As the Hamptons shift from quiet spring mornings to the full-tilt summer calendar, the pressure to perform—physically, mentally, socially—lands hard. Staying Hamptons-ready takes more than quick fixes. We sat down with triple board-certified physician and founder of Dr. Sue Skincare, Dr. Sue DeCotiis, to discuss what to test, what to prescribe, and what holds up from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
PURIST: Balancing hormones is often viewed through the lens of reproductive health. For your patients, how does the game change for weight resistance and mental clarity during busy summer months?
DR. SUE DECOTIIS: Hormones work like a symphony—estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid and growth hormone all in balance. When they’re not, the body becomes inflamed, and you can’t feel or look your best while hosting dinner or chasing kids at the beach.
This decline often starts in the late 30s, long before periods change. Erratic hormones can cost women bone density, brain volume and up to 30 percent of their collagen—the body skin laxity I saw in 40-something patients is why I developed Dr. Sue Skincare Sculptisse Body Contour Cream.
The fix is properly monitored bioidentical estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. I often add a CJC/ipamorelin peptide injection to restore growth hormone—sharper sleep, better body composition and your mojo back.
The earlier you find a doctor trained in this nuance, the more of yourself you keep.
Weight loss medicine has shifted toward GLP-1s, but you advocate for a more holistic, regenerative approach. How can these be used for longevity rather than just a temporary fix?
GLP-1s are tools for longevity when they’re prescribed with the data behind them. Without that, you’re driving on a highway with no signs. In my practice, every patient uses a sophisticated body composition scale that measures body fat, lean muscle, bone mass and hydration. Consumer scales aren’t nearly as precise.
When body fat is high, fat cells produce toxic cytokines that drive inflammation, immune dysfunction and even Alzheimer’s risk. To reverse the damage, body fat has to come down to roughly 20 percent or below. Think of it as pulling weeds out of the garden—leave any behind and they grow back.
How does optimizing hormones like estrogen or testosterone unlock the effectiveness of GLP-1 medications?
Combining bioidentical hormone replacement with medical weight loss is the difference between a GLP-1
working brilliantly or barely at all. Insulin is also a hormone, and its job is to oxidize fat. When estrogen and progesterone become erratic, insulin resistance creeps in, body fat rises and the GLP-1 can’t do its full job. Optimizing bioidentical estrogen, progesterone and testosterone restores insulin sensitivity and gives the medication the metabolic terrain it needs.
I don’t guess at this. A metabolic breathalyzer reveals oxygen utilization, heart rate variability, biological age and metabolic flexibility. The bottom line: Correct insulin resistance and visceral fat comes off automatically—without taking muscle and bone with it. Patients who start in spring are at full effect by summer.
What’s one peptide-driven secret for women who want skin and hair to look as vibrant as they feel?
For glowing facial skin, the Glow peptide injection is my favorite biohack—designed for the face the way the Dr. Sue Skincare Sculptisse Body Contour Cream is designed for the body. Its topical cousin, GHK-Cu, can be applied to the face for skin support and to the scalp to help thicken hair—one of the quieter, more frustrating losses of perimenopause. Both pair beautifully with bioidentical hormone replacement.
Longevity isn’t a finish line. It’s how strong, clear and recovered you feel walking into August—and the August after that.
Dr. Sue DeCotiis is a triple board-certified physician specializing in hormone optimization, medical weight loss and longevity medicine. drdecotiis.com; drsueskincare.com