Buket Gunindi Tinoco

02/21/2026

Case study. Real patient.

Female. Athletic. Eats clean. Lifts. Sleeps well. Does “everything right.”

Came in with low testosterone.
We started low-dose subcutaneous testosterone.
Also optimized progesterone.

First 4–6 months? She felt amazing.

• Libido up
• Leaner
• Gained muscle (and she was already fit)
• Energy solid
• Mood great

Then… she comes in and says,
“I don’t feel good.”

Fatigue.
Low motivation.
Almost a low-grade depressed feeling.
Waking up tired.

This is where experience matters.

I ran labs and checked SHBG (s*x hormone binding globulin).

Quick explanation:
SHBG is a protein made in the liver that binds to hormones like testosterone. When it’s high, it can “hold onto” your testosterone, meaning you have it on paper… but it’s not freely available to use.

Her SHBG had climbed.

So even though total testosterone looked fine, her body wasn’t getting access to it the same way.

And this is where knowing the patient matters.

I’ve seen her for years.
I know her baseline.
I know her personality.
I know her body composition.
I’ve seen her labs over time.

This isn’t something you catch from a Google search.

We backed down the testosterone slightly.
Ran a simple liver support / detox protocol (because SHBG is made in the liver).
Let her system recalibrate.

She’s healthy, so she responds fast.

Within weeks she started feeling like herself again.

Here’s the point:

Hormones are dynamic.
They move.
They adapt.

You can feel amazing on therapy… and then hit a wall. That doesn’t mean you “failed” testosterone. It means we reassess and adjust.

That’s why we check labs.
That’s why we don’t just guess.
That’s why individualized care matters.

If you’re considering testosterone therapy, it’s not one-size-fits-all. It’s monitored, adjusted, and personalized.

Text the office at 470-248-2050
if you’re ready for a personalized plan.

— Buket

02/20/2026

Let’s talk about NAD+.

NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in every single cell in your body. Its main job? Helping your mitochondria produce ATP — your actual cellular energy.

When NAD levels decline (aging, stress, inflammation, poor sleep, metabolic strain), energy production declines too.

That’s when people start feeling:
• Chronic fatigue
• Brain fog
• Low motivation
• Slower recovery
• Just “not like themselves”

There are different ways NAD can be delivered.

In my practice, I prefer subcutaneous NAD injections only.

Why?

Because:
✔ It bypasses gut absorption issues
✔ It provides steady systemic availability
✔ It avoids the rollercoaster of IV highs/lows
✔ It’s practical and realistic for long-term compliance
✔ It doesn’t add another daily pill to your routine

Most patients use it 2–3 times per week.

What I typically see:
• More stable energy
• Reduced fatigue
• Better mental clarity
• Improved recovery
• And yes — even skin looks healthier over time (when the cell is supported, the tissue reflects it)

Important:
NAD should NOT be used in patients with active cancer, as it supports cellular energy metabolism.

If you’re feeling depleted and want to see if SubQ NAD is appropriate for you, call the office.

📞 470-248-2050

We’ll review your labs, symptoms, and goals before recommending anything.

Not everyone needs it.
But for the right patient, it can be a game changer.

— Buket

02/20/2026

I use Google

I use research tools all the time.

I use ChatGPT. In fact the above image was created by it… this message was influenced by it because my original message won’t fit in this caption because I have so much to say about this topic!!!!

But let’s be honest about something.

When it comes to your hormones, your labs, your fertility, your mental health, your legal questions… I’m never trusting an algorithm over a human being with real experience.

AI is amazing for summaries.
It’s great for bullet points.
It can organize thoughts in seconds.

But it has never:

• Sat across from a patient and watched subtle changes over months.
• Adjusted a protocol after seeing real-life outcomes.
• Seen anxiety on someone’s face when they think they have cancer because Google said so.
• Carried the weight of being responsible for someone’s health.

Clinical experience is built over time.
It’s pattern recognition.
It’s intuition mixed with science.
It’s knowing when labs look “normal” but something still isn’t right.

There are 100 ways to treat the same issue.
Experience teaches you which ones actually work.

Bring me what you researched. I love engaged patients.
But at the end of the day, if you don’t trust your provider’s experience, we’re not a team.

AI is a tool.

Experience is earned.

And when it comes to your health, earned will always matter more.

02/18/2026

✨ Plasma Gel Volumizer – Using Your Own Blood ✨

This treatment is one of my favorites because it’s completely natural and beautifully subtle.

Here’s how it works:

We draw your own blood, spin it in a centrifuge, and separate the plasma.
Then I carefully heat and cool the plasma to transform it into a smooth, gel-like consistency.

It behaves almost like filler — but we don’t call it filler.
It’s a natural volumizer made from YOU.

👁 Why I Love It for Under Eyes (Tear Troughs)

This patient has lower fat pads under her eyes.
That puffiness is structural — and removing it would require surgery.

Instead, we camouflage and smooth the transition by filling the tear trough area around it.

I personally do not like traditional filler under the eyes because:
• Filler attracts water
• It can look puffy over time
• It can migrate
• It can create a bluish tint (Tyndall effect)

Plasma gel does not attract water.
It integrates naturally into your tissue.
It’s softer, safer, and more forgiving in delicate areas.
💉 Areas Treated Today:
• Tear troughs (under eyes)
• Mid-cheek
• Nasolabial folds

I used a blunt-tip cannula for safety and smooth placement.

Whatever plasma I create during the session, I strategically use across the face — so most patients get two areas treated per session.

📅 Treatment Plan

She will absolutely need more volume — and that’s normal.

This treatment works best in 2–3 sessions, spaced about 4 weeks apart, for optimal collagen stimulation and natural layering.

We are building gradually and safely.
💰 Investment

Under-eye plasma gel: $650 per session
Most patients purchase a minimum of 2 sessions for optimal results.

📲 To schedule, text our office: 470-248-2050

02/15/2026

My forever Valentine !💘

02/13/2026

🔥 YES — We Check Hormones
But not just estrogen and testosterone.

When you come in for a hormone visit at Buket Aesthetics & Wellness, we optimize:

✔ Estrogen
✔ Testosterone
✔ Progesterone (most overlooked hormone 👀)
✔ And your THYROID — full panel

That means we check:
• TSH
• Free T3
• Free T4

Because T3 drives your metabolism.
When I say optimize… I mean optimize.

And let’s talk about something I see ALL the time:

Autoimmune thyroid disease — aka Hashimoto’s.

Your thyroid can be “normal” on paper…
But you still feel exhausted, inflamed, gaining weight, losing hair, anxious, or foggy.

That’s because labs can be “within range” while antibodies are elevated.

I rule this out.

You would be amazed how many women — and men — are walking around with undiagnosed autoimmune thyroid.

Major symptoms of Hashimoto’s:
• Fatigue
• Weight gain or inability to lose weight
• Hair thinning (especially outer eyebrows)
• Cold intolerance
• Brain fog
• Constipation
• Depression or anxiety
• Puffy face
• Irregular cycles
• High cholesterol

And yes — selenium matters.
Two Brazilian nuts per day is typically enough selenium to support the thyroid.

But beyond that… I do have a structured protocol that helps lower antibodies and reduce overall inflammation. (We don’t just mask numbers here.)

When you schedule a hormone visit with me, you are getting a full exam and a holistic view of your health.

Your thyroid will always be part of the conversation.

Because optimization is not surface-level care.

📍 Alpharetta, GA
📲 Text the office at 470-248-2050 to schedule

FunctionalMedicine BuketAestheticsAndWellness

02/09/2026

02/05/2026

Neuromodulators are injectable treatments that temporarily relax specific facial muscles by blocking the nerve signal that tells the muscle to contract. Wrinkles like crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines are called dynamic wrinkles—they form from repeated facial movement over time. When we calm that muscle down, the skin above it smooths out, lines soften, and the face looks more rested and youthful (not frozen when done correctly).

In my office, I use Dysport and Xeomin.

Dysport has a slightly wider spread, which can be great for larger areas like the forehead and gives a smooth, blended look.

Xeomin is my personal favorite. It’s a cleaner neuromodulator—meaning it contains only the active ingredient with no accessory proteins. This allows for very precise, natural results and lowers the risk of your body developing resistance over time. Patients often describe it as looking “softer” and more natural.

💉 Pricing & same-day perks
• XEOMIN: $8.99 per unit
• Add a VI Peel the same day for $199 (normally $350 when done alone)

The photo here is a great example—this patient had visible crow’s feet, and after treating with a neuromodulator like the ones above, those lines are significantly softened and minimal, while still keeping natural expression.

I truly love injecting first-time patients. If you’ve been curious, nervous, or waiting for the right provider, I’d love to be your injector 💗

📲 Text the office: 470-248-2050

02/05/2026

🧬 This is why I go beyond “basic labs.”

Hemoglobin A1c tells us your average blood sugar over the past 3 months — and yes, it’s an important marker.

In this sample lab, the A1c is 5.1.
On paper? That looks perfect.

But science doesn’t stop there.

When a patient comes in fasted for 10–12 hours, I also look at fasting insulin — and this is where we can catch problems much earlier.

In this example, fasting insulin is 15.3.

Here’s why that matters 👇
When you’re truly fasted, insulin should be very low — ideally close to zero.
Clinically, we like to see fasting insulin under 5.

If insulin is still circulating in the bloodstream after a long fast, it means the body is already struggling to manage blood sugar efficiently — even if glucose and A1c still look “normal.”

💡 Translation:
Insulin resistance starts years before prediabetes shows up on an A1c.

This is how we:
• Identify metabolic dysfunction early
• Prevent prediabetes instead of reacting to it
• Personalize nutrition, movement, and medical care
• Address weight resistance before it becomes frustrating

This is what it means to use science proactively — not reactively.

If you’ve been told your labs are “normal” but your body doesn’t feel that way, there may be more to the story.

📲 Reach out to the office to see if deeper metabolic testing is right for you.

02/04/2026

🧠 Let’s talk cortisol — using this REAL sample pattern

Most people think cortisol is only a problem when it’s high.
That’s not always true.

This graph shows a salivary cortisol rhythm measured multiple times in one day — not a single blood draw.

👉 What we see here:
• Cortisol is LOW in the morning
• It never rises into a healthy peak
• It stays low and flat throughout the day

This is not “acute stress.”
This is long-standing stress and nervous system burnout.

When cortisol has been elevated for too long, the body often does the opposite — it down-regulates production as a protective response. That’s when people start to feel:

• Exhausted but anxious
• Brain fog in the morning
• Difficulty losing weight
• Hormones feeling “off”
• Poor stress tolerance
• Crashing energy later in the day

And no — this does not always show up on routine blood work.

🧪 Why saliva testing matters in certain cases
Blood cortisol is a snapshot.
Saliva testing shows your daily rhythm — how your nervous system is actually functioning over time.

This is something I look at selectively, especially when:
• Weight loss is stuck
• Hormones aren’t responding as expected
• GI work has already been done
• Patients are doing “all the right things” and still feel off

📦 The cortisol kit is mailed directly to your home
🧠 It includes my personal interpretation
💰 Special rate right now: $275

This test doesn’t replace lifestyle work — it helps explain why the body may not be responding to it.

If this pattern feels familiar, cortisol may be the missing piece.

📲 Text the office to see if cortisol testing is appropriate

02/04/2026

✨ Soft, hydrated Valentine’s lips ✨

This patient came in a few weeks ago after having migrated lip filler from a prior injector. Our first step was to dissolve and allow proper healing and settling before doing anything new.

Today, we focused on hydration and balance only — no overfilling.
We used just under half a syringe (~0.4 mL) to gently enhance her natural lips, subtly lift the Cupid’s bow, and restore hydration without changing her natural shape.

My approach is always conservative and intentional:
✔️ We can always add more
✔️ Dissolving is a process — time-consuming and not always comfortable
✔️ Slow, thoughtful dosing reduces the risk of migration and complications

She’ll return in about a month, and if needed, we can add a touch more to further balance — but for now, we simply enhanced what she already had. Natural, soft, hydrated… and very Valentine’s-ready 💋💖

✨ Bonus: She also had XEOMIN done today, so we completed both filler + neuromodulator in one visit.

👉 Swelling and bruising are normal and expected.
👉 Patience is key — results evolve beautifully with time.

📲 Text the office: 470-248-2050

✨ Glow Special:
If you get filler or Botox and add a peel the same visit, it’s $199 (normally $350).
We call it Glow Tox or Glow Filler ✨

Slow. Thoughtful. Natural.
Because we can always add — but we never rush. 💉💗