15-to-20-minute insertion, releases over about 3 to 6 months
The insertion takes 15 to 20 minutes in the office. Each pellet then releases testosterone over roughly three to six months, and your provider sets the re-insertion timing from your labs rather than a fixed calendar.
In-office subcutaneous insertion, after lab work
A minor in-office procedure. A provider numbs the skin, places the pellet in the fatty tissue of the upper outer hip under local anesthetic, and closes the site with tape. No stitches.
Upper outer hip, just beneath the skin
The upper outer hip, just beneath the skin, where the pellet releases testosterone over roughly three to six months before re-insertion.
Symptoms of low testosterone, confirmed on bloodwork
For men with symptoms of low testosterone confirmed by bloodwork. A diagnosis needs low morning testosterone on repeat testing plus symptoms, which a provider reviews with you. It is not for self-diagnosis or for boosting normal levels.
Compounded bioidentical testosterone pellets
What is male HRT pellet therapy?
Testosterone pellet therapy for men is one of the wellness options at The Spa by Sheena, and it is handled by our medical team, not sold off a shelf. Becca (MSN, FNP-C) and Angie (RN) run the program under our medical director, Dr. Arledge, a plastic surgeon. We have offered medical wellness care since 2016. A pellet is a small compounded implant, about the size of a grain of rice, placed under the skin to release testosterone gradually over roughly three to six months. It is part of our broader hormone pellet therapy program for women and men.
Every plan begins with a Hormone Therapy Consultation for men, which is $150. We do not post a pellet price here on purpose. Your labs come first, a provider reviews them, and pellet pricing is set after that review. Nothing is prescribed before someone looks at your bloodwork, because low testosterone is a diagnosis, not a guess.
What to expect from male HRT pellet therapy
Your first visit is a consultation ($150) and lab work. Hormone Therapy labs are $250. Low testosterone is only diagnosed when a low reading and real symptoms line up, so a provider goes over your history, your symptoms, and your medications, then reviews your bloodwork. Because a single blood level can swing quite a bit day to day, testosterone is usually checked more than once, in the early morning, before anyone decides on treatment. This is not something to self-diagnose from how you feel.
If pellets are appropriate, the insertion takes 15 to 20 minutes. Aftercare is simple, but it matters. Keep the site clean and dry, skip swimming, baths, and hard workouts for about a week, and avoid pressure on the area so the pellet stays put. The most common things men notice at the site are bruising, tenderness, or minor bleeding. Less often, a pellet can work its way back out through the skin, which is called extrusion, or the site can become infected. Tell us if that happens.
There is one thing many places gloss over, and we will not. Testosterone therapy suppresses sperm production and can affect fertility while you are on it. If you may want to father children, say so before you start, so your provider can talk you through your options. Testosterone therapy is a medical decision with real trade-offs, not a wellness add-on.
Monitoring is part of the deal. Testosterone can raise your red blood cell count, a condition called erythrocytosis, so a provider tracks your hematocrit, and PSA and prostate health are followed too. One more thing to understand before you decide: once a pellet is in, it cannot easily be removed, so if your level runs high the dose has to wear off over time rather than be dialed back that day. That is part of why we recheck instead of setting it and forgetting it. Follow-up labs are $125, and a Follow Up or Boost visit is $150.
Benefits of male HRT pellet therapy
ENERGY SUPPORT
Addresses the fatigue that can come with a confirmed low testosterone level.
LIBIDO SUPPORT
Addresses the low sex drive and erectile changes linked to low testosterone.
MUSCLE SUPPORT
Supports the muscle mass and strength that decline with age and falling testosterone.
FOCUS AND MOTIVATION
Addresses the brain fog and low motivation many men chalk up to getting older.
BIOIDENTICAL
Bioidentical testosterone, molecularly identical to what your body makes. Not a synthetic anabolic steroid.
Inside the pellet insertion appointment
Inside a male HRT pellet appointment
The pellets we use are compounded bioidentical testosterone, meaning the hormone is molecularly identical to the testosterone your body makes. At The Spa we use the EvexiPEL system, and our providers are EvexiPEL-certified in the insertion technique. The insertion itself is quick. A provider numbs a small area of the upper outer hip, makes a tiny opening, and places the pellet in the fatty tissue just beneath the skin. The whole thing takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The site is closed with tape. There are no stitches.
Over roughly the next three to six months the pellet dissolves on its own and releases testosterone into the bloodstream, and then it is re-inserted. That is why there is no daily gel to apply or weekly shot to remember. Men generally need a new insertion less often than women do, and your provider sets the timing from your bloodwork and how you feel, not from a fixed calendar. Women follow a similar path on our hormone pellet therapy for women page.
The point of testosterone therapy is to treat the symptoms of genuinely low testosterone: low energy, low sex drive, low mood, and loss of muscle among them. It is not a performance booster, and it is only appropriate when your labs and your symptoms both point to a deficiency. We will be straight with you about that. A provider decides whether treatment fits you, and sets honest expectations rather than promising a result.
Pellet HRT vs testosterone injections or topicals
How HRT pellets compare to injections and gels
Here is the honest comparison. The pellets we use are a compounded, custom-made form of testosterone. EvexiPEL, the system we use, states it plainly on its own website: "Compounded drug products are not FDA-approved. FDA does not evaluate compounded products for safety, effectiveness, or quality." We would rather you hear that from us than not at all. FDA-approved testosterone products do exist, and one of them, Testopel, is even an approved pellet. That is not the product we compound, and we are not going to tell you our pellet is FDA-approved, because it is not.
Testosterone therapy is only appropriate for men with a confirmed deficiency, meaning a low morning testosterone level on repeat testing together with real symptoms. It is not a performance booster for men whose levels are normal. It is generally avoided with prostate or breast cancer, an elevated hematocrit, untreated severe sleep apnea, or uncontrolled heart failure, and it is not started in men who are trying to conceive. Tell your provider your full history so these can be checked.
On the heart question, the largest safety trial so far, called TRAVERSE, followed more than five thousand men who had low testosterone plus existing heart disease or a high risk of it. It found testosterone therapy was no worse than placebo for major cardiac events such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death. That is reassuring, with two honest caveats: the trial studied a testosterone gel rather than pellets, and testosterone still raised hematocrit, which is exactly why monitoring matters. We are not going to claim pellets are safer, more natural, or better than FDA-approved testosterone therapy. What pellets offer some men is convenience, with no daily or weekly dosing to keep up, and whether that trade-off is right for you is a medical decision, not a marketing one.
Hormones are one piece of feeling well. Some men pair their care with NAD+ therapy for energy and recovery or a B12 skinny shot, and others come to us through weight support like our GLP-1 weight management program. To talk it through with a provider, book a Hormone Therapy Consultation online or call us at (806) 701-5840.
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.
Will I need to take medication forever?
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Questions about a treatment?
Ask about pricing, candidacy, or which treatment fits your goals — we reply within one business day. For faster answers, call or text (806) 701-5840.
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