luxury medspa IN MELBOURNE, FL
Hormone Replacement Therapy & BHRT

At Essentials Medispa, we offer personalized, medically supervised hormone therapy for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and other hormone-related concerns. Depending on your individual needs, your care may include bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, or BHRT, as prescribed by Dr. Michael Lesser. Our approach combines an in-depth conversation, bloodwork, an at-home saliva collection kit, physician review, and ongoing follow-up—all in the calm, supportive environment our clients expect from Essentials.

At Essentials, this care is personal. As a woman-owned practice with a predominantly female team, many of us have experienced these changes ourselves or have supported someone we love through them. We understand how frustrating it is to be told that brain fog, sleepless nights, mood swings, or a disappearing libido are “just part of getting older.” We believe your symptoms deserve to be heard—and your treatment should be just as individualized as you are.

What Sets Us Apart?

Hormone care should be thoughtful, individualized, and taken seriously. Around here, “just live with it” is not a treatment plan.

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause. During this time, the ovaries’ production of estrogen and progesterone becomes less predictable, and menstrual cycles may begin to change.

Perimenopause commonly begins during a woman’s 40s, but changes can start earlier, including during the 30s. Menopause is not the entire transition; it is the point confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period or spotting. Think of perimenopause less like an on-and-off switch and more like a dimmer that occasionally develops a personality.

The transition can last for several years. Symptoms may come and go, change over time, or appear before your periods become noticeably irregular. Some women experience only mild changes, while others find that symptoms affect nearly every part of daily life.

How Perimenopause Can Affect Your Life

Perimenopause can affect much more than your menstrual cycle. It may disrupt your:

• Sleep and daytime energy
• Mood and emotional well-being
• Memory and concentration
• Work performance and productivity
• Exercise routine and physical comfort
• Confidence and sense of self
• Relationships and sex life

Brain fog can make familiar tasks feel oddly difficult. Night sweats can turn sleep into an endurance sport. Mood changes can leave you wondering why the smallest inconvenience suddenly feels enormous. Vaginal and urinary symptoms may also affect comfort, intimacy, and confidence.

These experiences are real, and their effect on quality of life can range from mildly inconvenient to genuinely disruptive.

Common Symptoms of Perimenopause and Menopause

Symptoms vary from one woman to another, but commonly reported changes include:

• Irregular, shorter, longer, heavier, lighter, or skipped periods
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Fatigue or lower energy
• Mood swings, irritability, anxiety, or low mood
• Brain fog, forgetfulness, or difficulty concentrating
• Reduced interest in sex
• Vaginal dryness, burning, or discomfort
• Pain during sex
• Urinary frequency or urgency
• Changes in weight or body-fat distribution

Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal symptoms, sleep disturbances, mood changes, and menstrual changes are among the symptoms most closely associated with the menopause transition.

Less Obvious Symptoms That Deserve a Closer Look

Not every symptom arrives wearing a name tag that says “perimenopause.” Other reported changes may include:

• Joint or muscle aches
• Heart palpitations
• Headaches or changing migraine patterns
• Dizziness
• Dry or itchy skin
• Hair thinning or other hair changes
• Breast tenderness
• Urinary leakage or recurring urinary tract infections
• Changes in sexual sensation or comfort

Several of these symptoms can also be caused by thyroid conditions, anemia, medication effects, cardiovascular concerns, sleep disorders, mental health conditions, and other medical issues. That is why our process begins with a conversation and a full-health review—not a symptom checklist and a shrug.

Kind Words from Our Clients

Leticia G.

This is the best spa I have ever visited. The spaces are clean, beautifully decorated, and very comfortable. The staff is wonderful, and when I brought my husband and grandson for the first time, they were equally impressed with the facilities and team. I recommend Essentials 100%.

Karen C.

Essentials Medispa & Salon is my favorite spa, and I’ve visited quite a few across the US. The amenities, quality, customer service, and pricing create the best overall experience.

Maureen O.

I was visiting family from out of town and was incredibly tight from my flight. I booked a massage and was pleasantly surprised at how nice this spa was! I left feeling so much better.

What Our Hormone Therapy Program Includes

1. Your Initial Visit With Tiffany

Your first appointment is typically with Tiffany Bonnell, FNP, our nurse practitioner. Tiffany will take the time to discuss what you have been experiencing and review your:

She will also explain the program, answer your questions, and help determine whether further hormone evaluation is appropriate.

This is where “I just don’t feel like myself” becomes useful clinical information—not something you have to apologize for saying. Tiffany is an experienced family nurse practitioner with a background in both family and internal medicine.

2. Bloodwork and an At-Home Saliva Kit

Our program includes both bloodwork and an at-home saliva collection kit.

You will receive instructions for completing your bloodwork as well as the saliva kit. The saliva sample is self-collected in the privacy of your home and mailed to a laboratory according to the kit instructions. The saliva collection is a noninvasive method used to measure selected hormones, including estrogens, progesterone, androgens, and cortisol.

Your test results are not considered in isolation. They are reviewed alongside your symptoms, menstrual history, medical history, medications, and overall health picture. The goal is not to chase a single “perfect” number; it is to gather useful information and determine what care is medically appropriate for you.

3. Review and Recommendations With Dr. Lesser

Once your results have been received, Dr. Michael Lesser reviews your laboratory findings and clinical history. You will then meet with him to discuss:

When medication is appropriate, Dr. Lesser develops and prescribes your individualized treatment plan. Formulations may include oral, topical, or other options depending on your medical needs.

4. Ongoing Follow-Up

Hormone care is not a “prescribe it and disappear” service. Your response, symptoms, questions, medication use, and possible side effects need to be monitored over time.

The current program protocol includes follow-up visits at approximately:

• One month
• Three months
• Six months
• One year

These visits may be conducted with Dr. Lesser or Tiffany, depending on the stage of care and your clinical needs. Treatment may be adjusted based on how you feel, how you respond, and any additional evaluation that is medically indicated.

Experience That Became Personal

Dr. Lesser is fellowship-trained and board-certified in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, in addition to his credentials in internal medicine, cardiology, advanced metabolic medicine, and anti-aging medicine.

His commitment to BHRT became personal after seeing his own wife struggle with perimenopause symptoms. That experience showed him firsthand how profoundly the menopause transition can affect a woman’s energy, sleep, relationships, confidence, and quality of life—and inspired him to pursue additional training in this area.

Today, that combination of clinical expertise and personal perspective helps shape a care model centered on listening, explaining, and following through. You don’t have to wonder whether what you’re feeling is ‘just getting older.’ We’ll help you understand what’s happening—and what you can do about it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to wait until my periods stop before asking for help?

No. Perimenopause happens before menopause, and symptoms can begin while you are still having periods—even if those periods remain relatively regular. You do not need to wait until your symptoms become unbearable before discussing them with a medical provider

Can one hormone test tell me whether I am in perimenopause?

Usually not by itself. Hormone levels can fluctuate substantially during perimenopause, so your symptoms, menstrual changes, age, and medical history are important parts of the evaluation. Laboratory testing may help answer specific clinical questions, establish useful health information, or evaluate other possible causes of symptoms, but it should not replace a complete medical assessment.

How soon will I notice a difference?

There is no universal timeline. Your response will depend on your symptoms, the treatment selected, the dose, your overall health, and how your body responds. Follow-up appointments allow us to review your progress and make medically appropriate adjustments rather than asking you to guess whether something is working.

Is hormone therapy safe?

Hormone therapy has both potential benefits and potential risks. For many healthy women near the menopause transition who have bothersome symptoms and no contraindications, the benefit-risk balance may be favorable. The decision should always be individualized and reviewed with a qualified prescribing clinician.

Ready to Start Feeling Like Yourself Again?

If you’ve been wondering whether your symptoms could be related to perimenopause or menopause, we’re here to help.

Call today to schedule your personalized consultation with Tiffany and take the first step toward understanding what’s happening—and what can be done about it.