POST CARE GUIDE

Male HRT Pellet Aftercare

Testosterone pellet therapy places small pellets under the skin at the upper hip, where they release testosterone gradually as they dissolve over about 4 to 5 months. This is a medically supervised program at The Spa by Sheena: we confirm a clinically low testosterone level on labs before treatment and keep monitoring you afterward, rather than handing out hormones on request. The first week of aftercare is all about protecting the insertion site so the pellets stay put — keep it clean and dry, no soaking for 5 to 7 days, and no heavy lower-body exercise. Most men start to feel the change in energy, libido, mood, sleep, and workout recovery over the first 4 to 6 weeks. This guide covers insertion-site care, the restrictions that keep a pellet from working loose, what is normal while you heal, and the lab-and-symptom timeline that tells us when to re-dose.

Download Post Care Guide (806) 701-5840

Your Male HRT Pellet recovery at a glance

What happens, and when

Here is the path from treatment day to final result.

First 24 Hours

Bandage dry

For the first 24 hours, leave the pressure bandage on and keep it completely dry — no showering over the site yet. It is doing two jobs: absorbing the little bit of oozing that is normal, and holding gentle pressure so the area settles. Once the outer wrap gets wet or starts to peel, take it off, but leave the steri-strip underneath alone. That strip stays put for 5 to 7 days and protects the tiny incision while it closes.

First 5 Days

No soaking, no heavy lifting

Two rules carry the first five days. Do not submerge the site: skip baths, pools, hot tubs, and lakes, since standing water at a fresh incision is the main infection risk. And go easy on the lower body — no squats, lunges, deadlifts, running, or heavy glute and back work. A hard contraction near the site can push a pellet toward the surface before the tissue has sealed around it. Walking, light stairs, and desk work are all fine, so most men keep their normal day.

4 to 6 Weeks

Feel the shift

The pellet does not work overnight. Testosterone releases gradually as the pellet dissolves, so most men notice the change over the first 4 to 6 weeks rather than the first few days. Energy, sex drive, motivation, sleep, and workout recovery are the usual first signals. We draw labs at about 4 weeks to see how your body responded to the dose, and from there we plan the cadence. A typical cycle runs 4 to 5 months before the next insertion.

How to care for the insertion site

How to Care for the Insertion Site After Pellet Therapy

Itching

Some itching around the site as it heals is normal, and the adhesive from the dressing can add to it. For relief, over-the-counter diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 50 mg every 6 hours as needed usually settles it — it can make you drowsy, so avoid driving after a dose. Do not scratch or dig at the area; that is how a healing incision gets reopened or infected. If the itch comes with spreading redness, a rash, or warmth, that is different from ordinary healing, so call us rather than treating it at home.

Tylenol for discomfort

For soreness the first couple of days, reach for acetaminophen (Tylenol) and follow the dosing on the label. Skip NSAIDs — ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), aspirin, and naproxen (Aleve) — for the first 48 hours. Those thin the blood slightly and can add to bruising and bleeding at a fresh insertion site, while acetaminophen does not affect clotting the same way. If you take a daily aspirin or a blood thinner for a medical reason, do not stop it on your own; ask us or your prescriber first.

Pressure for bleeding

A little spotting on the bandage in the first day or two is normal and stops on its own. If you get active bleeding, press firmly and steadily on the site with clean gauze or a folded paper towel for 5 to 10 full minutes — set a timer and resist the urge to lift and check, since peeking restarts the bleed. Keep the pressure continuous the whole time. If blood soaks through after a solid 10 minutes of firm pressure, call us at (806) 701-5840 so we can take a look.

Steri-Strip

Leave the steri-strip alone for 5 to 7 days and let it come off on its own. Do not pull it early. The edges will start to curl and lift first, and once it is mostly loose you can gently peel the rest away or let it fall off in the shower. If it is still firmly stuck at day 7, that is fine — trim a curled edge if it catches on clothing, but you do not have to force it. This small strip is what keeps the incision closed while the deeper tissue heals around the pellet.

First Shower

You can shower after the first 24 hours. Once that first shower is done, peel off the clear outer dressing and let the area air-dry — you no longer need it covered around the clock. Leave the steri-strip in place underneath. From here, a normal daily shower is all the cleaning the site needs; there is no dressing to reapply and nothing to bandage unless you are still seeing minor oozing. If you are, cover it with a clean, dry adhesive bandage between showers.

Dressing

Your site is closed with a small steri-strip laid directly over the incision, and a clear waterproof dressing on top of it. There are no stitches to remove — the strip holds the edges together while the skin knits. Leave the whole thing undisturbed at first. The clear dressing is the outer, temporary layer; the steri-strip underneath is the one that matters and stays on longest. Do not peek under it or lift an edge to check the site, since that loosens the seal it is there to hold.

Scrubbing

Do not scrub, exfoliate, or rub the insertion site for 7 days. The skin over a fresh pellet pocket is fragile, and friction can reopen the incision or work a pellet loose. Skip loofahs, washcloths, and body brushes over the area, and let soapy water simply rinse across it in the shower. Afterward, pat dry with a clean towel. Hard toweling counts as scrubbing, so be gentle. Save your usual scrub and any hip or glute skincare for after the site has fully healed.

Shower only — no submersion

Showers are fine after the first 24 hours; full submersion is not. For 5 to 7 days, no baths, no pools, no hot tubs, and no lakes or ocean. Soaking softens the incision and lets bacteria reach the pellet pocket before it has closed, which is how site infections and extrusions start. In the shower, let water run over the area rather than aiming the stream at it, and keep it short the first few days. Once the steri-strip has fallen off and the skin looks closed, you can go back to soaking.

Keep insertion site clean and dry

Keep the insertion site clean and dry for the first 5 to 7 days while the incision closes. This is the single most important instruction in this guide. A pellet sits in a small pocket just under the skin at your upper hip, and until that tiny opening seals, water and bacteria have a way in. After your first shower, pat the area dry instead of rubbing, and do not apply ointments, powders, or lotions unless we tell you to. If a bandage gets soaked or grimy, swap it for a clean, dry one.

Mild soreness, bruising, and what is normal

What's Normal: Male HRT Pellet Downtime

Normal, temporary, and part of the process.

No real downtime beyond the site

Beyond caring for the site, there is no real downtime with pellet therapy. The insertion itself takes only a few minutes, and most men drive themselves home and go back to work the same day. You will not feel the hormone change right away, so do not expect a jolt of energy that afternoon; that part builds over the coming weeks. The only things holding you back the first week are the water and heavy-exercise restrictions, and both are about protecting the pellets, not about how you feel.

Bruising

Some bruising or a bit of redness right around the insertion site is normal and can show up a day or two after your appointment, since a small amount of bleeding under the skin is expected. It often looks worse before it fades, and gravity may pull the color a little lower on the hip as it clears over one to two weeks. A cool compress in the first 48 hours helps limit it. Redness that spreads outward, feels warm, or comes with drainage is a different matter — call us if you see that.

Tenderness (up to 3 weeks)

Tenderness when you sit against the site, press on it, or sleep on that hip can linger for two to three weeks as the tissue heals around the pellets. That is longer than the skin takes to close on the surface, and it is normal. You may also feel small, firm bumps just under the skin — those are the pellets themselves, and you will be able to feel them for most of the cycle until they dissolve. Firmness that turns into a hot, red, or increasingly painful lump is not routine and should be checked.

Swelling (first 3 days)

Expect mild swelling at the insertion site for the first one to three days — it is simply the tissue reacting to the small pocket that was made for the pellets. A cool compress or ice pack laid over the bandage for about 15 to 20 minutes at a time takes the edge off and helps with bruising; never put ice directly on bare skin. The swelling should ease a little each day. Swelling that is growing after day three, rather than shrinking, is worth a call to us.

What to avoid in the first 72 hours

What to Avoid After a Male HRT Pellet Insertion

Tight Waistbands & Pressure

Avoid tight waistbands, weight belts, or anything that compresses the insertion site for 7 days. Pressure increases the chance of pellet extrusion before the tissue has fully closed.

NSAIDs (48 hours)

Avoid NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin, Aleve, Motrin, naproxen) for the first 48 hours. NSAIDs increase bleeding and bruising at the insertion site. Tylenol is fine.

Strenuous Exercise

Avoid all major back, glute, and lower-body exercise for 7 days. No squats, deadlifts, hip thrusts, lunges, cycling, running, or rowing. Walking and light upper-body work are fine.

Water Submersion

No baths, pools, hot tubs, lakes, or ocean swimming until fully healed (typically 5 to 7 days). Showering is fine after the first day with the dressing protected.

Disturbing the Steri-Strip

Keep the steri-strip in place and dry for 5 to 7 days. If it falls off on its own after day 5, that is fine. If it lifts earlier, leave the underlying wound alone and let it heal on its own.

When to Call The Spa After Your Pellet Insertion

Contact The Spa immediately if you experience:

Some soreness, mild swelling, bruising, and a small amount of bleeding or spotting at the insertion site are all normal for the first few days. Call us right away if you notice any of the following:

Signs of infection — redness that spreads or keeps increasing after day 2, warmth, pus or drainage, a foul odor, fever, or red streaking running out from the site.
A pellet working its way out (extrusion) — feeling, seeing, or finding one of the small pellets at or coming through the insertion site.
Severe or worsening pain that intensifies after the first 48 hours instead of easing.
Bleeding that will not stop after 10 minutes of firm, continuous pressure.
Whole-body symptoms — a racing heart, severe headache, chest pain, or shortness of breath.

During business hours, call us at (806) 701-5840. For chest pain, trouble breathing, or signs of a serious spreading infection outside our hours, go to the nearest emergency room rather than waiting. For routine questions about healing or to schedule your next insertion, reach us by phone during business hours.

FAQ

Your questions, answered

We’ve answered some of the most common questions below to help make your experience simple, transparent, and stress-free.

Male bioidentical hormone replacement therapy—primarily testosterone replacement—for men experiencing symptoms of low testosterone: fatigue, low libido, depression or mood changes, loss of muscle, brain fog, weight gain despite effort, decreased motivation. Confirmed via lab work showing low or low-normal testosterone levels.

What is Male HRT and what does it treat?

Men experiencing low T symptoms with lab confirmation. Levels typically decline starting in late 30s, accelerating through 40s and 50s. Some men have low T due to other causes (medications, medical conditions, lifestyle, prior anabolic steroid use). Symptoms plus lab confirmation guides the decision—not age alone.

When should I consider testosterone replacement?

Bioidentical testosterone pellets are placed under the skin of the upper outer hip during a quick in-office procedure. The site is numbed first, the insertion takes 15 to 20 minutes, and it is closed with tape rather than stitches. Each pellet dissolves and releases testosterone continuously over roughly three to six months. Your provider sets the re-insertion timing from your bloodwork and how you feel, not from a fixed calendar.

How is Male HRT administered?

We numb the insertion site with local anesthetic before placement. Slight pressure during placement. Soreness at the site for about 7 days. Avoid swimming, hot tubs, and strenuous exercise for 5–7 days.

Does pellet insertion hurt?

It varies, and we cannot promise a result. Many men notice changes in energy and mood in the first few weeks, with libido often following over the next month or so. Changes in strength and body composition depend on consistent training and take months, not weeks. A pellet releases over roughly three to six months, and your provider sets the re-insertion timing from your labs. Expect bloodwork about 4 weeks after your first insertion and a lab review at 5 weeks, so your dose is guided by numbers rather than guesswork.

When will I feel results from Male HRT?

When properly screened and monitored, yes. We screen for contraindications (prostate cancer history, severe cardiovascular disease, untreated severe sleep apnea, certain blood disorders). Lab work monitored regularly. Properly managed testosterone replacement has strong safety data.

Is Male HRT safe?

Male HRT starts with a $150 consultation. Pellet insertion and dosing are quoted after labs come back, since cost depends on the dosing your individual labs call for. Members receive discounted pricing.

How much does Male HRT cost in Lubbock?

Properly dosed bioidentical testosterone replacement that brings you to physiologic levels typically improves mood, not destabilizes it. The "roid rage" stereotype comes from abuse of synthetic anabolic steroids at supratherapeutic doses. We dose to optimize, not to exceed normal range.

Will testosterone replacement cause aggression or anger?

Yes—suppressing your body's natural testosterone production can reduce sperm count. If preserving fertility is important, we discuss alternatives (clomid, HCG protocols) that maintain testicular function. Tell us at consultation if fertility is a current concern—it changes the treatment approach.

Can testosterone replacement affect fertility?

Comprehensive panel: total and free testosterone, estradiol, SHBG, DHEA-S, complete blood count (CBC—we monitor hematocrit), PSA (prostate marker), comprehensive metabolic panel including liver and kidney function. Possibly additional markers based on history. Initial labs are more extensive than follow-ups.

What labs do I need before starting?

Book a wellness consultation. We'll review your symptoms, medical history, order labs, and design a treatment plan based on results. If you have recent labs from primary care, bring them. Call (806) 701-5840 or book online.

How do I get started with Male HRT?

Most men who start testosterone replacement stay on it long-term because the underlying decline doesn't reverse. Some men can taper if the cause was specific and resolvable (medication side effect, lifestyle factor, weight loss). We discuss long-term planning from the start and revisit annually.