When you’re preparing for surgery, a surgical clearance exam is often a requirement. These exams are available at Clinica Ideal Harwin in Houston, Texas, and can help you qualify for your surgical treatment. Call the office or CLICK HERE to set up a visit.

Surgical Clearance Q & A

What are surgical clearance exams?

Surgical clearance exams, also called pre-operative physical exams, are visits with a health professional to check that you are healthy enough to go through a planned surgical procedure.

They are a great way to reduce the risk of complications during surgery.

These specialized exams are also a requirement for many surgical procedures. If you need a surgical clearance exam, your surgeon will advise you of the timeline and specific requirements. They can communicate directly with our team at Clinica Ideal Harwin to discuss what elements to include in the exam and how the results should be documented.

What can I expect during a surgical clearance exam?

Many parts of your surgical clearance exam will be similar to what you experience during routine physicals. Expect a quick check of your height, weight, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing function, and so on.

Special attention is usually paid to heart and lung function, as these systems must be strong enough to withstand not only the surgery but also the anesthesia used throughout the procedure.

Your surgeon may ask for specific screenings as part of your surgical clearance exam. You might need to have blood testing, have X-rays, Ultrasounds or other imaging performed. Pregnancy tests are sometimes required, as is gastrointestinal testing.

How should I prepare for my surgical clearance exam?

It is critical that you share all details of your personal and family health history with our staff and Health Care Coordinator as they perform your surgical clearance exam. Include a written list of all medications and supplements you’re taking.

If you are being treated for any chronic health condition, let our staff know. If you’ve been treated for serious medical needs in the past, be sure to mention that during your visit as well.

Finally, if the results of your surgical clearance exam show that you are not ready for surgery, don’t feel overwhelmed. It’s better to postpone surgery when your body isn’t quite ready than to risk serious complications. With proper medical care and a dedication to lifestyle modifications, many people can improve their health to the point that surgery is possible.

If you need a surgical clearance exam or would like more information, call the office or CLICK HERE to set up a visit.

Methionine, Inositol, Choline (MIC) Injections, also referred to as Lipotropic Injections, or Lipo Injections, are used to help release fat throughout the body by specifically targeting its primary fatty deposits. Lipotropic, or fat burning substances include: inositol, which helps the liver remove fat; choline, which distributes cholesterol and prevents it from getting deposited in one part of the body; and methionine, which is similar to inositol, but also amplifies the combination. Injections can be administered up to twice a week, and vitamin B-12 is supported by practitioners and users to help accelerate metabolic processes, while creating a greater feeling of overall energy. Since lipotropics directly aid in the breakdown of fatty tissue, and are also closely related to B vitamins, when used together, they are thought to intensify each other’s’ effects and are usually injected together as part of the same treatment injection cycle.

How Lipotropic Injections Work

The amino acids that are injected into the body stimulate the liver into optimizing the process of metabolism. These injections boost the body’s metabolic power by providing a highly effective temporary increase of normal metabolic functions. As soon as the effect of these substances wears off, the body begins to gradually return to its normal metabolic rate. When administered in combination with a proper diet and regular exercise, lipotropic formulas can help your body to rid itself of fat, while simultaneously increasing your energy levels both via the fat released energy and the energy promoting properties of vitamin B-12. The formula used in the MIC Injection specially blends the following important ingredients:

Methionine

The “M” in MIC Injection, is an essential amino acid, which means that it is not synthesized in humans. This amino acid acts as a lipotropic agent which: assists in the breakdown of fats within the liver; helps to lower cholesterol thereby preventing excess fat buildup in the liver and throughout your body’s circulatory system; is helpful in preventing and relieving fatigue; and is useful in some cases of allergies by virtue of its ability to reduce histamine release.

One of the sulfur-containing amino acids (along with cysteine and cystine), methionine is important (essential) to many bodily functions and must be directly consumed through supplementation or methionine-containing proteins. Foods which contain high levels of methionine include cheese, eggs, fish, meats, spinach, potatoes, Brazil nuts, sesame seeds, and select other plant seeds. However, by injecting methionine into your muscles you can rapidly achieve high concentrations which many researchers and physicians believe results in more effective mobilization and elimination of abnormal fatty deposits. Other reported benefits of methionine include improvement of: liver disease; skin tone and elasticity; nails; hair; and cardiovascular and muscular functions, through its role in the production of creatine. It has also been used to treat premature ejaculation, chronic depression, pancreatitis, Parkinson’s disease, and AIDS myelopathy. More specifically, clinical research has clearly demonstrated methionine’s ability to “…strongly improve the alcohol-induced histological changes in the liver. Triglyceride content of the liver was found to decrease in a dose-dependent manner with increasing methionine ingestion.

Inositol

The “I” in MIC Injection, is a B-vitamin that promotes: the health of cell structures and nerve synapses; aids in the metabolism of fats; helps reduce blood cholesterol; and participates in the action of serotonin, a neurotransmitter known to control mood and appetite.

Also known as myo-inositol, inositol is best described as a carbocyclic polyol, which forms the basis for many signaling and secondary messenger molecules. As such, it is involved in many biological processes, including the breakdown of fats, the reduction of serum cholesterol, serotonin activity modulation, gene expression, and insulin signal transduction. It is not considered a vitamin because your body is unable to synthesize it. However, it has been shown to be helpful for the treatment of depression, panic disorder, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and fatty liver. It also important for optimal brain function.

Inositol deficiency may manifest as symptoms of constipation, high cholesterol, vision problems, and hair loss. Although it is naturally found in certain foods such as nuts, beans (especially red beans and kidney beans), grains, cantaloupe melons, and oranges, it is more effective in breaking down fat when given as an intramuscular injection.

Choline

The “C” in MIC Injection, is an essential nutrient that helps to support the liver in its processing and excretion of chemical waste products. Moreover, it is required for the transport and metabolism of fats and cholesterol, which is important for the healthy support of the endocrine, cardiovascular, and hepatic systems.

Choline is known to be involved in the synthesis of carnitine, cell membrane phospholipids, and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. It is a major source for methyl groups via its metabolite trimethylglycine (betaine) that participates in the S-adenosylmethionine synthesis pathways. Lastly, choline has also been shown to specifically aid with memory, and to support the maintenance of a healthy nervous system. Food sources of choline include peanuts, soybeans, wheat, chicken, fish, beef, cauliflower, eggs, and lettuce.

Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B-12)

This form of B-12 vitamin is used in the Lipo-B injection and plays a significant role in the replication of DNA, the normal functioning of the nervous system, and the formation of blood cells. The vitamin B-12 injection has been shown to provide these key benefits: boosts energy and overall metabolic rate; assists in the burning of stored body fat; detoxifies the body; increases red blood cell production; maintains a healthy liver; helps regulate sleep, mood, appetite and energy; works synergistically with other nutrients to improve health; and slows aging.

Vitamin B-12 is frequently used in combination with other B vitamins in a vitamin B-complex formulation. Important in DNA synthesis, vitamin B-12 is bound to the protein in food, and is released by stomach acids during digestion. Once released, B-12 combines with a substance called intrinsic factor (IF) before it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Essentially water-soluble this vitamin is commonly found in a variety of foods such as fish, shellfish, meat, eggs, and dairy products. Read more about Vitamin B-12 Injections.

L-Carnitine

Carnitine is an amino acid which is required for the transport and breakdown of body fat for the generation of metabolic energy. Studies show that oral L-Carnitine supplementation can decrease fat mass, preserve muscle during exercise, and reduce muscle fatigue. Further research over the last decade has shed new light on the importance of L-carnitine as a regulator of skeletal muscle fuel selection, which means it is needed to determine whether muscle tissue utilizes carbohydrates or fat for energy. When taken orally, L-Carnitine requires a high dose to promote fat tissue breakdown. This is because only a fraction of carnitine is absorbed during oral digestion. When administered by injection, nutrients like L-Carnitine are completely absorbed by the body.

Call us today for more information on how to get a Lipotoropic fat-burning injection in Houston at Clinica Ideal Harwin!

(832)582-4040

What Is A Meal-Replacement? 

A meal replacement is a portion-controlled, prepackaged meal, shake, drink or bar.  Meal replacements contain approximately 100-200 calories and are used to replace an entire meal or snack to help you reduce your total calorie intake and lose excess weight. Meal replacements may include nutritionally fortified diet protein shakes, snack bars, and low-calorie meals.

The weight loss shakes and bars are usually low in fat and calories, with about 100-200 calories, 2-5 grams of fat, about 10-15 grams of protein, up to 5 grams of fiber, and a vitamin mineral blend.

How Do Meal Replacements Work? 

Meal replacements help people lose weight by providing a controlled amount of calories, protein, carbohydrates and fat in a prefixed portion. They simplify meal planning because they are convenient — easy to store, and require little preparation. They are also reasonably priced, usually costing less than the meal they replace. Meal replacements reduce the number of decisions you have to make about what to eat and reduce your exposure to tempting foods that might result in overeating.

Many effective weight loss plans that use meal replacements recommend either using them in addition to eating 1 or 2 healthy “grocery” food meals, or replacing 2 or 3 meals and several snacks per day to lose weight and then replacing 1 meal per day to maintain weight.

Using a meal replacement instead of an entire meal or snack can help you to reduce your calorie and fat intake and reduce your blood sugar levels. When you first start using meal replacements, you will likely notice an immediate reduction in your blood sugar levels because you will be consuming fewer calories and less carbohydrates than you would with your usual meal.

How Effective Are Meal Replacements? 

Recent studies show that meal replacements have an important role to play in the diet of anyone who wants to lose excess body fat and build healthy lean muscle. For research regarding the efficacy of using meal replacements in treatment of obesity, here are some studies:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201118080804.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3468055/

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0145721707312463

https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/134/8/1894/4688831

http://spectrum.diabetesjournals.org/content/26/3/179

Contact us for information about our meal replacements.