vitality
noun – from Latin vita which means life. The state of being strong and active; energy, as in liveliness, life, energy, spirit, exuberance, bounce, élan, verve, pep, zest, sparkle, passion, vigor, drive, get-up-and-go.

Ever felt like you wanted some of that? Some vitality? As living beings, we have it; however it doesn’t always feel like we have it. Sometimes, it doesn’t even look like we have it. Health and vitality–a sense of complete wellbeing–means that you feel alive on the inside and look alive on the outside. You have energy, sparkle, passion and that get-up-and-go feeling that defines vitality. Enter Vitality Anti-Aging Center and you immediately feel a positive energy from the professionals who work there and the patients whose own liveliness is blossoming.

TREATING THE WHOLE YOU
Vitality Anti-Aging Center is a fully integrated health care practice nestled on a tree-lined street on the edge of downtown Hickory. The two-story facility is welcoming and professional. Owned and managed by physician assistant Grace McLaurin, Vitality employs 20 highly trained and experienced health care professionals in a wide array of integrated disciplines. Offering both comprehensive medical care as well as extensive medical, aesthetic and massage spa services, Vitality is truly where health and beauty meet!

The physician run facility focuses on prevention, achieving total health and helping people develop and maintain a new sense of complete wellbeing. Under the supervision of Dr. Charles McKaraher, Vitality’s medical director, patients can begin with their annual exam or health assessment. Services and treatments include hormonal testing and replacement, managing menopause and andropause, treating depression, anxiety, or insomnia, annual pap smears and breast exams, weight management, food allergies, skin exams and removal of minor lesions or moles, high blood pressure, contraception counseling and more.

“We have over 3,000 patients in our practice, but we develop our treatment plans based on the individual,” Grace told me. “Our preventive approach means that we look for the cause of the condition or symptoms and treat the underlying reason someone isn’t feeling well. We have an in-house lab, offer effective traditional and alternative medical treatments, and are contracted with most major insurance companies. Along with our chiropractor and acupuncturist, Dr. Monica Hemmen, our staff of certified nurse practitioners and nursing assistants, Dr. McKaraher and I are able to care for the whole person in whatever areas they need.”

Grace’s expertise in whole health wellness and aesthetics includes certification as a trainer in facial injectables such as Botox and Juvéderm. She has over five years’ experience teaching, training and speaking and is available for business and marketing consultations, as well.

HORMONES AND HEALTH
Both men and women come to Vitality for assessment and treatment of hormone issues. Bio-identical hormones, extended-release pellet hormone treatment, and balancing testosterone, adrenal and thyroid hormones can improve health and wellbeing. “People don’t need to go through their middle life feeling miserable,” Grace explained. “We can evaluate and treat conditions on the medical side, as well as recommend complementary, rejuvenating massage and body treatments on the spa side. Our patients appreciate the full-service approach we offer.”

RELAXING, ANTI-AGING SPA CARE
Upstairs at Vitality Anti-Aging Center is the full-service medical spa. In a warm and peaceful environment you will meet a team of practitioners whose specialties cover all aspects of aesthetic skin care, dermal fillers, laser or chemical peel skin therapies, massage, body work, waxing and nail care. “Our products and services are effective and of exceptional quality,” aesthetician Jean Paspa says. “Everything we do is in a medical environment, and yet we have a very relaxing, pampered setting. Whether you’re here for a facial, massage, chiropractic adjustment or to learn about our anti-aging skin care products and treatments, you will feel at ease and be well cared for.”

Anti-aging and aesthetic services and cosmetics help us look and feel great on the outside. “Our face, skin and body care specialists all stay abreast of the most effective, new products through constant in-service training. Together their experience spans many years, and I’m lucky to have each and every one of them working here,” Grace said with a smile. At Vitality’s website, www.vitalitymedicalspa.com, you can learn much more about aesthetic products, such as Botox, Juvéderm, Radiesse, Cutera laser rejuvenation, Latisse eyelash treatment, gloMinerals cosmetics, the Obagi skin care line, among many others. In fact, the website is a wealth of information about whole body wellness and personal health care that you will enjoy. Look for upcoming seminars, schedule a wedding makeup party, girls’ night out, or click on the “Beauty on a Budget” page. Lovely spa gift items or gift certificates are perfect for the special people in your life.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
The weight loss program offered at Vitality Anti-Aging Center has proven very successful. “We’re not a cookie cutter diet,” nurse practitioner Todd Hinceman explains. “We start with the whole person and evaluate not only their diet and exercise habits, but also their health history, lab work, and hormone levels. We’ve seen the success of numerous patients, many who have shed 20 pounds or more, some over 100 pounds. By discovering underlying causes, we can see what’s inhibiting weight loss and support successful long-term maintenance.” Patients in the program are followed weekly and work with personal trainers, nutritionists, and personal chefs, if desired. The program encourages natural, whole foods and provides delicious recipes, recommends Pure Encapsulation supplements, if needed, and has delicious shakes and protein bars as a complement to meals. The customized, easy to follow program has been developed through years of work by the team at Vitality.

A PERSONAL TOUCH
With an extensive background in internal medicine, women’s health, emergency medicine, aesthetics and training at Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Grace McLaurin opened Vitality because she believes that people need to focus internally and externally when it comes to their health. “We’ve become so limited in just treating the symptoms, and there’s so much more to health and beauty than that,” Grace shared. “Here we have the luxury of spending more time with our patients; looking at their whole selves. With our medical services supporting the spa services, patients become more connected with their bodies and learn to care for themselves in a more holistic way. We’re changing lives.”

GIVING BACK IN THE COMMUNITY
Hickory’s breast cancer support organization, Through Healing Eyes, recognizes the special care Vitality offers women with breast cancer. Last year T.H.E. awarded the Center a grant, which was doubled this year, so that through Vitality’s Vital Touch program services can be provided free of charge to patients undergoing active treatment for breast cancer. These services include massage therapy, medical cupping that treats lymphedema, acupuncture for nausea, and oncology aesthetics. “Melissa Woods, Deanna Drum, our certified medical cupping and massage therapists, and Jean Paspa, who specializes in oncology aesthetics, provide a much needed and very appreciated service for women in our community,” Grace shared. “We love being able to help.”

Health and beauty do meet at Vitality Anti-Aging Center. With a whole body, preventive, inclusive approach, your health and beauty can be enhanced, supported and maintained. It’s never too early or too late to begin taking better care of yourself, inside and out. Now is a good time for you to start.

Vitality Anti-Aging Center
419 2nd Street NW
Hickory, NC
828.322.1498

www.vitalitymedicalspa.com