Another Trip to Latvia

July was an incredibly busy month for us as we were required to take two trips to Europe, related to our consular corps activities. We were in Riga, Latvia at the beginning of the month for the biannual meeting of Latvian honorary consuls from around the globe. As a separate project, we have been trying to bring a high-level, California business delegation to Latvia for a number of years – planning began in 2019 but was interrupted by COVID. When we were finally able to get agreement from all sides, we could not coordinate this trip to coincide with the consul meetings, ended up coming home for two weeks, and had to fly back, with the California delegation, during the last week of July. We are grateful to California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, California Senator Josh Newman and Senator Robert Hertzberg (retired) for leading this group from the California side. We are also grateful to the California investors who accompanied us.

Much was accomplished. We met with Her Excellency Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and her staff for substantive meetings. Likewise, we had great meetings with the US Ambassador to Latvia, the Hon. Christopher Robinson, Latvian Foreign Minister, Baiba Braže, the Speaker of the Parliament and acting President (as the President was out of the country), the Hon. Zanda Kalniņa-Lukasēviča, and many others. We visited a number of high tech companies and a startup hub that produced amazing products. We were fortunate to have a tour of the Riga Harbor and visited a Latvian airplane factory (Tarragon). We visited the Riga Technical University and learned about their tech hub.

One very noticeable positive in Latvia was the large percentage of women in positions of power in the government, industry and at the universities. The Latvian President will be visiting northern California in September and much of this dialogue will continue during his visit.

Treasurer Ma, Prime Minister Siliņā, Senators Josh Newman and Robert Hertzberg in the Prime Minister’s office

Our group during a tour of Parliament, with the Hon. Zanda Kalniņa-Lukasēviča, representing the Parliament and the President

During a reception at the Ambassador’s Residence, Dr. Ekstrom and Dr. Bunkis with Jeff Leader, the Treasurer’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, Senator Newman and Ambassador Chris Robinson

As we age, both men and women experience a natural decline in sex hormone levels.

For men, this typically means a drop in testosterone, while women see a decrease in estrogen and progesterone, especially after menopause. These hormonal changes can lead to a variety of symptoms, including weight gain, reduced energy, poor sleep, decreased libido, and a loss of muscle mass. Unfortunately, when individuals in their 60s or 70s ask about these changes, many physicians dismiss these concerns by saying the symptoms are “normal for your age.”

But what if you don’t want to settle for being a “normal” 50, 60 or 70-year-old? What if you desire the vitality, strength, and libido you had in your 30s? This is where bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) comes into play. One of the best options available today is BioTe bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, which involves pellet implantation a few times a year. This is preceded by extensive laboratory tests to check not only your sex hormone levels but also your thyroid, Vit D and B12 levels and other parameters which tend to decline with age.

All of these values are entered into a computer program and a customized recommendation is made for each person as to how to overcome any existing deficienies. The hormones are then instilled into a fatty layer, usually over the buttocks, during a minor office procedure under local anesthesia – and the patient is good to go until their next pelleting procedure.

Unlike hormones produced by the pharmaceutical companies, bioidentical hormones are chemically identical to the hormones your body naturally produces. This therapy can restore your hormone levels to those of a more youthful state, leading to improvements in energy, weight, sleep quality, libido, and muscle mass maintenance. The health benefits go beyond just feeling better; they can include improved bone density, cardiovascular health, and cognitive function.

By choosing BioTe’s pellet therapy, you’re opting for a method that delivers consistent hormone levels, avoiding the peaks and troughs associated with other forms of HRT (pills, patches or shots). This allows you to enjoy the benefits of balanced hormones and maintain a vibrant, healthy lifestyle well into your later years.

We, as plastic surgeons, work every day to help people look more rejuvenated. A dozen years or so ago, we were personally introduced to the BioTe bioidentical hormone replacement therapy method of restoring our youthful hormone and energy levels and decided to offer this to our patients as well.

We now have a large number of patients who we have been able to feel as good as they look! If you feel that you are missing a step here or there, feel a loss of libido, feeling lethargic or not sleeping well, we many be able to help you – come and see us for a consultation.

This lady with all of the signs of aging is shown here at age 79 and a year later after a facelift, brow lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty and a full face laser resurfacing treatment by Dr. Juris Bunkis.

For CA, please call 949-888-9700 or visit www.orangecountyplasticsurgery.com
Or for MA location, call 508-755-4825 or visit www.salisburyps.com