Bridget Alsup, PA-C

The truth is … the patch works, but the adhesive doesn’t always cooperate.

If yours has ever curled at the edges early in the week — or come off entirely in the shower — it isn’t a flaw in your skin. Estrogen patch adhesion is a mechanical problem with mechanical solutions, and most come down to three things: how the skin is prepped, how the patch is applied, and where it’s placed.

A few specifics worth knowing:

Preparation matters most. Clean, fully dry skin holds adhesive far better than skin that’s warm and damp from a shower, or carrying any trace of lotion, oil, or sunscreen. If you use an alcohol wipe to remove residue, let the skin dry completely first — alcohol on damp skin can undercut the adhesive.

Technique is worth thirty extra seconds. Peel from the edges without touching the adhesive, then press firmly with the palm of your hand for ten to fifteen seconds, sealing the edges last. A little gentle warmth — a hand, or a hair dryer on low — helps the adhesive bond before that final press.

Placement and timing do real work. The lower abdomen and upper outer buttock hold better than the waistline or anywhere clothing rubs. Rotate the site with every change, and give a new patch at least an hour to set before a workout, swim, or hot shower. Still lifting? A clear waterproof medical dressing (Tegaderm, sold OTC) over the top is a reasonable, low-effort fix.

None of this is a shortcut — it’s the mechanics of adhesive and skin, and it’s worth getting right, since consistent absorption is the goal of hormone replacement therapy.

Follow along for more. Share with someone who needs to hear this information.

Please note: this is general education, not a substitute for a personalized plan or medical advice — discuss with your provider, or schedule a consult to establish female HRT care if you live in NC.

Bridget Alsup, MPAS, PA-C, FMCP-M
Aesthetic + Wellness Medicine
Winston-Salem, NC

Two years in brings even more clarity around:

•who my patients are
•why I continue to show up every day
•where I’m going

My practice isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay — but I’m damn proud of what I’ve built in just two years:

• An aesthetic medicine practice with comprehensive offerings — from skin health to advanced injectables, cosmetic dermatology, and hair loss prescription plans, to weight loss and female hormone replacement therapy

• Transitioned from concierge care to an in-person, brick-and-mortar office space

• An 85% patient retention rate (industry average is 40-50%!)

I must be doing something right. So if you’re looking for a different level of aesthetic medicine, I’d be happy to work with you.

Bridget Alsup, MPAS, PA-C, FMCP-M
Aesthetic and Wellness Medicine
Winston-Salem, NC

Two years in brings even more clarity around:

•who my patients are
•why I continue to show up every day
•where I’m going

My practice isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay — but I’m damn proud of what I’ve built in just two years.

• An aesthetic medicine practice with comprehensive offerings — from skin health to advanced injectables, cosmetic dermatology, and hair loss prescription plans, to weight loss and female hormone replacement therapy

• Transitioned from concierge care to an in-person, brick-and-mortar office space

• An 85% patient retention rate (industry average is 40-50%!)

I must be doing something right. So if you’re looking for a different level of aesthetic medicine, I’d be happy to work with you.

Bridget Alsup, MPAS, PA-C, FMCP-M
Aesthetic and Wellness Medicine
Winston-Salem, NC

Sculptra is the treatment patients ask about most — and, the one most often misunderstood.

Here are 7 Sculptra FAQs, answered plainly (and, if you don’t see yours answered here - drop it in the comments!)

What exactly is it?
▪︎Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) — a biostimulator, not a filler. It doesn’t add gel volume; it asks your skin to rebuild its own.

How does it work?
▪︎PLLA microparticles trigger a controlled, purposeful response: fibroblasts lay down new type I collagen over roughly 4–12 weeks while the PLLA breaks down into lactic acid, then CO₂ and water. That new collagen in the dermis and subdermis is what people read as “glow” — a thicker dermis that scatters light more evenly, refined texture and softened crepiness, and restored support at the deep planes (temples, cheekbone, jawline) that lifts shadow off the face. Results build over months and generally last around two years, because the result is your own tissue.

Is it painful?
▪︎A needle is used to place the product, but it is mixed with lidocaine at reconstitution — most patients find the treatment quite tolerable.

What about nodules?
▪︎Thoughtful dilution, injection technique, and the post-procedure 5-5-5 protocol have made this an uncommon outcome. Technique is the safeguard.

Can it be dissolved?
▪︎No — but it wears off on its own over time. Because Sculptra imparts no immediate volume and treatments are staged deliberately - the result reads natural, never overfilled.

Can I still have a facelift later?
▪︎Yes. Highly regarded plastic surgeons have put this myth to rest. Your surgeon may simply ask you to wait a certain period of time between injectables and lift.

Can I combine it with filler, tox, or microneedling?
▪︎Yes. A biostimulator doesn’t close any doors. I can sequence your treatments together so each one supports the next — the best result, and the most value for your investment.

🗓Collagen is a long game, and it rewards planning.

Looking to establish care? Begin with a virtual or in-person consultation and we’ll build the plan around your face, your timeline, and your goals.

COMMENT “SBS” below for direct access to the SkinBetter Science ⚡️Flash Promo⚡️ ending SOON ...

don’t wait to stock up on these award-winning, professional-grade products that deliver results

PLUS - Spend $300, get a FREE travel Alto Advanced serum ($100 value).

Promo is ENDING TODAY Fri, Aug 21 at 11:59PM EST!

Reach out if you have product-specific questions … I’m happy to help 🤗

I want this space, and your experience within it, to feel different.

That is intentional.

I firmly believe, and have witnessed firsthand over the past two years of owning and operating a small boutique aesthetic medicine practice, the transformative power of this work.

It is not just surface-level vanity. I have watched countless patients evolve over time, reclaim a version of themselves they thought was lost, and reenter their lives with renewed confidence, energy, and excitement for the future.

As a military spouse and mother of two, I was patient zero. I woke up in my 40s after multiple cross-country relocations, birthing and raising babies away from family, trying to hold onto my professional identity, and then COVID hit. Coming out of that as a front-line provider, to say I needed a change of pace was an understatement.

I did not recognize myself when I looked in the mirror. It was not just the way I looked. It was my spirit, too.

So I decided to take a step back and get clear on what I wanted. I start investing in myself, and, eventually, was ready to go back to medicine to invest in my patients, the way I had always wanted to.

That is what I am proud to say I have built, and continue to build today - thanks to your support!

If you want to experience a different level of care — direct access to me, natural results, and a practice built without crowded waiting rooms, rushed appointments, rotating providers, or double-booked schedules — I invite you to schedule a consult.

Let’s begin.