What is hormone therapy (wellness)?
Wellness hormone therapy is a medical treatment that replaces or rebalances the hormones that decline naturally with age —chiefly estrogen and progesterone in women during menopause, and testosterone in men during andropause— in order to relieve the symptoms of that decline. It is prescribed for specific complaints: hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, dryness, mood changes, fatigue, or loss of libido and energy.
It is worth saying plainly, so as not to create false expectations: hormone therapy is not an anti-ageing cure that erases the years, nor a beauty treatment, nor something everyone should take simply because they are getting older. It is a medical decision made when symptoms affect quality of life and after confirming that the expected benefit outweighs the risks in your particular case. There is evidence that, started in the right window and in the right patients, it improves menopausal symptoms; there are also real risks, weighed one by one.
Techniques used by Dr. Arístides Arellano
There is no single way to give hormones: the right route, dose and combination depend on your age, your symptoms, your medical history and your lab work. These are the options considered, always at the lowest effective dose and for as long as needed:
- Transdermal route (gels and patches): the hormone is absorbed through the skin and avoids first-pass metabolism in the liver, which tends to carry a more favourable risk profile than the oral route in many patients.
- Oral route: tablets, when the case indicates it and there is no contraindication; their advantages and limits are discussed honestly.
- Progesterone: in women who still have a uterus, estrogen is always combined with progesterone to protect the endometrium. Estrogen alone is never prescribed in that setting.
- Testosterone in men: for andropause or lab-confirmed hypogonadism, transdermal or injectable, under periodic monitoring of the prostate and haematocrit.
- Local (vaginal) therapy: for the dryness and intimate discomfort of menopause when the problem is local, with minimal systemic absorption.
How is it performed?
Hormone therapy does not begin with a prescription but with an assessment. First comes a full medical history —symptoms, personal and family history, cardiovascular, clotting and breast- or prostate-cancer risk factors— because it is that history that decides whether treatment is safe for you. Then lab work is ordered (a hormone panel and whatever else each case requires) to measure the starting point and rule out contraindications.
With that information, the route, hormone and dose are chosen, and treatment starts at the lowest effective dose. From there it is adjusted with follow-up: symptoms are reassessed, tests are repeated when appropriate, and every so often a decision is made whether to continue, adjust or stop. Hormone therapy is not something prescribed once and forgotten; it is an ongoing arrangement reviewed periodically for as long as it does more good than harm.
Every medical treatment —topicals, peels and energy-based devices included— carries risk and requires a prior assessment. In darker skin (Fitzpatrick IV–VI, the most common phototypes in Mexico) a poorly indicated procedure can darken the patch instead of lightening it. Results may vary according to each patient, their phototype and their individual triggers.
Who is a good candidate?
- Women with menopausal symptoms that affect their quality of life (hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, dryness, mood changes) and no contraindications, especially within the first years after menopause.
- Men with symptoms of andropause —fatigue, low libido, loss of muscle mass, low mood— and a lab-confirmed testosterone deficiency, not merely a suspected one.
- People willing to undergo prior testing and periodic follow-up, with realistic expectations about what the therapy can and cannot achieve.
- Not good candidates are those with a history that contraindicates therapy —certain hormone-dependent cancers, prior blood clots, active liver disease, among others—; in those cases, non-hormonal alternatives are sought.
Recommended aftercare treatments
Hormone therapy works best alongside what no prescription provides: enough sleep, physical activity, a suitable diet, and control of blood pressure, weight and metabolism. Follow-up includes reassessing symptoms and tests on the dates you are given, and reporting any warning sign at once. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
Hormone therapy has no catalogue price, and publishing one would be misleading: the cost depends on the lab work your case requires, on the route and type of hormone, and on follow-up monitoring over time. It is therefore set at the consultation, after the medical history and tests, with a clear written plan; be wary of anyone who promises a hormone regimen without examining you or requesting lab work. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano. See the price list.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related patient guide
Like any medical decision, hormone therapy comes down to whom you trust to prescribe it and follow it up. Before your consultation it helps to read how to choose your doctor in Puebla, with criteria to verify credentials and ask the right questions.
Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.
Recovery · step by step
- AssessmentMedical history and prior lab work. This is where it is decided whether the therapy is safe and suitable for you.
- StartBegins at the lowest effective dose by the chosen route. It is not a procedure: there is no downtime or physical recovery.
- First weeksChanges in symptoms such as hot flushes or sleep often begin to appear. Discomfort and effects are recorded.
- First reviewReassessment of symptoms and, if appropriate, new tests to adjust dose or route.
- Follow-upPeriodic monitoring. A decision to continue, adjust or stop is made based on benefit and risk.
- Warning signsReport at once any pain or swelling in a leg, chest pain, shortness of breath, or unexpected bleeding.
Frequently asked questions
What is wellness hormone therapy?
It is a medical treatment that replaces or balances the hormones that decline with age —estrogen and progesterone in menopause, testosterone in andropause— to relieve symptoms such as hot flushes, insomnia, fatigue or low libido. It is not an anti-ageing or cosmetic treatment: it is prescribed case by case, with prior tests and follow-up, and it does not suit everyone.
Is hormone therapy safe?
It can be safe and helpful in the right patients, but it carries real risks weighed one by one. That is why it begins with a full medical history and lab work that rule out contraindications such as certain cancers, prior blood clots or liver disease. Safety depends on your case: the lowest effective dose is used, for as long as needed, with follow-up. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Do I need lab work before starting?
Yes. Hormone therapy is not prescribed from symptoms alone: it requires prior lab work —a hormone panel and whatever else each case needs— to measure the starting point, confirm the diagnosis and rule out contraindications. Be wary of anyone who offers a hormone regimen without examining you or requesting tests.
Does hormone therapy help with menopause?
Yes, it is one of its main indications. In the right patients and started within the appropriate window, it improves symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, dryness and mood changes. In women who still have a uterus, estrogen is always combined with progesterone to protect the endometrium.
Can men receive hormone therapy?
Yes, when there is a lab-confirmed testosterone deficiency —known as andropause or hypogonadism— with symptoms such as fatigue, low libido or loss of muscle mass. It is not prescribed on suspicion or age alone: it requires prior tests and periodic monitoring of the prostate and haematocrit during treatment.
How much does hormone therapy cost in Puebla?
There is no single price, because it depends on the lab work, the route and type of hormone, and follow-up monitoring over time. It is set at the consultation, after the medical history and tests, with a clear written plan.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.