In the Know Advice from Local Experts

Medical

Ever been tired of the side effects and daily treatments of traditional pharmaceutical drugs? The BioTe hormone replacement and supplement program believes that the future of primary care rests not only in prevention but in optimizing and enhancing wellness.

We know from past experiences that there are significant health and safety concerns related to synthetic hormone replacement therapies (HRT).

The BioTe Therapy difference starts with the first step of the process, where we as certified practitioners consult individually with the patients and help determine the dosage of the pellets based on precise testing of current weight, activity levels and unique body chemistry.

A rice grain-sized pellet is then inserted under the skin, through a minimally painful procedure, which takes all of 5 minutes for women and slightly longer for men.

The pellets release hormones based on your cardiac output, which simply translates into: The more active you are, the more the hormone is released. Widely used in Europe and Australia, this procedure has a wealth of published scientific data about it. With patients experiencing increased energy and muscle strength, greater ability to lose weight, increased mental clarity and an overall increased quality of life, this method is truly revolutionizing the way we treat ourselves.

Please contact Dr. Anthony Meier MD and Capital Internal Medicine.

Art & Interior Decorating

Everyone is welcome to come in and play, see what they like, what they don’t, and we can work from there. This is the direction I take with my customers when they want their picture framed.

Often, they come to my gallery for framing and the first question I get is, “How much does it cost to frame this picture?” At this stage I ask for more information about the picture and the final look that they want to achieve. The importance of the piece in their life and the meaning it holds are things I consider before going on to the next stage of frame suggestions.

Choosing from over 8,000 frames is a Herculean task, but I can certainly help customers make the right decision. After a bit of back and forth, I can work closely with them and help identify their needs based on their answers.

Where are you going to hang the frame? What is the color of the wall? Is there a presence of other colors in the room? Is the frame for the room or the piece? Other than the regular broad styles of traditional or contemporary frames, at this stage of the process I like to bring out the wild cards, based on my expertise.

This is when I pull out something unexpected which the customer did not think of, and all of a sudden it becomes this very cool frame which they really love. I encourage people to stop by the gallery for all their framing needs and more.

Please contact Absolute Gallery in Old Town Lansing for more details.

Real Estate

Making sense of Greater Lansing Real Estate

How is the market? Often times, as a realtor this is the question I get from people.

The answer is a nuanced one: It varies based on the location of your home — if you are in East Lansing or Lansing or Mason. These numbers and data from mid-August will give you insight into the current market and help you get a better understanding of what to do with your house.

Currently, there are 1,585 homes for sale across greater Lansing. Of those homes, 926 have offers on them, and over the last twelve months 6,872 homes have been sold. These numbers indicate a 36.8 percent absorption rate — meaning, the market is absorbing one in three homes right now. This number is a fairly balanced one since a 50 percent absorption rate implies a perfectly balanced market.

Once we start to err on the upside of 50 percent, it becomes a strong seller’s market, and as we go on the downside it becomes a buyer’s market. With that being said, we only have a 2.4-month supply of homes across the market, a relatively low inventory compared to homes in the past. Low inventory will drive sales prices higher, it will also mean the number of days the house is on market will be shorter.

With all this information on hand, it is important to note that they are specific to greater Lansing and, as I mentioned earlier, every area is different. I will be happy to help anyone navigate this landscape effectively and make sure they are well informed before making a decision about their homes.

Health

Starting September, we at Central Pharmacy are introducing the Children’s Free Vitamin Club. Children can come into our store and get free vitamins for the entire month with our punch card program. Vitamin A, Vitamin B’s, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Calcium, Fiber and Iron are essential for children’s growth.

First, they help supplement children’s diet and fill nutritional gaps.

Secondly, antioxidants are included in the program, which help build the immune system. Finally, they are great for building strong bones. The vitamin supplements included in the free pack are a great way to get kids the vitamins and minerals they need but are not getting.

This can be due to a number of reasons: kids not eating a balanced diet; finicky eaters; chronic medical conditions; kids eating a lot of fast food or drinking excessive carbonated drinks.

Start the new school year with this offer, which runs through the end of this year. People can stop at either of our stores to receive a punch card, after which each month a 30-day supply of vitamins will be given at no cost to your children. Please stop by for the free vitamin punch card along with your other pharmaceutical needs.

Contact Central Pharmacy for further information.

Tattoo removal

Tattoo removal procedures do not need to hurt, certainly not at our office. Contrary to popular practice, where the area of the tattoo removal is not numbed, our nurse localizes the area making the procedure completely pain-free. A state of the art laser then targets the pigment of the tattoo, breaking the molecules apart under the skin’s surface.

The body eventually reabsorbs these broken particles and the tattoo fades gradually after a series of treatments.

We also provide our services to patients who are only looking to lighten their tattoo for a new overlay. Most patients will need up to six treatments if they want their tattoo completely removed. Key variables for the number of treatments required are the colors used and the age of the tattoo. Costs can vary per treatment depending on the size, but it ranges from $100 to $400 per treatment. Discounts are available when multiple treatments are purchased as a package.

Treatments take approximately 30 minutes, and we recommend six to eight weeks between appointments.

Our service will make sure that every patient has a pain-free experience.

Please contact Dr. Rick Smith and his office for further details.