By Tanna Friday
For The Tribune
TRUSSVILLE — There’s a new doctor in town, and she speaks with an authentic voice of experience about how to live a healthy life — on her website and blog — and people are listening.
In fact, Dr. Liliya Slutsker lets followers of her blog Ask Dr. Liliya Slutsker know firsthand that “creating a healthy lifestyle through clean eating, nutrition, and exercise is [her] passion.” After striking up a conversation about your health with Dr. Slutsker, you will understand why.
“I want to encourage others to live a healthy lifestyle, to look and feel their best,” said Slutsker.
“I thought it would be nice to post something pertinent to the moment like the flu epidemic as well as living a healthy lifestyle,” said Slutsker. “Anyone can post a question on Facebook. I will choose the most interesting question and outline it on my blog and website.”
Slutsker has embodied this new paradigm of healthy living into her new practice, Carrington Medical Spa (CMS), located at 8178 Gadsden Highway in Trussville. CMS is a community-oriented medical facility that provides a comprehensive weight management program and other aesthetic services such as Botox, Juvèderm, and Kybella.
“I don’t like the word diet,” said Slutsker. “I think people should eat what they like, but be aware and knowledgeable about what is bad for you and be responsible. I want to help create that responsibility and help provide them with a push into a healthy lifestyle.”
Slutsker wants to remind the community of her oath, the Hippocratic Oath, which promises to “do no harm”. To this doctor, there is no quick fix to weight loss, but instead, an individualized approach to meet an individual’s specific needs.
“Everybody comes to me and says, ‘I want to ‘nip it in the bud’ before it becomes more serious,” said Slutsker in her Russian accent. “How many times a day I hear that. Honestly, I’m trying to ‘nip it in the bud’ because those eating habits and lifestyles, which we have to change, are the leading cause of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other serious illnesses.”
The Weight Loss Program at Carrington Medical Spa is thorough and catered to individualized needs. Dr. Slutsker will work with her patients to design a weight loss program based on basal metabolic rate (BMR), which represents the minimum amount of energy needed to keep the body functioning. If applicable, the program will include a body composition and metabolic rate analysis, dietary guidance, behavior modification, genetic testing, lipotropic injections and pharmacotherapy.
“Usually the people who come here have already gone through many other programs that have failed them,” said Slutsker. “First, I would advise them on their weight goals. After that, I would begin digging into their medical history. Are they taking any medications that may contribute to their weight gain?”
“I would next check their bloodwork to see if I can see an underlying problem,” said Slutsker. “For example, if they have high level of insulin resistance, I would advise them on certain types of food to add or subtract from their diet and work out a plan.”
Another weight loss service CMS can provide is full meal replacement to those that qualify.
If you are interested in a consultation with Dr. Slutsker, visit www.carringtonmedispa.com or call (205) 508-5723 to schedule an appointment.
According to the CMS website, Dr. Liliya Slutsker is a board-certified physician and member of the Obesity medicine association. Slutsker has proudly served communities in New York, Georgia and Alabama for over 22 years.