Posted on Jan 29, 2015 in
COVER STORY
The staff at Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa: Christina, Mia, Caitlyn, Glenda, Missy, Dr. Shel, Dawn, Vickie, Megan, April, Craig and Lori.
Photos by Nesossi Studios –
Physician, author, educator, philanthropist, wife and mother all describe Dr. Shelena Lalji, medical director of Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa, but perhaps the most important descriptor of Dr. Shel, as her patients know her, is wellness advocate.
For Dr. Shel, wellness means much more than its definition of being in good physical and mental health. At the Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa, wellness means empowering patients to live their best lives possible – both inside and out.
“Our mission is to provide the most innovative integrative medical treatments and the latest in aesthetic technology to attain both inner and outer well-being,” explained Dr. Shel. “Understanding our patients, their symptoms, their wellness goals and helping them achieve those goals is our main priority.”
Providing customized care to patients like Carole Brown is paramount to Dr. Shel.
Dr. Shel’s unique approach to wellness via customized care of the whole patient is achieved by relying on her 20 plus years of experience in the medical profession and her compassion for patients’ well-being. She is considered an expert in the field of anti-aging, wellness and aesthetics and has been speaking, educating and inspiring doctors and other professionals internationally for many years.
Achieving inner wellness is the first priority for Dr. Shel with her patients. “Feeling your absolute best is an integral part of our philosophy of care.” Dr. Shel offers a variety of wellness services from nutrition, hormones, weight loss to more innovative wellness therapies including:
Intravenous Vitamin Therapy
Ninety percent of us are deficient in many key nutrients that are vital for optimal health. Intravenous Vitamin Therapy is a method of feeding essential nutrients – vitamins, minerals and other natural substances – directly into a patient’s bloodstream. Bypassing the digestive system allows 100 percent of the nutrients to enter the bloodstream as compared to around 15 to 20 percent absorption in most over-the-counter oral supplements.
Dr. Shel offers several types of Intravenous Vitamin Therapies including Vitamin C Infusions, Myer’s Cocktail, Skin Brightening IV and Glutathione to name a few. The various therapies can help to treat many conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, migraines, adrenal fatigue, cancer, arthritic pain, allergies and sinus infections – even the common cold. “Glutathione is our master antioxidant, and this IV Therapy aids in protecting the cells of the body from harmful toxins, helping to prevent cancers and other chronic diseases. We are seeing tremendous improvements in our patients’ health,” said Dr. Shel. The treatments typically last less than an hour and patients can easily return to their normal routine without any disruption to their schedule.
Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement
Hormonal imbalance remains one of the most common issues affecting women’s health. Symptoms can include depression, weight gain, hair loss, insomnia, anxiety, low libido and fatigue. “Many of my patients are told that their symptoms are a part of aging and nothing can be done. At times, they are prescribed medications such as antidepressants or sleeping pills among other things. What I have found is that once I balance their hormones and thyroid, they feel revitalized, energized and sexy once again.” said Dr. Shel. Dr. Shel’s philosophy of inner wellness includes using natural, bio-identical hormones rather than synthetic hormones, thyroid, nutrients, supplements and lifestyle modifications, which are customized for each patient individually.
Dr. Shel conferring with patient Shawn Taylor.
Men’s Health
Though Dr. Shel is best known for women’s health, she also treats men in the same philosophy of overall well-being. One of the most common issues that Dr. Shel sees in men is low testosterone or “Low T.” According to Dr. Shel, there is an actual time period in men’s lives where their testosterone declines called Andropause, or male menopause, where men may suffer from loss of muscle mass, weight gain, irritability, insomnia, brain fog, low energy and lower sex drive. “Men are often uncertain what to do about these symptoms, so we work with them to replace testosterone if needed, balance nutrients, lose weight and help balance their lives with the appropriate protocols to help them regain vitality, drive and overall well-being.”
Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal fatigue can wreak havoc on your life. In the more serious cases, the activity of the adrenal glands is so low that you may have difficulty getting out of bed for more than a few hours per day. “Once we have determined that a patient is showing symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue, we test their salivary diurnal cortisol levels and then determine a customized program to help the adrenal glands function better through various courses of treatment including IV therapy, nutrition, hormonal balance and stress management techniques.” Dr. Shel has a counselor and meditation instructor, Dr. Anand Vyas, who helps patients achieve inner harmony and manage stress.
Weight Loss & Detoxification
Dr. Shel’s weight loss program is ideal for those who desire to lose weight and keep it off. Testing is done for each patient and a customized program is created that may include hCG, dietician services, lifestyle counseling, supplementation and detoxification under the guidance of a medical professional. Dr. Shel believes that any wellness program should include detoxification. “The purpose of detoxification is to improve your overall state of health and well-being through internal cleansing and purification. We find that detoxification further assists the weight loss process. Not only do our patients experience weight loss and all of the noticeable improvements that come along with it, but their overall health greatly improves as well. We see our patients coming off of their meds for diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol and much more.”
Gluten & Food Sensitivity
For years, many gastrointestinal issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, Acid Reflux and Colitis have affected millions of people. Many of these conditions along with symptoms such as chronic fatigue, headaches, brain fog, constipation and others are greatly improved by eliminating reactive and inflammatory foods such as gluten, yeast and dairy to name a few. “I believe in a scientific approach, so we conduct advanced tests to check for gluten and other food sensitivities, yeast overgrowth and allergies to determine the true cause of gut health issues. I don’t believe in labeling patients with diagnoses; I strongly believe in identifying the root cause of patients’ symptoms. We then formulate a customized healthy eating program and treat the gut with medical grade probiotics and necessary enzymes. The results we see are remarkable. My patients are truly getting their lives back.” Dr. Shel also has a dietician on staff who works with her patients one-on-one.
Looking your best is an integral part of feeling your best, and the Dr. Shel Wellness & Medical Spa offers the latest, most effective technologies for aesthetic treatments including:
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Micro-Needling
Micro-Needling with Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP, is used to treat moderate acne, fine lines, wrinkles, lax skin, burns, scars, broken capillaries and stretch marks. PRP, used for decades to help athletes recover from surgery, is known to help wounds heal faster and improve the texture and color of skin by encouraging new tissue growth.
CoolSculpting®
CoolSculpting is the only FDA-cleared, non-surgical fat reduction treatment. By literally freezing the fat and reducing the volume, CoolSculpting is perfect for individuals wanting a non-invasive solution for areas of stubborn body fat, including on the abdomen, flanks, and thighs. In line with Dr. Shel’s commitment to being the most cutting-edge practice, Dr. Shel has the latest CoolSmooth flat applicator to be able to treat even the smallest areas of unwanted fat, including the outer thighs. The procedure is relatively painless, and patients can resume their daily activities.
Ultherapy
Ultherapy aesthetically tightens, lifts and tones skin – much like a face lift but without the surgery, risks and down time. It is the only FDA-cleared procedure for non-surgical neck, brow and under-chin lifts. It is a very safe treatment, which uses ultrasound energy to stimulate the body’s own collagen to both lift and tighten skin.
Hair Loss Treatments
Dr. Shel takes the same holistic approach to hair loss. By getting to the root causes of hair loss, she is able to create a customized plan to address those issues. Some of the common causes of hair loss that Dr. Shel addresses are hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, unhealthy scalp and chronic stress. Dr. Shel also offers the IGrow Laser, which is one of the world’s most advanced, effective methods of hair rejuvenation for both men and women. Dr. Shel offers her patients a special line of natural hair care products and supplements that help to stimulate hair growth and healthy, beautiful hair. These products can be found on Dr. Shel’s online store at www.DrShel.com/products.
“I strongly believe in the art of beauty and the science of wellness as key ingredients for a balanced and vital life. My mission is to reach as many patients as possible and help them attain true health and well-being, both inside and out. I am grateful to have this opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives … Mind, Body and Spirit!” said Dr. Shel.
To look and feel your best at any age, call Dr. Shel’s office at 281-313-7435 or go to www.DrShel.com and schedule your free consultation.
Follow Dr. Shel on social media to get daily inspiration, tips and educational content: facebook.com/drshel • Twitter.com/drshel Blog: drshel.com
