Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Donovan.
Hi Stephanie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Stephanie Donovan. I am an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and board-certified Adult Nurse Practitioner with over 23 years of experience in various practice settings. After working in the Cardiac ICU for 10 years and then in Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery for 10 years as an RN, I returned to graduate school to further my education with a Master’s in Nursing. I now offer un-rushed consultations and treatments in a professional and private environment. I have developed a loyal patient following by providing a holistic approach to healthcare for my patients. I offer bio-identical hormone therapy for men and women, HGH/anti-aging peptide therapy, treatment of thyroid disorders, and cosmetic injectables at my practice, Charleston Hormone Services.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I realized my passion for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and men’s and women’s sexual health after discovering my hormone imbalance issues in my thirties. I was suffering from bouts of irritability, depression, loss of libido, diminished sense of well-being, and energy loss, to name a few symptoms. My OB/GYN repeatedly offered me birth control pills and anti-depressants year after year as I divulged these symptoms to her, thinking that she was the expert in this area. With reluctance and out of desperation, I eventually agreed to start on an anti-depressant. This treatment not only ended up exacerbating many of my symptoms but also likely created new health issues for me. After realizing that I was only being treated for my symptoms and not for the actual problem, I started on a mission to get to the cause. I made an appointment with a hormone specialist and discovered that many of my hormone levels were completely out of balance (Testosterone, Thyroid, Progesterone, DHEA, etc.) I was shocked but felt validated at the same time. I was 39 years old but had been struggling with these symptoms for several years. I finally had some answers! Identifying and correcting the actual problem changed my life, changed my marriage, changed my parenting, and changed my career overnight.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
It became abundantly clear that I had to find a way to help those facing similar challenges within our antiquated healthcare system. I did not want other women to go through similar difficult conversations with their medical providers only to be told that their lab levels were acceptable, that they should exercise more, eat cleaner, sleep more, reduce stress, take birth control pills, or take anti-depressants. I want people to know that there are other options available that can target the real issues aside from prescription “mood” pills, synthetic hormones, or intense lifestyle fad gimmicks. After working in the field of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) as a Nurse Practitioner for several years, my husband encouraged me to stop building someone else’s dream and to start building my own. So, I opened Charleston Hormone Services. I wanted it to be easily accessible to my Daniel Island neighbors and my existing patients in Mt. Pleasant and the surrounding areas.
My approach is to offer:
• Help to those that are interested in understanding accurate wellness/hormone balance
• Personalized concierge-style care by seeing every patient myself
• Convenient “by appointment only” scheduling
• Comprehensive lab testing offering state-of-the-art treatment options
• Unrushed consultations in a relaxed, comfortable, and private environment
What Charleston Hormone Services is:
If you are a woman and experiencing symptoms such as mood swings, hot flashes, unusual weight gain, vaginal dryness, night sweats, chronic sleep disturbances, low sex drive, painful intercourse, brain fog, feelings of anxiety, depression, constipation, dry/itchy skin; know that solutions are available. Many women have been told that if they are not menopausal or post-menopausal, there is no need to waste time checking hormone levels. This is simply untrue. Peri-menopause can last for ten years, and studies have shown that the most significant benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) are realized when hormones are replaced before they are completely depleted. If this sounds familiar, you may need a hormone level assessment and rebalance.
Or if you are a man experiencing abdominal weight gain, exhaustion, irritability, changes in libido/performance (ED), hair loss, less effective workouts, lack of motivation, or depression/anxiety, there are solutions available. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, hormone level assessment and rebalance may be for you. Or suppose you want to discuss all available anti-aging options, including Botox, Dysport, dermal fillers, clean eating, nutritional supplements, and growth hormone peptide therapy. In that case, Charleston Hormone Services may be for you.
What Charleston Hormone Services is not. Even though I have been specializing in cosmetic injectables such as Botox, Dysport, and facial fillers for over 16 years, I am not a Med Spa. There is already a multitude of businesses that provide cosmetic services in a boutique-style environment that caters mainly to females. I continue to deliver these treatments because I love doing them (and receiving them myself.) I have a loyal following of fantastic male and female aesthetic patients.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Defining success is having our patients feel heard and understood, especially when dealing with health-related concerns. Charleston Hormone Services (CHS) creates a supportive and empathetic environment where patients feel valued and cared for. At CHS, we genuinely care, which is undoubtedly something to be proud of and sets our brand apart in the healthcare industry. Helping patients reclaim their lives and achieve better health outcomes is truly rewarding.
Pricing:
- Lab Work – Cash Pay Rates or Insurance
- Initial Consultation $250
- Follow Up Visit $150
- 90 Day Testosterone Supply $150
- Pellet Insertion $400
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chshormone.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charleston_hormone_services/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WellnessHormonesAesthetics/
- Other: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/sdonovan
Image Credits
Callie Cranford, Mary Welch Fox
