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Ask our Doctors

Skin Renewal Doctors all have a broad knowledge, background and passion for aesthetic medicine. Please feel free to ask them your questions and concerns.

Treatments

frequently asked
questions

Why is it important to have a normal BMI (Body Mass Index) and avoid being overweight?

Obesity, or being morbidly overweight, is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and some forms of cancer. Obese people are also at high risk for depression, job discrimination and other social problems. After tobacco use, obesity is the second-leading cause of preventable deaths.

It is shocking to know that about 3 in 5 South Africans are overweight or obese, and those numbers are rising. The number of children and teens who are overweight or obese is also expected to increase, due to bad eating habits, lack of exercise and proper nutrition.

The BMI is currently the international standard for assessing weight, and easy to work out for yourself.

BMI = Weight (kgs) ÷ Height (m) squared

BMI Categories:

  • Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
  • Overweight = 25-29.9 Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
  • A BMI of less than 18.5 is considered underweight.
  • A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy.
  • A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight.
  • A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese.
Why important criteria does the the clinic administering the infusions have to have?

Our IV Solutions are:

  • Made in a STERILE and registered lab
  • Not contaminated with unwanted "floaters"
  • Do NOT cause any unwanted side effects
  • All infusions are done by our registered nurses or doctors
  • An ACLS certified Doctor is always present in the clinic when infusions are being done
  • Our infusion doctors all have ACLS certification (acute cardiac life support certification) and are well prepared should any unwanted effects occur
  • A doctor or an experienced registered nurse perform the infusions
  • Our registered nurses all have BLS (Basic Life Support) training
  • We have emergency equipment such as AED, emergency drugs etc present in the infusion ward
  • Strict adherence to sterile protocols are adhered to.
What latest article from Medscape explains what can happen when clinics offering IV infusions use a non sterile lab to manufacture their INTRAVENOUS / injectable vitamins, minerals and anti oxidants?

Using non sterile labs for injections and infusions:

"Two pharmacists at the notorious New England Compounding Center have been charged with second-degree murder in the deaths of 25 individuals who received non-sterile steroid pain injections in 2012 and 2013, according to a criminal indictment unsealed today in a federal district court in Boston, Massachusetts.

The pain medicine in question — preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate — harbored fungal meningitis.

The two pharmacists, New England Compounding Center co-owner Barry Cadden and supervisory pharmacist Glenn Chin, along with 12 others named in the 131-count indictment, "knew they were producing their medications in an unsafe manner and in unsanitary conditions, and authorized it to be shipped out anyway, with fatal results," said US Attorney General Eric Holder in a news release.

All told, 751 patients in 20 states were infected with fungal meningitis after receiving methylprednisolone acetate shots produced by the now-defunct compounding pharmacy in Framingham, Massachusetts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sixty-four of those patients died. In response, the US Food and Drug Administration has conducted more than 175 inspections of compounding facilities during the last 2 years to prevent similar outbreaks.

The 14 defendants in the federal case, who include a total of 8 pharmacists and two pharmacy technicians, are accused of introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce and other crimes, in addition to the murder charges facing Cadden and Chin.

The second-degree murder charges are framed as racketeering acts, according to the Department of Justice. Prosecutors generally do not need to prove that someone charged with second-degree murder specifically intended to kill someone, only that he or she acted with extreme indifference to human life, the Department of Justice stated.

The indictment holds Cadden, Chin, and others responsible for, among other things:

  • Using expired and expiring ingredients to compound the steroid injections and falsifying expiration dates on documents;
  • Autoclaving drugs for less than the 20 minutes needed for sterilization;
  • Failing to properly test drugs for sterility;
  • Failing to recall tainted drugs when microbial growth was later detected;
  • Falsifying drug labels to conceal how expired or untested drug solution lots were mixed with other lots, and
  • Failing to properly clean and disinfect the "clean rooms" where the steroid injections were manufactured. Cleaning logs were falsified to state otherwise, said prosecutors.

Cadden and several other defendants also are charged with pretending to dispense drugs on the basis of patient-specific prescriptions — what Massachusetts law requires of a pharmacy — when they actually were functioning as a drug manufacturer, distributing their product in bulk to customers. Fake prescriptions often bore the names of celebrities and fictional characters, such as Chris Rock, Wonder Woman, Bill Clinton, Harry Potter, and Jennifer Lopez.

If convicted on all counts, Cadden and Chin could be sentenced to life in prison, according to the Department of Justice. Stephen Weymouth, an attorney for Chin, said his client will plead not guilty.

"I am shocked almost beyond words that they brought back an indictment against him...that includes second-degree murder," Weymouth told Medscape Medical News. "It's just overreach on the part of the government. We fully intend to defend this case."

Bruce Singal, Cadden's attorney, said in a statement issued to Medscape Medical News that the fungal meningitis outbreak caused by the New England Compounding Center drugs was a "terrible human tragedy." However, "not every accident, and not every tragedy, are caused by criminal conduct."

"The US Attorney's Office should not indict people over the tragic consequences of noncriminal behavior," said Singal. "And it should not wage a public relations campaign to vilify citizens who have been found guilty of nothing.""

Why is it beneficial to aid your body with the Weight Loss Boost IV Infusion?

The presence of various toxins in the body has now been linked with specific diseases and syndromes such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, migraines, eczema, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome, depression and obesity/weight gain. As your body become clogged with toxins the number of symptoms you experience will increase.

Whilst you are trying to loose weight these toxins can affect your daily productivity and to maintain optimum health, energy levels and nutrition it is beneficial to give your body the extra boost via a weekly cocktail infusion.

Inflammation build up in the body plays a vital role in weight loss and with Health Renewal’s weight loss cocktail we also reduce inflammation which will have a positive impact on weight loss.

Why does one need to have a 30 minute consultation with the Health Renewal doctor before having an infusion?
  • All prospective IV infusion patients must have a 30 minute pre-infusion consultation with our experienced Functional/ Integrative doctors:
  • This consultation will assess any Health risks that need to be targeted
  • Lab tests may be ordered to assess renal function which is vital before any IV infusion
  • Follow up blood tests may be ordered in 30 days to evaluate renal function after certain infusions
What does the Weight Loss Boost Infusion Cocktail contain?

The Weight Loss cocktail contains various vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants in specific quantities so that you can maintain optimal health while shedding excess pounds by speeding up your metabolism. This weekly infusion includes the Weight loss facilitator cocktail: MIC injection.

What other Weight Loss treatments are available at Health Renewal?

At Health Renewal we offer the 5D Body Renewal Diet, an HCG diet and medical weight loss program which treats the cause of obesity and resistance to leptin. 5D Body Renewal Diet is a safe and effective weight and fat loss program that has evolved over 35 years with tens of thousands of patients having being successfully treated in South Africa. This program allows you to loose between 5-15 kilograms in a 6 week cycle, when precisely adhered to. After a consultation with a Medical Doctor you will be put on a package with bi-weekly follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and achievements.

For more information on this please see RID Medical Weight loss program for pricing layout and explanation.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it important to have a normal BMI (Body Mass Index) and avoid being overweight?

Obesity, or being morbidly overweight, is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and some forms of cancer. Obese people are also at high risk for depression, job discrimination and other social problems. After tobacco use, obesity is the second-leading cause of preventable deaths.

It is shocking to know that about 3 in 5 South Africans are overweight or obese, and those numbers are rising. The number of children and teens who are overweight or obese is also expected to increase, due to bad eating habits, lack of exercise and proper nutrition.

The BMI is currently the international standard for assessing weight, and easy to work out for yourself.

BMI = Weight (kgs) ÷ Height (m) squared

BMI Categories:

  • Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
  • Overweight = 25-29.9 Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
  • A BMI of less than 18.5 is considered underweight.
  • A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy.
  • A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight.
  • A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese.
Why important criteria does the the clinic administering the infusions have to have?

Our IV Solutions are:

  • Made in a STERILE and registered lab
  • Not contaminated with unwanted "floaters"
  • Do NOT cause any unwanted side effects
  • All infusions are done by our registered nurses or doctors
  • An ACLS certified Doctor is always present in the clinic when infusions are being done
  • Our infusion doctors all have ACLS certification (acute cardiac life support certification) and are well prepared should any unwanted effects occur
  • A doctor or an experienced registered nurse perform the infusions
  • Our registered nurses all have BLS (Basic Life Support) training
  • We have emergency equipment such as AED, emergency drugs etc present in the infusion ward
  • Strict adherence to sterile protocols are adhered to.
What latest article from Medscape explains what can happen when clinics offering IV infusions use a non sterile lab to manufacture their INTRAVENOUS / injectable vitamins, minerals and anti oxidants?

Using non sterile labs for injections and infusions:

"Two pharmacists at the notorious New England Compounding Center have been charged with second-degree murder in the deaths of 25 individuals who received non-sterile steroid pain injections in 2012 and 2013, according to a criminal indictment unsealed today in a federal district court in Boston, Massachusetts.

The pain medicine in question — preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate — harbored fungal meningitis.

The two pharmacists, New England Compounding Center co-owner Barry Cadden and supervisory pharmacist Glenn Chin, along with 12 others named in the 131-count indictment, "knew they were producing their medications in an unsafe manner and in unsanitary conditions, and authorized it to be shipped out anyway, with fatal results," said US Attorney General Eric Holder in a news release.

All told, 751 patients in 20 states were infected with fungal meningitis after receiving methylprednisolone acetate shots produced by the now-defunct compounding pharmacy in Framingham, Massachusetts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sixty-four of those patients died. In response, the US Food and Drug Administration has conducted more than 175 inspections of compounding facilities during the last 2 years to prevent similar outbreaks.

The 14 defendants in the federal case, who include a total of 8 pharmacists and two pharmacy technicians, are accused of introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce and other crimes, in addition to the murder charges facing Cadden and Chin.

The second-degree murder charges are framed as racketeering acts, according to the Department of Justice. Prosecutors generally do not need to prove that someone charged with second-degree murder specifically intended to kill someone, only that he or she acted with extreme indifference to human life, the Department of Justice stated.

The indictment holds Cadden, Chin, and others responsible for, among other things:

  • Using expired and expiring ingredients to compound the steroid injections and falsifying expiration dates on documents;
  • Autoclaving drugs for less than the 20 minutes needed for sterilization;
  • Failing to properly test drugs for sterility;
  • Failing to recall tainted drugs when microbial growth was later detected;
  • Falsifying drug labels to conceal how expired or untested drug solution lots were mixed with other lots, and
  • Failing to properly clean and disinfect the "clean rooms" where the steroid injections were manufactured. Cleaning logs were falsified to state otherwise, said prosecutors.

Cadden and several other defendants also are charged with pretending to dispense drugs on the basis of patient-specific prescriptions — what Massachusetts law requires of a pharmacy — when they actually were functioning as a drug manufacturer, distributing their product in bulk to customers. Fake prescriptions often bore the names of celebrities and fictional characters, such as Chris Rock, Wonder Woman, Bill Clinton, Harry Potter, and Jennifer Lopez.

If convicted on all counts, Cadden and Chin could be sentenced to life in prison, according to the Department of Justice. Stephen Weymouth, an attorney for Chin, said his client will plead not guilty.

"I am shocked almost beyond words that they brought back an indictment against him...that includes second-degree murder," Weymouth told Medscape Medical News. "It's just overreach on the part of the government. We fully intend to defend this case."

Bruce Singal, Cadden's attorney, said in a statement issued to Medscape Medical News that the fungal meningitis outbreak caused by the New England Compounding Center drugs was a "terrible human tragedy." However, "not every accident, and not every tragedy, are caused by criminal conduct."

"The US Attorney's Office should not indict people over the tragic consequences of noncriminal behavior," said Singal. "And it should not wage a public relations campaign to vilify citizens who have been found guilty of nothing.""

Why is it beneficial to aid your body with the Weight Loss Boost IV Infusion?

The presence of various toxins in the body has now been linked with specific diseases and syndromes such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, migraines, eczema, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic fatigue syndrome, depression and obesity/weight gain. As your body become clogged with toxins the number of symptoms you experience will increase.

Whilst you are trying to loose weight these toxins can affect your daily productivity and to maintain optimum health, energy levels and nutrition it is beneficial to give your body the extra boost via a weekly cocktail infusion.

Inflammation build up in the body plays a vital role in weight loss and with Health Renewal’s weight loss cocktail we also reduce inflammation which will have a positive impact on weight loss.

Why does one need to have a 30 minute consultation with the Health Renewal doctor before having an infusion?
  • All prospective IV infusion patients must have a 30 minute pre-infusion consultation with our experienced Functional/ Integrative doctors:
  • This consultation will assess any Health risks that need to be targeted
  • Lab tests may be ordered to assess renal function which is vital before any IV infusion
  • Follow up blood tests may be ordered in 30 days to evaluate renal function after certain infusions
What does the Weight Loss Boost Infusion Cocktail contain?

The Weight Loss cocktail contains various vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants in specific quantities so that you can maintain optimal health while shedding excess pounds by speeding up your metabolism. This weekly infusion includes the Weight loss facilitator cocktail: MIC injection.

What other Weight Loss treatments are available at Health Renewal?

At Health Renewal we offer the 5D Body Renewal Diet, an HCG diet and medical weight loss program which treats the cause of obesity and resistance to leptin. 5D Body Renewal Diet is a safe and effective weight and fat loss program that has evolved over 35 years with tens of thousands of patients having being successfully treated in South Africa. This program allows you to loose between 5-15 kilograms in a 6 week cycle, when precisely adhered to. After a consultation with a Medical Doctor you will be put on a package with bi-weekly follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and achievements.

For more information on this please see RID Medical Weight loss program for pricing layout and explanation.