiness. If you’ve experienced that, it’s worth discussing before your next treatment.
I especially want to know if your under-eyes swell in the morning or if puffiness developed after earlier filler. A hollow and a swollen area can exist right next to each other, and adding more volume isn’t always the answer.
PRF biofiller is a different material from hyaluronic acid, which is one reason we may discuss it if persistent puffiness worries you. You can still swell from the injections themselves, so I’ll explain the difference between early recovery and the result we’re aiming for.
I’d want to know which area you’re treating and how much change you want before giving you an estimate. Longevity is a fair question, especially when you’re planning your budget.
With conventional filler, the product and the area treated affect how long you’ll see the result. Some hyaluronic-acid filler can stay in the tissue longer than you expect, so please tell us about older injections as well as recent ones.
Your body gradually breaks down and remodels biofiller. The initial fullness and any later improvement in skin quality are different parts of the result. We may recommend a series of visits and then discuss maintenance based on how you respond.
If your priority is a more defined contour, I may lean toward conventional filler. If you’re drawn to your own blood-derived material and a gentler change, biofiller may be a better fit. We’ll make that choice together.
It may be, and I know that matters. If you’re considering several syringes of conventional filler, biofiller is worth discussing as another option. The useful comparison is what it will cost to reach your goal.
We’ll explain the number of biofiller visits we anticipate, what they cost, and what maintenance might involve. Then you can compare that with a conventional filler plan and decide what feels worthwhile to you.
Yes. You don’t necessarily have to choose one treatment for every concern.
For example, we might discuss conventional filler for contour in one area and PRF for skin quality in another. Depending on your goals, other treatments may also have a place in your plan.
If I suggest more than one treatment, I’ll explain what each is meant to improve. You should be able to see how the plan connects to what you asked for.
When you come in, I want to hear what you see and what you’d like to change. Show me the hollow, the line, or the area that looks different in photographs. Tell me what you liked or disliked about anything you’ve tried before.
Then we’ll look at your skin and facial structure together. I’ll explain where I think biofiller could help and what kind of change I’d expect.
I like having an option that uses your own blood and can offer soft volume along with potential skin benefits. Our patients are asking about it, and I’m happy to have that conversation. It’s an exciting addition to what we can offer at Recharge.
You don’t have to figure it all out before you arrive. Bring your questions, and we’ll work through them together.
It depends on your goal. If you want subtle rejuvenation using your own blood, biofiller may appeal to you. If you want more precise shaping or stronger contour, I may recommend conventional filler.
No, it doesn’t dissolve with hyaluronidase the way hyaluronic-acid filler can. Your body gradually breaks it down. We’ll discuss that difference before you choose a treatment.
My goal is a soft change that suits your features. You may have temporary swelling afterward; we’ll talk about how much volume makes sense for you and when to assess the result.
You may have bruising, swelling, redness, or tenderness. Tell us about any upcoming events so we can help you plan your appointment and recovery time.
You may be able to. Let me check the area first, especially if you’ve had lingering puffiness or lumps. Knowing what’s already there helps us plan your next step.
You do not have to decide between PRF biofiller and conventional filler on your own. Schedule an aesthetic consultation at Recharge Clinic. We will evaluate your concerns and explain which option—or combination—fits your goals.
Recharge Clinic provides aesthetic consultations in Ocala, Golden Hills, Lady Lake/The Villages, and Clermont.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Dermal Fillers—Benefits and Risks.
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/aesthetic-cosmetic-devices/dermal-fillers-soft-tissue-fillers
Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma and Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Facial Rejuvenation.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40167104
Platelet-Rich Plasma for Skin Rejuvenation and Tissue Fill.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30213425
By Dr. Steve Tieche, Co-Founder of Recharge Clinic
If you’ve been hearing about PRF biofiller, you may be wondering where we actually use it. Under the eyes? In the cheeks? Yes—and there are a few areas that might surprise you. One I’m particularly excited about is the back of the hands.
You can take great care of your face and still notice that your hands look older than you feel. Or you may be happy with your skin overall, but the hollows beneath your eyes keep making you look tired. Those smaller details can make a big difference in how you feel when you look in the mirror.
Let me walk you through some of the areas we discuss at Recharge Clinic and what we’re trying to improve in each one.
You can get a good night’s sleep and still have shadows beneath your eyes. If that sounds familiar, the problem may be the shape of the area rather than how rested you are.
Some people have naturally deeper under-eye hollows. For others, those hollows become more noticeable with age. As the skin and underlying support change, light catches the area differently and creates a shadow.
This is an area where I like having another option. Traditional filler can work well, but if you’re prone to under-eye puffiness, I want to understand that before recommending treatment. Tell me if the swelling comes and goes or if you’ve had filler there before.
With PRF biofiller, we may be able to soften the hollow while also addressing the appearance of thin skin. I’m looking for a gentle improvement that helps you look more rested.
Dark circles have several causes, so we’ll look closely at yours. If the main issue is pigmentation, bags, or swelling, filling a hollow alone may not give you the change you want.
If your cheeks seem flatter than they used to, you’re probably noticing a change in the support beneath your skin. That can make the center of your face look less full and the surrounding shadows more noticeable.
We can consider biofiller to soften those hollows and add gentle fullness. I like it for someone who wants to freshen up their appearance while keeping the features that make them look like themselves.
How much fullness you want matters. If you’re hoping for a more defined cheek contour, we’ll talk about that, too. Biofiller and conventional filler can give different kinds of results, and I’ll explain which seems better suited to what you’re showing me.
The temples are easy to overlook until you see them in a photograph. As this area becomes more hollow with age or weight loss, the upper face can start to look thinner.
Biofiller may help soften that hollow. When we look at your face together, I’ll show you whether your temples are contributing to the change you’ve noticed and whether treating them would make sense.
There are important blood vessels in this area, so I take particular care with the assessment and discuss the risks with you before any treatment.
You may have a skincare routine you love for your face, then notice lines on your chest when you put on an open-neck shirt. The neck and décolletage—the upper chest—deserve attention, too.
Here, we’re often talking about thinner skin, fine lines, or a crepey appearance. I want to know which of those bothers you most, because each may need a different approach.
PRF-based treatments may be part of a plan to improve skin quality. Depending on your skin, we might also discuss RF microneedling, laser treatment, or skincare. I’ll explain what each would add so you can choose a plan that fits your priorities.
The hands are one of the areas I highlighted in my video because people often don’t realize we have options for them. They spend years taking care of their face, then look down at their hands and wonder what happened.
If you’ve noticed your veins or tendons looking more prominent, it may be because you’ve lost some of the soft tissue that used to cover them. You haven’t necessarily done anything wrong. The hands change with age, just as the face does.
Thinner skin can make those changes stand out even more. This is where I like discussing both soft volume and the quality of the skin over it.
PRF biofiller gives us an option for adding gentle fullness to the backs of the hands. I’ve been pleased with how naturally it can blend in, particularly in an area where you want a smooth appearance.
You may have some swelling or bruising afterward, and unevenness can occur. We’ll explain how to care for your hands and when to check in with us as everything settles.
There’s another area patients don’t always feel comfortable bringing up: changes in the external labia. Aging, hormonal changes, childbirth, and weight changes can affect how this area looks, and you’re welcome to ask us about it.
A labial puff adds fullness to the outer lips, called the labia majora. PRF biofiller is an option we can discuss if you’ve noticed volume loss there. We’ll talk privately about what bothers you and the kind of improvement you’re hoping for.
If you’re also having dryness, pain, urinary symptoms, or discomfort with intimacy, please tell us. Those concerns may need separate treatment, and I want to make sure we address what you’re actually experiencing.
You don’t need a long list of areas to treat. Maybe it’s just your hands. Maybe it’s the hollow beneath one eye that catches your attention every morning. Start with what matters to you.
When we meet, we’ll look at whether the change comes from lost volume, the skin itself, or something like swelling. That helps me explain what biofiller could realistically do for you.
I’m excited about how many different conversations this treatment opens up. It’s especially nice to offer another possibility when you’ve assumed there wasn’t much you could do about an area that bothers you.
It may help if the darkness is mainly a shadow from a hollow or thin skin. If pigment, allergies, or swelling are contributing, we’ll discuss those as well.
Let me examine the area first. Tell us what you’ve had injected and when, if you know. If there’s puffiness or an area you can feel, I want to understand that before adding anything.
We can discuss treatments around the lips, but tell me whether you want smoother skin, more fullness, or a different shape. Those goals can call for different treatments.
It may help with skin quality, but it won’t give the same change as surgery for substantial loose skin. We’ll look at your neck and discuss what would make a worthwhile difference.
The best area to start with is the one where your concern and the treatment are a good match. We’ll look at your skin and volume loss together rather than assume you need the same plan as someone else.
You do not need to know which injectable you need before your appointment. That is our job. Schedule an aesthetic consultation, show us what bothers you, and we will explain which options make sense.
Consultations are available at Recharge Clinic locations in Ocala, Golden Hills, Lady Lake/The Villages, and Clermont.
Platelet-Rich Plasma and Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Periorbital Esthetics: A Systematic Review.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42392651
Evaluation of Platelet-Rich Fibrin Matrix in Periorbital Wrinkles.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36892335
Efficacy and Safety of Plasma Gel Versus Platelet-Rich Plasma in Periorbital Rejuvenation.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34231136
By Dr. Steve Tieche, Co-Founder of Recharge Clinic
We’re getting more and more requests for PRF biofiller at Recharge Clinic, and I can see why. The idea of using your own blood to create a treatment that can soften hollows and help rejuvenate your skin is exciting. If you’ve been curious about filler but would prefer something made from your own body, this is a conversation worth having.
I recently made a video about it because I wanted to explain what we’re doing and why patients are interested. There’s quite a bit more to this treatment than the name suggests.
You may already know names like JUVÉDERM® and Restylane®. Those are hyaluronic-acid fillers, and they can give beautiful results. PRF biofiller gives us another option, particularly if you want a softer change or have questions about puffiness or unevenness after previous filler.
PRF stands for platelet-rich fibrin. We start with a small draw of your blood, then process it to prepare the biofiller. The finished material has a gel-like consistency that allows us to place it in areas where you’ve lost volume.
What I like about that is how personal the treatment is: we’re working with material from your own body. We can use it in several of the same areas where we use conventional filler, depending on what you’d like to improve.
If using your own blood sounds surprising, think about the role it already plays in healing. We’re taking components of that blood and preparing them for a very specific purpose.
When you look in the mirror, you may notice more than a hollow. The skin over it may look thinner or less smooth than it used to. That’s one reason I’m interested in a treatment that may help with both volume and skin quality.
Your platelets contain growth factors—signals involved in healing and tissue repair. PRF holds these within a fibrin network and releases them over time. That is the basis for its potential to support collagen and improve the quality of aging skin.
For you, the goal is a softer hollow and skin that looks healthier over time. Those are two different changes, and they don’t necessarily happen at the same pace.
You may see some fullness initially, while changes in skin quality take longer to develop. I want you to know that before treatment so you’re looking for gradual progress rather than judging everything the next morning.
We’re still learning how much improvement these treatments can deliver and how long it lasts. At your visit, we’ll talk about what I think is realistic for your skin and whether a series of treatments makes sense.
If you’re interested in looking more rested without making a dramatic change to your face, you’re exactly the kind of person I want to have this discussion with. A small improvement in the right area can be much closer to what you want than adding volume everywhere.
And if you’ve had filler before and didn’t love how it looked or felt, tell me about it. Was it too much fullness? Puffiness under your eyes? An area you could feel when you touched your face? Those details help me understand what you’re hoping to do differently this time.
One of the things I like about PRF biofiller is the soft way it can settle into the tissue. In my experience, that makes it a nice option when we’re looking for a smooth, natural-looking improvement.
Cost matters, too. Biofiller may be a more affordable option for your goals, especially when we’re discussing several areas. We’ll go over the expected number of visits and the full cost so you can decide what works for you.
Your visit starts with a conversation about your goals, your health, and any previous treatments. Then we’ll explain the blood draw, the injections, and what to expect afterward so you know what’s happening at each step.
You can have temporary swelling, bruising, redness, or tenderness after treatment. Unevenness is possible, too. Using your own blood doesn’t eliminate injection risks, and we’ll discuss those with you before we begin.
If you have an event coming up, let us know when you schedule. I’d much rather help you plan enough time for things to settle than have you worrying about a bruise just before a big occasion.
You don’t need to arrive knowing which treatment to choose. Show me the area that bothers you and tell me what you’d like to see change. We’ll talk through whether biofiller, traditional filler, or another treatment is likely to get you there.
I’m excited to have this option at Recharge because it gives us another way to help you feel good about your appearance. For someone who has been hesitant about conventional filler, it can open up a conversation they weren’t ready to have before.
If a treatment made from your own blood appeals to you, I’d encourage you to come in and learn more. We can look at your skin together and make a plan that feels right for you.
No. Products such as JUVÉDERM® and Restylane® are manufactured fillers. With PRF biofiller, we start with your own blood and prepare the material for your treatment.
You may notice some initial fullness, but early swelling can affect what you see. We’ll explain when to assess the result; changes in skin quality develop more gradually.
Using your own blood is one of its appeals, but injections still have risks. We’ll review your medical history and explain the possible side effects before you decide.
That depends on the area you want treated and how much change you’re hoping for. We’ll discuss whether one visit or a series makes sense for you, along with possible maintenance.
Not everyone. Bring your medication list and tell us about any health conditions or previous filler. We’ll review those together and let you know whether this is a good fit.
Curious about what PRF biofiller could do for you? Schedule an aesthetic consultation at Recharge Clinic. Bring your questions, tell us what you’d like to improve, and let’s talk about your options.
Recharge Clinic serves patients in Ocala, Golden Hills, Lady Lake/The Villages, and Clermont.
Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin for Facial Rejuvenation: A Prospective, Single-Center Study.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32852873
Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin: The Newest Biomaterial and Its Use in Various Dermatological Conditions.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32996229
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Dermal Fillers—Benefits and Risks.
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/aesthetic-cosmetic-devices/dermal-fillers-soft-tissue-fillers
By Dr. Steve Tieche, Co-Founder of Recharge Clinic
After weeks of believing I probably had prostate cancer, I finally received the news we had been praying for. Every single sample from my prostate biopsy came back benign. No cancer was found.
The relief was tremendous. But apparently, I needed a little convincing because I kept reading the report over and over again. In fact, I woke up in the middle of the night and pulled it up one more time just to make sure I hadn't misunderstood what it said. By then, I had probably read the results twenty times!
I've been a physician for many years, and I've helped countless patients work through abnormal lab results, concerning scans, and cancer scares. I've reassured patients who were frightened, explained what their results meant, and helped them understand what needed to happen next. But this time, I was the patient, and I learned that knowing what to expect medically doesn't necessarily prepare you for what it's like to experience it personally.
My prostate biopsy was performed on a Friday. I had been told I would have a follow-up appointment in approximately two weeks to discuss the findings, but on Monday, I received a notification that the pathology results were available in my patient portal.
I was at the clinic when the notification came through. Naturally, I opened it immediately. I wasn't about to wait another two weeks to find out what it said.
As I started reading, I saw the same words repeated throughout the report: "Benign prostatic tissue." All sixteen specimen groups, including the suspicious areas identified on my MRI, were negative for cancer.
I was stunned. For weeks, I had been preparing myself for a prostate cancer diagnosis. My MRI had identified several highly suspicious areas, and the report had indicated that clinically significant cancer was highly likely. Even though I knew a biopsy was necessary to confirm a diagnosis, I had already started thinking about surgeons, treatment options, recovery, and how my life might change.
I had spent quite a bit of time researching what I would do if the biopsy confirmed cancer. I had thought through different treatment options and the potential side effects. In my mind, I was already several steps ahead, preparing myself for something that hadn't actually been diagnosed.
And now, after all that worrying and planning, every sample was benign.
I remember feeling tremendous relief and thankfulness. I had hoped for these results, and I had prayed for them, but I honestly hadn't expected them.
I called Cynthia almost immediately. She was standing in the checkout line at Publix when I told her the results were back and everything was benign.
Her first reaction was disbelief.
She had read the MRI report herself, and she knew how concerning those findings had been. Like me, she had been preparing for the possibility that I had prostate cancer. When I told her everything was negative, she kept asking whether I was sure.
I assured her that I had read the report several times. She pulled it up herself, enlarged the image on her phone, and read through the findings.
I think we were both shocked, but in the best possible way. For weeks, we had been praying and hoping for this outcome. And now that we had received it, it was almost difficult to believe.
That feeling stayed with me throughout the day. I knew what the pathology report said, but after spending so much time preparing myself for cancer, I kept going back to make sure I was reading it correctly.
Thats when later that night, I woke up and looked at it again. There it was, exactly as I had read it before.
Benign prostatic tissue.
What made this experience particularly emotional for our family was everything we had already been through.
Earlier that summer, Cynthia had been diagnosed with a pituitary tumor and had undergone surgery. While she was going through testing and preparing for that procedure, I was having my PSA rechecked and trying to determine why it had increased so much from my previous results.
I had deliberately waited until after her surgery to have my MRI. I didn't want to add another concern to an already stressful time. Unfortunately, when the MRI results came back, they were far more concerning than I had anticipated.
I remember being upset, not only because of what the report said, but because I couldn't believe we were facing another serious medical situation so soon after Cynthia's surgery. It felt like one more thing we really didn't need.
Cynthia remembers me looking at her and saying, "You just had a miracle. Now I need a miracle."
I don't remember my exact words, but I certainly remember praying about it. I prayed for the best outcome, and I felt a sense of peace afterward. I knew we still had to go through the biopsy and wait for the results, but I had reached a point where I was no longer going to let the uncertainty consume me.
Cynthia was praying every day too. She had just come through her own experience with a tremendous amount of faith, and that helped both of us through mine.
We never stopped taking the necessary medical steps. We scheduled the biopsy, went through the procedure, and waited for the pathology. But throughout that time, prayer helped us remain hopeful.
When those benign results arrived, we were incredibly thankful. After everything we had been through that summer, it truly felt like another answered prayer.
One of the things I found interesting about this experience was how many of my own patients' frustrations I suddenly understood on a personal level.
I've been on the other side of these conversations for years. I know how frequently PSA levels can change, and I know that an abnormal result doesn't automatically mean cancer. I've helped patients understand why we repeat certain tests and why additional imaging or a biopsy may be necessary.
But when you're the patient, you aren't just thinking about the medical explanation. You're thinking about your family, your future, and what might be happening inside your body while you're waiting for answers.
Even the process of getting an appointment was frustrating. We were fortunate to have people in our office making repeated calls to help me get scheduled, but it still took weeks to get my biopsy. There were times when I wanted to know why we couldn't just get it done immediately.
I've heard patients express that same frustration many times. They have an abnormal result, they know something needs to be investigated, and then they have to wait for an appointment. After that appointment, sometimes there's another test and another period of waiting.
It's not always easy to be patient when you are worried about your health.
I wouldn't say this experience completely changed how I practice medicine. I've always taken abnormal results seriously and encouraged my patients to follow through with recommended testing. But it certainly reinforced how important it is to help people understand the process and support them while they're going through it.
I also learned how easy it is to convince yourself that you already know the outcome. By the time I had my biopsy, I was fairly certain I had prostate cancer. I had seen the MRI report, understood the findings, and already started preparing for treatment.
And I was wrong.
That's something worth remembering. A concerning result is not the same thing as a confirmed diagnosis. Until you have the answers, you don't know how the story is going to end.
As relieved as I was to receive benign results, the biggest message I want to share isn't really about the biopsy at all.
It's about why I had the testing done in the first place.
I wasn't feeling sick. I wasn't experiencing any new symptoms that made me suspect something was wrong. I was working, seeing patients, spending time with my family, and going about my normal life.
The change in my PSA was discovered during routine bloodwork.
I've always been diligent about monitoring my health. I have my labs checked regularly, and because of that, I had years of previous results to compare. My PSA had consistently been around 1.2 to 1.5. When it suddenly increased to approximately 4, I knew that was a significant change for me.
Had I not been getting my labs checked, I wouldn't have known that change had occurred. I wouldn't have had a reason to investigate it further because physically, I felt exactly the same.
Fortunately, my biopsy was benign. But what if it hadn't been?
If I had simply assumed I was healthy because I felt good, I could have missed an opportunity to identify a serious problem earlier.
That's why I'm such a strong believer in routine care and appropriate preventive testing. It doesn't mean everyone needs every test or that everyone needs the same laboratory schedule I follow. It means having a relationship with a medical provider who knows your history, understands your risk factors, and can help determine what testing is appropriate for you.
And just as importantly, it means following through when something doesn't look right.
I see patients who haven't had routine medical care in years. Many of them feel great, and that's wonderful. But feeling good doesn't necessarily mean that everything happening inside your body can be evaluated by symptoms alone.
I also see patients who receive abnormal results and delay further testing because they're frightened of what they might find out.
I understand that fear a little better now.
But I would encourage anyone in that situation to continue the evaluation. You might receive news you didn't want, but you might also receive news much better than you expected.
I certainly did.
Looking back, I spent weeks thinking I probably had prostate cancer. I had researched surgeons and considered treatment options before I even had a confirmed diagnosis. I prepared myself for the worst while continuing to hope and pray for the best.
And then I opened that pathology report and read the word "benign."
I am incredibly thankful for that outcome, and I will continue to follow up with my medical providers as recommended. But I hope my experience encourages someone else to make the appointment they've been putting off, get the routine testing their provider recommends, or follow through on an abnormal result they've been avoiding.
You cannot always control what a medical test will reveal, but you can take an active role in your health.
And sometimes, the answer you've been afraid to hear turns out to be the answer you've been praying for.
No. I had experienced symptoms related to an enlarged prostate for years, but I hadn't noticed anything new. The change in my PSA was identified through bloodwork, not because I felt sick or experienced new symptoms.
No. PSA can increase for several reasons, including benign prostate enlargement and inflammation. An elevated result needs to be evaluated in the context of your medical history, previous lab results, and other findings.
Some medical conditions can develop without obvious symptoms. Your provider can help determine which labs and preventive screenings are appropriate for you based on your age, medical history, and individual risk factors. Having previous results may also help identify meaningful changes over time.
Contact your provider and discuss the next step. Depending on the result, that might involve repeating a test, having additional testing performed, or seeing a specialist. The important thing is not to ignore it simply because you feel fine.
Absolutely. At Recharge Clinic, we work with patients to review their medical history, discuss appropriate lab work and screenings, and evaluate results together. If further testing or specialist care is needed, we can help guide you through the next steps. We have locations in Ocala, Lady Lake/The Villages, and Clermont, Florida.
I've spent many years encouraging my patients to take their health seriously. After going through this experience myself, I hope my story encourages you to do the same.
Whether you haven't had routine lab work in years, have questions about a recent result, or simply want to be more proactive about your health, we're here to help.
Schedule an appointment with Recharge Clinic at one of our locations in Ocala, Golden Hills, Lady Lake/The Villages, or Clermont, or ask about our Florida telehealth options.
Don't wait until something feels wrong to start paying attention to your health.
Dr. Steve Tieche
Co-Founder, Recharge Clinic
By Dr. Steve Tieche, Co-Founder of Recharge Clinic
After reading my MRI report, my first instinct was to get the problem handled. I wanted to know what was there, decide what to do about it, and move on. I had already started thinking about treatment before I even had a biopsy.
That is easy to recognize when you are watching someone else do it. You can tell them not to get ahead of the results and remind them that there are still questions to answer. When it was happening to me, I understood all of that—and still found myself researching surgeons and thinking through what recovery might look like.
Cynthia had just had surgery for her pituitary tumor. We were about a week into her recovery when my MRI results came back, and I remember being upset about the timing as much as anything else. We had just gotten through one major medical experience. Now we were facing another.
When I called her, she could tell I was upset. She remembers changing her plans and coming straight to the clinic because she wanted to see how I was doing. By the time she arrived, I had prayed about it and felt calmer.
I was not thinking that my life was over. I was thinking about how to deal with what might be ahead. But I also was not ready to work through everyone else’s worry while I was still processing my own.
Lauren had been calling to ask about the results. When I did not answer, she became more concerned and started calling Cynthia. I asked Cynthia to talk with her because I did not feel ready for that conversation yet.
It was not that I wanted to keep my family out of it. I knew they cared, and I knew they would be worried. I just needed a little time before I could be the person reassuring everyone else.
Cynthia remembers me looking at her and saying, “You just had a miracle. Now I need a miracle.” I do not remember the exact words, but she does. She had come through her own experience with a great deal of faith and peace, and she brought that into mine.
She told me I was going to get my miracle. At the same time, she thought the biopsy would probably show cancer. We were not pretending the MRI was reassuring. We were facing what it said while praying about what would come next.
Prayer helped me. After I prayed, I felt more at ease about the outcome, whatever it might be. That did not mean I stopped making appointments, researching my options, or thinking about the procedure. It meant I was not carrying the same level of worry through every part of the day.
Cynthia was praying every day too. She had just experienced what it was like to be the patient, and now our roles were changing again. She understood why the waiting mattered and why I wanted answers.
I knew the type of biopsy I wanted. My MRI had identified specific areas of concern, and I wanted an MRI-fusion-guided biopsy so those images could help guide the sampling. I also wanted to be sedated for the procedure.
Our office contacted two places and kept checking for an opening. That involved repeated phone calls and waiting, just as it does for many of the patients we refer. Eventually, a cancellation helped us get an appointment sooner than we otherwise would have.
It was still several weeks between the MRI and the biopsy. That is a long time when you want to know what is happening in your body. I understood that the physicians were busy and that there were other patients who needed care. Understanding the scheduling process did not make it less frustrating to be waiting in it.
I would think about the suspicious findings and wonder why we could not get the answer more quickly. Then I would remind myself that the appointment was being arranged and that we were doing what we could. There was no special physician shortcut that made the uncertainty disappear.
During that time, I thought about who I would see if the biopsy confirmed cancer. I researched physicians who performed prostate surgery and considered what treatment might involve. I also thought about possible side effects and how I would deal with them.
At one point, I wanted to skip ahead and have my prostate removed. I was tired of it being an unresolved issue in my life. But wanting to be finished with the problem did not remove the need to establish what the problem actually was.
The biopsy still had to come first. I knew that, even while I was making plans for what might happen afterward.
I talked with Cynthia about it, but I probably thought about it more than I talked about it. I had gone through quite a few possibilities in my own mind before we ever arrived for the procedure.
The night before my biopsy, I did not sleep particularly well. I was thinking about the procedure and trying not to get too worked up about it. The next morning, I was focused on getting ready and keeping myself reasonably calm.
We went to a hospital I was not familiar with, and I did not know the practitioners taking care of me. They were kind, and I had no difficulty letting another physician do the procedure. Still, there is a difference between knowing that someone is experienced and knowing exactly what your own experience will feel like.
I wondered how deeply sedated I would be, whether I would feel anything, and how uncomfortable I might be afterward. Those were the questions occupying my attention that morning. The possible results were still there, but first I had to get through the biopsy.
As an anesthesiologist, I was familiar with sedation from the physician’s side. That did not make me immune to being a little nervous when I was the one receiving it.
When I woke up, I was mostly groggy. I had some soreness that felt as though I had sat down hard on something, but it was manageable. I think I took one pain pill that first day.
By the next day, there was very little soreness. I did not have the bleeding or difficulty going to the bathroom that I had wondered about beforehand. For me, the recovery was fairly uneventful, which was a relief.
Once the procedure was over, my attention shifted immediately to the results. The thing I had been waiting weeks to get done was finally finished. Now there was another answer to wait for.
The biopsy was on a Friday. I had been given a follow-up appointment to discuss the results about two weeks later, so I did not know how quickly I would hear anything. We went home, and I found myself thinking about what those samples were going to show.
By then, I expected the answer to be cancer. I had not been told that by the biopsy team; it was the conclusion I had reached in my own mind after the MRI. That expectation had started to feel very real, even though the most important result was still missing.
In the final part of this series, I’ll share what happened when my patient portal notification arrived—and why I was still rereading the report in the middle of the night.
It was not immediate. Our office repeatedly checked for openings, and a cancellation helped us get in sooner.
My MRI had identified specific areas I wanted evaluated, and I wanted the imaging used to help guide the sampling.
Yes. I wondered about the sedation, whether I would feel anything, and how sore I might be afterward.
I was groggy and mildly sore that first day. By the next day, I had very little soreness. That was my experience.
Prayer, Cynthia’s support, and knowing we were continuing to take the necessary steps. I wanted it done sooner, but I stayed with the process.
When your provider recommends follow-up, make sure you know what needs to happen and whom to contact. At Recharge Clinic, we help patients understand their results and coordinate further evaluation when needed. Schedule a visit in Ocala, Lady Lake/The Villages, or Clermont to discuss your concerns.
By Dr. Steve Tieche, Co-Founder of Recharge Clinic
When my PSA first came back higher than usual, I thought the result was wrong. I wasn’t frightened, and I wasn’t immediately thinking about cancer. I had been checking my labs regularly for years, and that number barely moved. My first thought was that something had affected the test and that repeating it would probably clear things up.
I have had that conversation with plenty of patients. A result changes, we look at what might explain it, and we decide what to do next. Sometimes we repeat the test. Sometimes we need to investigate further. What I did not know when I started repeating my own bloodwork was that, a few months later, I would be sitting at the clinic reading my MRI report over and over, trying to prepare myself to call my wife.
I check my labs at least three times a year. It is part of taking care of my health, and it means I have a good idea of what is typical for me. My PSA had generally stayed around 1.2 to 1.5. It had been normal in January, just as it had been on previous checks.
Then I was changing insurance companies and had bloodwork done as part of that process. I was quite comfortable going into it because I followed my labs closely. I expected the results to look much like they always had. Instead, my PSA came back around 4.
That got my attention, but it did not immediately alarm me. I already had longstanding issues with an enlarged prostate. Getting up at night to use the bathroom and having difficulty emptying my bladder were not new experiences. Nothing had suddenly changed physically, and I did not feel sick.
What was different was the bloodwork. I could compare that result with years of previous tests and see that something had changed. I wanted to know whether it was a temporary change or something that needed more attention.
I repeated the PSA, and it stayed elevated compared with my previous results. I repeated it again. Because I had experienced prostatitis in the past, I also took a course of antibiotics during the evaluation, thinking that might explain what was happening. But after several weeks, the number had barely changed.
Over roughly two to three months, I checked it several times. It never returned to where it had been before. At that point, I was no longer satisfied with assuming there was nothing to investigate.
I still was not convinced that anything serious was wrong. I see a lot of PSA results in my practice, and I have helped many men work through changes in those numbers. That experience kept me reasonably calm. I knew we had more questions to answer, but I was not sitting at home thinking the worst.
There was also a family history of prostate cancer, although I knew very little about my father’s experience. That came back into the conversation during my evaluation. It had not been what first caught my attention; the persistent change in my own labs was what kept me moving forward.
While I was repeating those tests, Cynthia was going through the evaluation for her pituitary tumor. We were dealing with her diagnosis, appointments, and upcoming surgery while my bloodwork was happening in the background.
My attention was largely on getting her through that experience. By the time I had my prostate MRI, she was only about a week out from surgery. We had just been through something significant as a family, and I certainly was not looking to add another medical problem to the calendar.
I expected the MRI to show an enlarged prostate, perhaps some inflammation, and nothing particularly concerning. That was honestly what I thought we were going to find. The scan itself was not painful for me. I had some itching from the contrast that was treated, but otherwise the appointment was straightforward.
Afterward, I went back to work and family life. I was not particularly preoccupied with the results. Cynthia remembers realizing how little concern I had when she learned I had told our oldest daughter, Lauren, that I was having the scan. In my mind, there was not much to worry everyone about.
Lauren, understandably, wanted to know how it turned out. She kept checking to see whether the report had arrived.
The results came back to the office, and I read the report myself. Instead of the reassuring explanation I had expected, it described multiple suspicious areas. The overall impression included the words “Clinically significant cancer is highly likely.”
I read it again, and then again. I probably read that report ten times before discussing it with anyone. I understood the terminology. I did not need someone to explain why the findings were concerning. What I needed was a little time to take in the fact that I was reading those findings about myself.
That was when my reaction changed. Until then, I had mostly been doubtful that anything serious was happening. Now I was upset. I had genuinely expected a different result.
I was already thinking about what would come next. I knew I needed a biopsy, and I started considering what I would do if it showed cancer. I did not view the report as a death sentence, but I could not dismiss it either. There was something that needed to be addressed, and I wanted to address it.
One of the hardest parts was knowing I had to tell my family. I had explained concerning results to patients many times, but this was different. Now I was going to tell Cynthia, who was recovering from surgery, that my scan had not come back the way we expected.
I knew what people were likely to hear. I could explain that the MRI was not a confirmed diagnosis and that we still needed the biopsy, but I also knew how frightening those words would sound. I did not want everyone jumping to the worst possible conclusion before we had an answer.
Part of me wanted to get the whole thing handled before anyone had to worry. Of course, that was not going to happen. My family already knew about the MRI, and Lauren was waiting to hear the results.
For years, I had been the person helping patients through this part: explaining what we knew, what we did not know, and why the next step mattered. Now I was the one who needed that next step. I still had the same medical knowledge, but it did not make calling my wife easy.
In the next part of this story, I’ll share that conversation, the weeks of waiting for my biopsy, and what it felt like to arrive at an unfamiliar hospital as the patient.
No. I had longstanding urinary symptoms, but nothing new happened that prompted this evaluation. The change showed up in my bloodwork.
Regular monitoring was already part of my care. Having previous results gave me something to compare when this one looked different.
No. I initially thought the result might be temporary or have another explanation. My level of concern changed after the MRI.
No. It was concerning, but I still needed a biopsy to find out what the tissue samples would show.
Keep up with your provider visits and the lab work recommended for you. When something changes, have the conversation and follow through.
At Recharge Clinic, we can review your health history, discuss your routine lab work, and help you understand the next step when something needs attention. Schedule a visit at one of our locations in Ocala, Lady Lake/The Villages, or Clermont, or give us a call at 352-512-9996 to get started!
By Cynthia Tieche, CEO and Co-Founder of Recharge Clinic
Part 3 of my pituitary tumor story
The last thing I remember before anesthesia was telling the people in the operating room that I was going to sleep praying for every one of them. They cheered!
There were residents and medical students in the room with my surgical team. Bella couldn’t be there, but seeing those students was unexpectedly comforting. It felt like a room full of Bellas. Our daughter is in medical school, and somehow being surrounded by those students made her feel closer.
So I went to sleep praying. And the first thing I remember when I woke up was praying, too.
In Part 2, I shared the reassurance I believe God sent me the day before surgery. I held on to it as I went into the hospital. When I woke up, I was thanking God.
I looked to my right and felt Jesus’s presence. What I felt Him saying was that He had told me He would be there with me and that it would be okay. And I was okay! Psalm 16:8 is a verse I pray in the mornings. It speaks of keeping the Lord before me and not being shaken because He is at my right hand. That moment meant everything to me.
After all the appointments, the fear, the planning, and the prayers, I was awake. The gratitude was intense.
Can we talk about how amazing this is for a minute? My neurosurgeon and ENT surgeon reached my pituitary gland and removed the tumor through my nose!
The procedure is called transsphenoidal surgery. They go through the nose and the sphenoid sinus behind it, making an opening in the bone over the gland to reach the tumor. So yes, they still had to make an opening in bone. But they could reach mine using that route because of its location and anatomy.
I knew the plan before surgery, but I still find it incredible. The knowledge, skill, and precision involved in reaching that little gland are hard for me to wrap my head around. I am so grateful for the people who know how to do this.
After surgery, I went to the ICU, where I saw Steve and Sofia. Sofia brought my super-soft blanket from home and put it over me. Then she put lip gloss on me. Of course she did! LOL.
She was already helping run things at home. My sister was there to help, and Lucia was taken care of. Now here was my daughter taking care of me, right down to my lips.
I had a headache and a very sore throat after surgery, but my pain was controlled with a low dose of Tylenol. I wasn’t allowed to get up for at least the first twenty-four hours, and my team watched my labs and urine closely. My nurses were wonderful, and friends came to visit and check on me that day.
By the second afternoon, I was begging to get up. If you know me, that won’t surprise you.
The team helped me stand and made sure I was steady. I took a lap, then kept going! Being able to move felt wonderful. Walking around the ICU also made me deeply aware of how fortunate I was. I was there, I was walking, and I was recovering. I felt so thankful and joyful.
My results were looking good, and the doctors said that if things continued that way, I might be able to leave on day three. I had prepared myself for a longer stay, so going home that soon sounded wonderful.
On the third morning, I wanted to get up again. I actually kind of got in trouble for getting up on my own. If you know me, that won’t surprise you. My labs looked good. The physicians, physical therapy, occupational therapy, the endocrinologist, and what felt like every other person with initials came through.
I was cleared to leave and home before noon!
I came home tired, with a headache, and very happy to see my kids. So, naturally, I stayed up laughing with them and probably did a little too much.
The next day, I slept a lot. I hadn’t slept well in the hospital, and the exhaustion caught up with me. My headache wasn’t horrible, but I wanted things quiet and dim. Around day five, I went outside for some fresh air. That felt so good.
On day six, I prayed for the headache to go away. That day felt like a turning point. A friend drove me to Recharge Clinic that morning for my first set of bloodwork after surgery. I was beginning to feel more like myself, and the days that followed kept getting better.
Those day-six labs showed that my growth hormone had already returned to the normal range! My IGF-1 had dropped significantly, although it wasn’t normal yet. Those results were encouraging, and my medical team would continue following them.
At about two weeks, most of my shoes fit. Steve was amazed. Some of my rings fit again, too, and gradually more of them did. Even my bracelets felt looser, and my facial swelling went down noticeably. After years of things slowly changing, seeing improvements felt amazing.
Recovery had some uncomfortable parts. My nose was full of blood and clots before my follow-up cleaning, and I couldn’t smell or taste properly. Those senses started coming back gradually after that visit. As I write this, a little over two months after surgery, they still haven’t completely returned.
I was back at work at Recharge Clinic one week after surgery. At my two-week follow-up, my surgical team cleared me to resume exercise. I went home and got on my spin bike, of course! That was HUGE for me mentally.
My recovery moved quickly, and I’m grateful. Your surgical team needs to guide your return to exercise, work, driving, and travel. My timeline is my experience, not a schedule for anyone else to follow.
When I was diagnosed, I felt offended that my body had done this after all the effort I put into being healthy. During recovery, I started seeing that effort differently. I felt strong and able to get through what my body had just experienced. I believe the years I spent taking care of myself helped me feel prepared for recovery. I was glad I had done that work, even though it hadn’t prevented the tumor.
I also had a tumor in a favorable position, experienced surgeons, and tremendous support. I know how much went into my recovery. Someone whose recovery is harder hasn’t failed at being healthy or having faith.
Some of the physical changes may stay with me. I don’t know whether my voice will return to what it was. My cheekbones changed, too, but I guess I won’t be needing filler there! Honestly, those changes don’t bother me the way you might expect. I am so thankful to be doing well.
My specialists are encouraged, and they’re continuing to monitor my hormones. My IGF-1 is improving, and follow-up will tell us more. My team has discussed annual MRIs for at least ten years, along with bloodwork. I intend to follow their plan.
I’m going to be a good patient, and I’m going to pray. I’m also going to enjoy my life while I do what I need to do.
Being the patient made me appreciate Steve and our Recharge team in a different way. They investigated those first abnormal results, kept things moving, and helped get me connected with specialists. I knew that work mattered. Now I had experienced what it meant for my own family.
It strengthened my desire to make care accessible to more people. Since this experience, we have launched Recharge At Work for employers interested in offering Recharge care as an employee benefit. This became personal in a whole new way.
I thank God and Steve for finding this when they did. I’m grateful to our nurse practitioner and Recharge team, my surgeons and nurses, my family and friends, and the women whose stories reached me when I needed them.
I learned to ask for prayer, accept help, and let people see me scared. And I learned that when I pray for peace, I should remember to pray for laughter, too.
I will never forget those fifteen minutes laughing in bed with my husband. Or Sofia putting lip gloss on me in the ICU. Or walking through my own front door. And I will never forget waking up thankful.
Intense, intense gratitude. That is what I feel.
My recovery was relatively quick, but recovery varies. Follow your surgical team’s instructions about returning to work, exercise, and other activities.
No. Hormone testing and specialist follow-up help determine whether the disease remains active. Some people need additional treatment. I’m continuing my monitoring.
Some soft-tissue changes can improve, while established bone enlargement generally does not reverse. I’ve seen improvements, but I’m still learning what will change for me.
I value having someone who knows my broader health history. I want my ongoing care and my specialists’ recommendations to stay connected.
Contact Recharge Clinic about primary care in Ocala, Lady Lake near The Villages, or Clermont. Employers can also ask our team about Recharge At Work.
If something has been bothering you, bring it up. If you’re overdue for care, make the appointment. If an abnormal result needs follow-up, take that next step. Call Recharge Clinic at 352-512-9996 or visit our primary care page.
I know what it feels like to become the patient. And I know how much it means to have people paying attention.
References
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