What to Expect After Your Pellet Procedure

  • Your insertion site has been covered with two layers of bandages. The inner layer is a sterile strip. It should not be removed before 3 days for women and 7 days for men.  If the sterile strip comes off, you may replace it with a band-aid. The outer dressing may stay in place the entire time or removed safely if too wet from showing.

  • Do not take tub baths or get into a hot tub or swimming pool for 5-7 days. You may shower but do not scrub the site until the incision is well healed (about 7 days).

  • If you had your insertion above the belt line, no major back muscle exercises for the next 7 days; this includes any repetitive movements that would stretch/stress/twist the insertion area including tennis, golf, side-bends, etc.

  • If you had your insertion below the belt line, no major gluteal exercises for the next 7 days; this includes running, squats, riding a horse, etc.

  • The sodium bicarbonate in the anesthetic may cause the site to swell for 1-3 days. 

  • The insertion site may be uncomfortable for up to 2 to 3 weeks. If there is itching or redness, take Benadryl for relief, 50 mg orally every 6 hours. Caution this can cause drowsiness!

  • You may experience bruising, swelling, and redness of the insertion site which may last from a few days up to 2 to 3 weeks.

  • You may notice some pinkish or bloody discoloration of the outer bandage.  This is normal.

  • If you experience bleeding from the incision, apply firm pressure for 5 minutes.

  • Please call if you have any bleeding not relieved with pressure (not oozing), as this is NOT normal.

  • Please call if you have any pus from the insertion site, as this is NOT normal.

 

New Patients…Very Important Reminder!!

  • Please go for your post-insertion blood work 6 weeks after your initial pellet insertion.

  • Please schedule a lab review appointment 7 weeks after your initial pellet insertion so we can review your post-insertion lab results. There is no charge for this office visit.

  • On average, females need pellet insertions every 3-5 months and men every 4-6 months. 

  • Please call to make an appointment for a re-insertion as soon as symptoms that were relieved from the pellets start to return. The charge for the second visit will be only for the insertion and not a consultation.

WHAT MIGHT OCCUR

A significant hormonal transition will occur in the first 3-6 weeks after beginning your BHRT regime. Therefore, certain changes might develop that can be bothersome.

FLUID RETENTION: Testosterone stimulates the muscle to grow and retain water, which may result in a weight change of two to five pounds. This is only temporary. This happens frequently with the first insertion, and especially during hot, humid weather conditions.

SWELLING OF THE HANDS & FEET: This is common in hot and humid weather. It may be treated by drinking lots of water, reducing your salt intake, taking cider vinegar capsules daily, (found at most health and food stores), or by taking a mild diuretic, which the office can prescribe.

UTERINE SPOTTING/BLEEDING: This may occur in the first few months after an insertion, especially if you have been prescribed progesterone and are not taking it properly: i.e. missing doses, or not taking a high enough dose. Please notify the office if this occurs. Bleeding is not necessarily an indication of a significant uterine problem. More than likely, the uterus may be releasing tissue that needs to be eliminated. This tissue may have already been present in your uterus before getting pellets and is being released in response to the increase in hormones.

MOOD SWINGS/IRRITABILITY: These may occur if you are quite deficient in hormones. They will disappear when enough hormones are in your system.

FACIAL BREAKOUT: Some pimples may arise if the body is very deficient in testosterone. This lasts a short period and can be handled with a good face cleansing routine, astringent, and toner. If these solutions do not help, please call the office for suggestions and possibly prescriptions.

HAIR THINNING: This is VERY rare and usually occurs in patients who over-convert testosterone to DHT. Dosage adjustment generally reduces or eliminates the problem. Prescription medications may be necessary in these rare cases.

HAIR GROWTH: Testosterone may stimulate some growth of hair on your chin, chest, nipples, and/or lower abdomen. This tends to be hereditary. You may also have to shave your legs and arms more often. Dosage adjustment generally reduces or eliminates the problem.