Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Dr. Christine Bishara
My greatest achievement:
My greatest achievement is a personal one. As someone who had previously been overweight with unhealthy eating habits up until my early twenties, I was able to transform my health and essentially my life. This is why I am passionate about helping others achieve the same. It is a tangible goal for anyone, but most people just need the proper nutritional assessment and strategies to do it correctly.
What new services are you excited to offer?
I am excited about two new services which I think will change how we approach our health, but also our treatment strategies with patients.
- Customized gut microbiome analysis: In my opinion, a gut microbiome analysis is the “routine bloodwork” of the future. Our gut species tell us so much about what’s going on in our bodies. The beauty of this is that it’s something that can be changed and adjusted when we know what organisms are present and what is deficient. This even affects our mental well being. Many are not aware that 90% of Serotonin is produced in the gut and that its production is directly related to the presence of certain species in our gut microbiome.
- Anti Oxidant skin scanner: Additionally, our bodies employ antioxidants to help fight off disease-causing free radicals which are also involved in the aging process. By knowing what our levels are through a simple, non-invasive antioxidant skin scan, we have a tangible marker on how to boost our immune system. Think of increasing antioxidant levels as the equivalent to building muscles at the gym, except here, we are strengthening our immune system.
My most requested procedures are:
Since my practice is personalized, The most popular procedure varies from patient to patient. What distinguishes my practice from others however is the combination of synergistic internal and external treatments which I believe maximize the treatment received. For example, one of my most popular combinations is an IV Glutathione injection coupled with a microneedling facial treatment. By adding Glutathione, a powerful and natural anti-oxidant, we are potentiating the benefits one would receive from the facial treatment alone to achieve maximum results. Each combination treatment is carefully selected based on the science behind the mechanism of action.
What surgical advancements are you most excited about?
The surgical advances I am most excited about are the ones that actually do not involve surgery. Modern technology has allowed us to achieve great anti-aging results without going under the knife. This includes the combination of radiofrequency micro-needling procedures such as the Morpheus 8 as well as the immune boost treatments I mentioned.
What is Morpheus 8?
The most recent advances in non-surgical skin rejuvenation include the Morpheus 8 device. Morpheus 8 combines both micro-needling and radiofrequency to treat the epidermis and the underlying dermis for maximum results.
Micro-needling is a technique that creates tiny puncture wounds in the superficial dermis to stimulate and increase the production of collagen, elastin, and new skin cells.
Radiofrequency is a type of energy that has been scientifically proven to promote collagen remodeling by delivering the thermal energy of radiofrequency waves to deeper layers of tissue via adjustable microneedles.
Morpheus 8 doesn’t just address superficial tissue like micro-needling does- it directs energy towards the adipose fat that is notorious for creating jowls, bra rolls, and more. Morpheus 8 can also prevent and reverse the signs of aging by effectively targeting deep tissue, leading to fractional remodeling of the skin and stimulation of collagen production. Wrinkles, lines and saggy skin are markedly diminished as a result.
What is your most memorable patient reaction?
I had a patient a few years ago who was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. The medications she was prescribed were not helping her. Together we did a complete overhaul of her nutritional status. Her symptoms markedly improved and she was eventually able to come off her medications. The name of my practice, “From Within Medical” comes from the numerous similar cases I’ve seen in my many years of practicing Internal Medicine. What I have found is that our bodies are our first line of defense. This is why it’s so important to establish a strong immune system within us to help us fight off potential harm in the future.
What I love most about my profession is:
Being in a position where trust is something I have earned and I never want to lose or jeopardize that.
The future of my field is:
Prevention! I have seen that we are now moving into prevention as a priority over treatment. Obviously, we still need to have treatment measures and protocols, but I believe we have uncovered so much more scientific-based knowledge as well as new advances that allow us to take advantage of this information to prevent disease.
The biggest misconception about my field is:
There are essentially two misconceptions: One, that traditional medical doctors are pill pushers while wellness or functional medicine is not scientifically based. Neither one is true. We are now discovering that our immune system is intricately linked with our gut-brain axis. These new discoveries will revolutionize our lifestyle approaches, the foods we eat, and what we put into our bodies.
What are you best known for?
I am best known for being able to appreciate the mind-body connection and how impactful it is to our overall health and wellness. As a busy working mom of three, I also understand the daily struggle many face to try to balance work, family and life and I take that into perspective when seeing my patients. My wellness evaluations not only look for obvious factors, but also subtle and overlooked ones that affect our overall health including our mind and mental state. The two are undoubtedly linked. You cannot cure one without appreciating and assessing the other.
What sets my practice apart:
What sets me apart is that I understand the journey to wellness because I have lived it. Having practiced Internal Medicine for over twenty years, I have also had the experience and background to know the risk factors and prevention of chronic disease. By combining these two components, I show my patients the specific strategies required for success. As we all know, success only comes when we are given the knowledge and then empowered with that knowledge to set and keep our own goals.
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