What Is Phentermine?
Phentermine is an FDA-approved appetite suppressant that has been on the market since 1958. For more than 60
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FAQs
Answers to our most frequently asked questions
Cost depends on your plan and specific situation. We do a free Discovery Session with each new patient, where we’ll review your plan options, answer all of your questions and provide you with detailed pricing.
We are an out-of-network provider and we do not submit any of our charges to insurance plans. We can provide Superbills that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement.
You can pay with cash, check, and all major credit cards, including Discover and American Express. You can also use your Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), CareCredit, or Cherry Financing.
We do offer telemedicine visits, but they may need to be alternated with office visits. This all depends on your program and the providers’ input.
We have patients from all over Upstate New York (Buffalo to Saratoga), throughout the Syracuse area, and all surrounding states and Canada.
There is no minimum age to be treated at our practice. We have treated weight loss patients as young as 5 years old and as old as in their 80s.
We offer weekly group nutrition classes for our patients. They can be attended in person or via Zoom. Classes are posted in the office and also on our social media channels.
Everyone that is interested in any of our programs will start with a free 30-minute Discovery Session. During this call we will review the programs, answer all of your questions and provide detailed pricing information.
Appointment changes or cancellations must be completed 24 hours in advance of your scheduled appointment. A $75 cancellation fee will be charged for any missed appointments or if changes are made with less than 24 hours notice.
We accept EKGs as long as they have been completed in the past 6 months. We can also review any recent bloodwork that you have had completed. If we need any additional bloodwork, you can have that completed at your first visit.
Medical weight loss is a comprehensive approach to lose weight, keep it off and reverse diseases. It involves focus in 4 areas including nutrition, exercise, behavioral modification, and medication management.
Dr. Scinta and her providers have over 20 years of weight loss expertise under their belts. They understand the need for an individualized and comprehensive approach that addresses nutritional, behavioral, exercise, and medical needs.
They are experts at GLP-1’s, reversing weight-related diseases (such as diabetes and hypertension) and using anti-obesity medications to help you lose weight and keep it off long term.
We start with a detailed two-part physical, including a review of your bloodwork, medical history, medications, and past experiences to create a unique plan specific to you. The physical includes a 60 minute visit with a provider where bloodwork and your history is reviewed. You then meet with our nutritionist for 45 minutes to strategize your daily plan.
Our mission is to get all of our patients to a healthy weight for their body type, but the amount you lose depends on your immediate needs and long term goals.
The length of the program is dependent on how much weight you have to lose and how quickly you would like to get there. Once you have reached your goal, we transition you to a maintenance program to ensure the weight loss is maintained for life!
You will see significant results as soon as you meet with your provider and start your program. Because it is medically monitored, the weight loss will be much quicker than you have likely seen if you have tried on your own, or through a commercial program.
Each time you come for your visits, you will receive a BPP (Biophysical Profile) test that tracks your fat, muscle, and water loss. Your program is adjusted based on these readings.
The first visit usually involves testing and bloodwork done by one of our skilled nurses. The second visit involves meeting with a provider to review the bloodwork and testing to determine the appropriate plan.
Yes, and you want the right kind of doctor. Here’s why: GLP-1s don’t just help with weight loss. They affect blood sugar, digestion, and other medications you may be taking. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, your medications may need adjustments. A medical professional ensures your treatment is safe, personalized, and effective.
Possibly! Your body changes as you lose weight, and your GLP-1 dosage should be adjusted accordingly. Taking too much can cause unnecessary side effects, while too little may not be effective. That’s why you should monitor your progress with a physician or health care provider and make sure you’re on the right dose at every stage.
Not all GLP-1s work the same way. Effects of Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, Mounjaro and others may vary based on metabolism and your medical history. During your consultation, we’ll review your lab work, lifestyle, and health needs to find the right fit for you.
In some cases, combining a GLP-1 with another weight loss medication allows for a lower GLP-1 dosage, which can help reduce side effects and lower costs while still achieving effective results.
Yes! Combining GLP-1s with another weight loss medication can help you achieve the same results with a lower GLP-1 dose. This can reduce side effects and even lower your medication costs. We carefully evaluate whether a combination approach is right for you.
Absolutely. Lab work helps us understand what’s happening inside your body. We check for:
- Nutritional deficiencies that could slow weight loss.
- Liver, kidney, and thyroid function to monitor how your body processes medication.
- Blood sugar and insulin levels to ensure the right approach for you.
Without lab work, it’s guesswork—and we believe in precision medicine.
Yes, GLP-1s can lead to muscle loss if you don’t get enough protein and nutrients. When you lose weight, your body pulls from both fat and muscle stores. We want to preserve muscle as much as possible. That’s why we insist on:
- Personalized meal plans with enough protein.
- Nutritional guidance to keep you strong and energized.
- Regular monitoring to ensure fat loss, not muscle loss.
If GLP-1s didn’t work for you, something was missing from the plan. Common reasons include:
- Wrong medication or dose for your body’s needs.
- Lack of protein or proper nutrition to support fat loss.
- Other medications may interfere with your results.
- No medical supervision to troubleshoot side effects or adjust your approach.
Weight loss is not one-size-fits-all—we personalize your plan so you get results.
Losing weight isn’t just about taking medication. It’s about ensuring your entire body is supported. With a doctor-guided approach, you get:
- Personalized treatment tailored to your health.
- Lab work & monitoring to optimize your progress.
- Expert management of side effects & dosage adjustments.
- Nutrition & support to maximize fat loss and muscle retention.
With medical supervision, you don’t just lose weight. You get healthier, stronger, and more confident in a safe and effective manner.
- Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is a form of hormone therapy that seeks to return the hormone balance to youthful levels in women and men.
You may be a candidate for BHRT if you begin to experience unfamiliar symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Brain fog
- Depression
- Weight gain
- Loss of libido
- Anxiety
- Difficulty focusing
- Sleep issues
- Lack of motivation
These changes can start to occur in both men and women as early as their late 30s.
The small hormone pellets are slipped painlessly under the skin through a small incision, typically just above the buttocks. A mild, local anesthetic is used to reduce any discomfort and the procedure takes less than 20 minutes.
The hormone pellets are derived from wild yams. They are all natural, hypoallergenic, and bioidentical, meaning they are an exact replication of hormones that your body makes.
The ingredients in the pellets are FDA approved. The distribution of the pellets is FDA regulated.
Side effects for both women and men are rare. Here are a few things you may experience within the first four weeks of pellet insertion:
- Fluid retention
- Swelling of the hands and feet
- Breast tenderness and nipple sensitivity
- Mood swings and irritability
- Facial breakout
- Hair loss
- Hair growth
Remember, these side effects are temporary and are your body adjusting to the hormones!
Aesthetic medicine focuses on non-surgical treatments designed to improve the appearance of the skin, reduce signs of aging, and enhance natural features. These treatments often include skin rejuvenation, collagen stimulation, and other minimally invasive procedures.
Yes. When performed by trained medical professionals, aesthetic treatments are generally safe. Every treatment begins with a consultation to evaluate your skin, medical history, and goals to ensure the most appropriate and safe approach.
Results vary depending on the treatment and the individual. Some treatments provide immediate improvements, while others stimulate collagen production and show gradual results over several weeks or months.
Many aesthetic treatments require little to no downtime. Some patients may experience mild redness or sensitivity that typically resolves within a short period, allowing most people to return to their normal activities quickly.
The best way to determine the right treatment is through a personalized consultation. A medical professional will evaluate your concerns, skin condition, and goals to recommend a customized treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Side effects for both women and men are rare. Here are a few things you may experience within the first four weeks of pellet insertion:
- Fluid retention
- Swelling of the hands and feet
- Breast tenderness and nipple sensitivity
- Mood swings and irritability
- Facial breakout
- Hair loss
- Hair growth
Remember, these side effects are temporary and are your body adjusting to the hormones!
There are many benefits of lipotropic injections:
- Higher energy
- Accelerated fat loss
- Improved immunity
- Mental clarity
- Improved concentration
- Better sleep
- Reduced inflammation
- Reduced appetite
- Stronger skin, hair and nails
Lipotropic injections are a complex of three metabolic components – methionine, inositol, and choline. They’re used to help burn fat throughout the body by specifically targeting the body’s fat stores.
Lipotropic injections are very safe. They are composed of vitamins, amino acids and other natural compounds that the body already makes and recognizes.
The injections are delivered intramuscularly so there is always a very small risk of infection, but we work hard to prevent that.
For best results, we recommend taking one or two shots a week for at least four weeks. You can either continue to get them in our office or self-administer at home.
Lipotropics are a great adjunct to our weight loss programs!
Although results vary, it is common to see 1/2-1 lb of fat loss weekly.
Common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep disturbances, weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, and decreased libido. These symptoms occur due to hormonal changes as the body transitions through menopause.
Treatment options may include hormone therapy, lifestyle and nutritional guidance, metabolic support, and other personalized medical approaches designed to relieve symptoms and improve overall health.
Hormone replacement therapy helps restore declining hormone levels, such as estrogen and progesterone, to reduce symptoms like hot flashes, sleep problems, and mood changes. Your provider will determine if this treatment is appropriate for you.
You may consider treatment if menopause symptoms are affecting your daily life, sleep, mood, or overall well-being. A medical evaluation can help determine the best options for managing your symptoms.
When guided by experienced medical professionals and tailored to your individual health needs, menopause treatments can be safe and effective. Ongoing monitoring ensures your treatment plan continues to meet your health goals.
Testosterone therapy is a medically supervised treatment designed to restore low testosterone levels in men. It helps improve energy, mood, muscle mass, metabolism, and sexual health.
Common symptoms include fatigue, reduced libido, loss of muscle mass, weight gain, mood changes, difficulty concentrating, and decreased stamina.
Testosterone can be delivered through several methods, including injections, topical gels, patches, or pellets. Your provider will recommend the best option based on your health, lifestyle, and treatment goals.
When prescribed and monitored by medical professionals, testosterone therapy can be safe and effective. Regular follow-ups and lab testing ensure your hormone levels remain balanced and your treatment continues to work safely.
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Oral GLP-1s: The Answer, or Just a Lot of Hype?
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A Comparison of Tirzepatide vs. Semaglutide from a Weight Loss Expert
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Set Point: The Good News and the Bad News – Let Me Explain
If you’ve lost weight but struggle to keep it off, this post will show you why and what to do.
The bad news: your body is going to fight you to return to your previous weight, your “set point.”
The good news: You can outsmart it, and here’s how.
Payment Plans
Cherry Payment Plans
Get treated now and pay over time with Cherry. Cherry is a payment plan designed for your health, beauty, and wellness needs and procedures and allows you to make convenient monthly payments.
- Cherry qualifies patients for up to $10,000.00
- There is no hard credit check
- Cherry offers 0% APR financing options*
*0% APR and other promotional rates subject to eligibility.
Cherry performs a soft credit check, which does not hurt your credit score, to determine approval amounts and contract type, as well as to verify applicant identity. Cherry may ask for additional information from some borrowers in order to determine approval amounts.
- Patients must be at least 18 years of age
- Patients must have a valid bank-issued debit or credit card
Payment options through Cherry Technologies, Inc. are issued by the following lending partners: https://withcherry.com/lending-partners/.
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