At Mentor’s Pura Vida Wellness, an elite team of medical and aesthetic professionals is helping clients lose weight, enjoy more youthful-looking skin, and improve overall wellness

By Patricia Nugent

If your New Year’s resolution has anything to do with looking and feeling better inside and out, the newly opened Pura Vida Wellness can get you there.

This seasoned group of wellness and aesthetic medical practitioners offers a novel and comprehensive approach to transformation dedicated to guiding, motivating and celebrating each person’s journey.

“My team and I are passionate about creating clients’ happiest, healthiest possible version of themselves,” says Medical Director of Aesthetics and Wellness Dr. Andrew Brobbey. “Our approach brings together breakthrough treatments personalized to each client’s overall well-being—administered by seasoned medical staff. We have the capability to significantly improve people’s lives. And we strive to create a welcoming atmosphere where no one feels embarrassed about wanting to take charge of looking and feeling their best.”

Joining Dr. Brobbey with a wealth of medical care experience are Kelly Siegel APRN, CNP; Sarah Umholtz, RN; Ashley Follett, LPN; Kim Ward, CMA; Krysta Tongel, RN; Amanda Prech, RN; receptionist Mandy Baker and Office Administrator, Debbie Lombardo.

“As soon as people walk in, they pick up on our relaxed and friendly vibe,” Sarah says. “The staff are all good friends and we treat our clients like friends, and family, too.”

The health and beauty repertoire at Pura Vida is extensive, ranging from medical weight loss (semaglutide, tirzepatide, phentermine and Contrave), to aesthetic treatments, (Botox, Dysport, Kybella, Glow Pin facials and dermal fillers), as well as overall wellness (IV vitamin infusions and intramuscular injections).

Introducing New Programs

Though the medical weight loss clinic and aesthetic company has only been open a few months, the community response has been positive.

“To make things easier for our repeat clients, we are rolling out a monthly membership program,” Ashley says. “Members enjoy a discount on services with a flat-rate pricing structure. They can simply call, book online, or just walk in for treatments.”

Another program they are rolling out soon is bioidentical hormone therapy for men and women.

Aimed at relieving symptoms of menopause or low testosterone, the alternative therapy balances hormone levels by introducing ones that are identical on a molecular level.

Kelly will meet with the client and go over their medical history, then draw a blood sample and create a regimen of compounded hormone replacement that can be administered via injection or pills.

“With all of our treatments, we see wellness as the possibility of transformation, promoting each person’s unique health, beauty, and overall well-being,” Ashley says. “We act as partners in each person’s wellness journey, and we’re dedicated to nurturing, guiding, and celebrating every success.”

About Face: Enhancing Aesthetics through Facial Sculpting
The seasoned master injectors at Pura Vida are true artists when it comes to enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the face and neck, as well as health of the skin.

“We partner with clients to pinpoint their goals, look in the mirror, and uncover what they want to improve,” Ashley says. “Maybe they are unhappy with a double chin, a receding chin, or laugh lines and crow’s feet. They might want more shapely lips or smoother skin. We can achieve significant enhancement and natural-looking results through leading-edge, non-invasive treatments.”

During a Glow Pin facial, the device delivers a medical-grade solution deep into skin cells to improve clarity, reduce wrinkles, tighten texture, and lessen pores.

To keep the results going long after treatments, the staff offers an award-winning pharmaceutical line of skincare—SkinBetter Science—which includes creams and repair serums to revitalize skin.

Ashley calls a new product named Upneeq “an eyelid lift in a bottle.” Eyedrops cause the eyelid muscle to contract, which lends a more youthful, refreshed, wide-eyed appearance.

“I gave it to my friend for her wedding day since it makes you more photogenic and she’s kept using it,” says Ashley.

Targeted Vitamin Infusions Boost Wellness
Energizing IV vitamin infusions take place in a plush and relaxing room featuring leather recliners, cozy blankets, and whimsical wall murals of bubbles.

“The therapies we’ve put together are designed to nourish the body at a cellular level, providing the essential nutrients needed for optimal function,” Sarah says. “Since we numb the client topically, they don’t feel the tiny butterfly needle going in. Each drip takes about 30-45 minutes and people leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.”

Targeted drips are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and lipotropics to affect everything from hydration levels to migraines, immunity, athletic performance, metabolism, fat burning and even glowing skin.

“Our Slim Drip is the most popular one,” says Sarah. “It kicks metabolism into high gear and helps burn fat faster. The Hangover Drip is amazing at counteracting the effects of over-imbibing.”

With intramuscular injections, the clinicians can deliver essential vitamins like B12 and L-Carnitine at their location, as well as teach people to self-administer and take them home subcutaneously.

Encouraging New Class of Weight-Loss Medicine
For anyone trying to lose stubborn pounds without success, the research and clinical trials on several new FDA-approved medications are highly encouraging.

“Semaglutide and tirzepatide are weekly injectable medications originally created to treat diabetes, but have been approved to also treat weight loss,” says Sarah. “As GLP/1 receptor agonists, they mimic the hormone released in the gut in response to eating. They send a signal to the brain of feeling full and suppressing appetite. Visceral fat, which is the most dangerous type that surrounds your organs, is also targeted.”

The hundreds of clients who have come to Pura Vida seeking help and started on the injections are losing an average of 20% of their body weight.

“I’ve Struggled with My Weight for Years”
Josh McClary has been on tirzepatide for three months and has lost 31 pounds. His goal is to lose 15 more.

“I struggled with my weight for years, facing the challenges that many of us encounter in our quest for a healthier lifestyle,” he says. “From the moment I stepped through the doors at Pura Vida, I felt a genuine warmth and acceptance that set the tone for my entire experience. What struck me immediately was the inclusive atmosphere.”

The personalized approach of the program, guided by a team of dedicated professionals, has been instrumental to his success.

“Tailored plans, coupled with expert guidance, provided me with the tools I needed to achieve my weight-loss goals,” he says. “The staff’s commitment to my well-being extended beyond the scales. They consistently went above and beyond to ensure I felt supported and understood. It’s rare to find a team that genuinely cares about your journey, and I am sincerely grateful for the kindness and encouragement I received at every step.”

Your Own Unique Strategy
In addition to semaglutide and tirzepatide, the clinicians work with an arsenal of targeted medications to achieve weight loss, including leading-edge pharmaceuticals such as phentermine and contrave. Each addresses a unique path to weight loss, such as reducing appetite, burning body fat and inhibiting the formation of new fat cells.

Certified Nurse Practitioner Kelly Siegel manages the weight loss program in tandem with Dr. Brobbey.

“I’m the person who sits down with new clients to take their medical history, find out about their lifestyle, and come up with a strategy that best fits them,” she says. “Educating clients is an important part of the program. We make sure with any of the medications that people adopt healthy behaviors, diet and exercise that will enable them to keep their weight off the rest of their lives. We instruct them about portion control and how to follow a nutrient-dense diet.”

The safe science behind these injections slows the digestion process so people feel fuller longer and ultimately, they consume less food and experience fewer food cravings.

“Reversing and preventing obesity helps anyone in the long run, saving them from health issues like diabetes, heart disease, strokes and arthritis, just to name a few,” says Kelly. “People can go from managing diseases the rest of their lives, to actually enjoying a best-possible quality of life.”

Sarah points out that the science of weight loss medications has made real breakthroughs over the past several years.

“We understand that weight-loss is a distinctive journey for each person,” she says, “with an emphasis that goes beyond just shedding pounds but focuses on transforming lives.”

Once clients start their journey at Pura Vida, they often begin with one treatment, then move onto others. Such is the case with Rebecca and Georgianna.

Both in their 50s, the women share a similar story. They were feeling the negative health effects of menopause when they found out about Pura Vida. After the first service, they put their trust in these clinicians to transform their appearance and wellness.

Thanks to being on the medical weight loss program for several months, they are down a combined 50 pounds.

Rebecca has also been taking vitamin infusions to treat her migraines and fibromyalgia, oral supplements, and Glow Pin facials.

“I was invited to a Botox party here and was hooked on how amazing and knowledgeable the staff is,” says Rebecca. “Thanks to the weight-loss injections, I’ve gone from a size 10 to a 4. I also travel a lot to cheerleading competitions with my daughter and rely on the immunity drip to keep me well whenever we go on the road.”

Rebecca decided with a new body, it was time for a refreshed facial aesthetic to go with it, so she had a Glow Pin facial to diminish brown spots, tighten her skin and lessen wrinkles.

Georgianna says dropping 27 pounds and going from a size 12 to an 8, has had a positive cascade effect on her well-being.

“I’ve struggled with my weight for many years,” she explains. “Being on steroids to treat autoimmune diseases including fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, had caused me to gain more weight. During my initial consultation, the blood draw showed I was dehydrated, my vitamin D level was dangerously low, and my inflammation markers were sky high, so they created a vitamin infusion to address that. I felt totally energized after and kept coming back.”

After she lost her weight she decided it was time to start a skincare journey. She currently uses 9 products from the SkinBetter Science line, as well as botox, Upneeq, and Restylane fillers. “It created a nice, natural-looking improvement that wasn’t drastic,” says Georgianna. “I still look like me, only younger and happier.”

Pura Vida Wellness is located at 9179 Mentor Avenue, in Mentor. Thanks to zero-percent APR financing options through Cherry, you can make monthly payments that fit your budget. Call 440-290-0755 or visit PuraVidaWellnessMentor.com.