Lab Testing & Referrals in Pittsburgh
At The Face Loft in Cranberry Township and McMurray, hormone replacement therapy and weight loss care begins with your bloodwork. Understanding your numbers is how we build a plan that fits you.
Treatment Type
Weight Loss & Wellness
Draw Duration
15 Minutes
Fasting
Required for some patients
Why We Test Before We Treat
Hormone therapy, peptides, and GLP-1 medications all work by changing your body’s chemistry. We like to understand yours first.
Lab work gives your provider a clear picture of what’s happening inside your body: where your hormone levels sit, how your thyroid is functioning, what your metabolic markers look like. That picture shapes everything that follows, from which treatment we recommend to the dose we start you on.
It also gives us a baseline. Once we know where you began, we can track your progress,, fine-tune your protocol as your body responds, and show you the change in your own numbers over time. Your results become a record of what’s working.
Sometimes your labs confirm exactly what you suspected. Sometimes they point somewhere you didn’t expect: a thyroid issue behind the fatigue you’d attributed to low testosterone, or a metabolic marker that opens up a better weight loss approach than the one you came in asking about. Either way, you and your provider build your plan around real information about you.
What Does the Lab Panel Include?
There’s no single Face Loft panel, because there’s no single Face Loft patient.
Your provider orders a practitioner-guided lab panel based on your individual needs, your symptoms, your health history, and the treatment you’re considering. Someone exploring hormone therapy for perimenopausal symptoms needs different markers than someone starting a peptide protocol or evaluating a GLP-1 for weight loss.
Depending on your consultation, that panel may look at thyroid function, a complete blood count, a chemistry panel, hormone levels, or metabolic markers. Your provider will explain exactly what’s being ordered and why before you leave your appointment.
Where Do I Get My Labs Drawn?
Your provider writes the order. Where you have it filled is up to you.
Draw them with us. We can perform your blood draw right at The Face Loft, at either our Cranberry Township or McMurray location, and send your samples out for processing. If you arrive at your consultation already fasted, we can often draw the same day and save you a second trip.
Take the order anywhere you like. Your provider’s script isn’t tied to a particular laboratory. Bring it to whichever lab or facility is most convenient or most affordable for you.
Use your insurance. In some cases, lab work is covered by your health insurance. Coverage depends on your plan and the diagnosis codes involved, and we’d encourage you to check with your insurer directly, and it’s worth asking before you pay out of pocket.
Can I Use Labs I’ve Already Had Done?
Possibly, and it’s always worth asking.
If you’ve had bloodwork done recently through your primary care provider, OB-GYN, or another practice, we may be able to accept certain tests completed within the past six months. It depends on which markers were run, how recently, and what treatment you’re pursuing. Some values change quickly enough that they need to be current.
Bring a copy of your results to your consultation and your provider will review them with you. If everything needed is there and recent enough, you may not need a new draw at all. If some markers are missing or outdated, your provider will order only what’s actually required rather than repeating the full panel.
Either way, you’re not paying twice for the same information.
Which Treatments Require Labs?
Lab testing is part of getting started with several of our wellness services. Here’s where it applies.
GLP-1 Medical Weight Loss
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Peptide Therapy
What Does Lab Testing Cost?
Two separate things, and it’s worth being precise about the difference.
Your Consultation Fee covers your provider’s time, a full review of your health history and goals, and the lab order itself: your provider evaluating exactly which markers you need and writing the script for them.
The cost of processing the labs is billed separately by the laboratory, not by us. That amount varies depending on which panel your provider orders and where you have it run. Hormone panels are typically the most comprehensive. Because you choose your own lab, you also have room to shop for the option that works best for your budget, and insurance may cover part or all of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need lab work before starting hormone therapy?
Yes. Baseline lab testing is standard before beginning hormone replacement therapy so your provider can see your actual levels and prescribe accordingly, rather than treating symptoms blind.
What tests will be ordered for me?
That depends on you. Your provider orders a practitioner-guided panel based on your symptoms, health history, and the treatment you’re considering, which may include thyroid function, a complete blood count, a chemistry panel, or hormone levels.
Can I use lab results from my primary care doctor?
Possibly. We may be able to accept certain tests completed within the past six months. Bring a copy of your results to your consultation and your provider will review whether they cover what’s needed.
Does the consultation fee include the cost of my labs?
No. The consultation fee covers your provider’s time and the lab order itself. The laboratory bills separately for processing, and that cost varies by panel and by where you have it run.
Where do I get my blood drawn?
Wherever you prefer. We can draw at either The Face Loft location and send your samples out, or you can take your provider’s order to any lab that’s convenient for you.
Do I need to fast?
Hormone panels require fasting. If you want the option of having labs drawn the same day as your consultation, come in fasted. Otherwise you’ll return for the draw at a later date.
How often will I need to be retested?
It depends on your protocol. Some require retesting quarterly, others less frequently. Your provider will lay out your monitoring schedule when you start treatment.
Will my insurance cover lab testing?
Sometimes. Coverage varies by plan and diagnosis. Because you can take your lab order to the facility of your choice, it’s worth checking with your insurer before paying out of pocket.
Semaglutide
Semaglutide
LEARN MORETirzepatide
Tirzepatide
LEARN MOREHormone Therapy
Hormone Therapy
LEARN MOREGood skin. Good Vibes.
Medical Experts with Mutual Trust
The Face Loft® delivers expert-led, ethical aesthetic care from a team of seasoned medical professionals you can trust for your long-term beauty and wellness journey.
Curated Selection of Services
We carefully select each service and product for optimal results, minimal downtime, and patient safety, with our expert team committed to staying informed on the latest advancements.
A Relaxing, Convenient Facility
Our welcoming, modern practice provides a serene space to unwind while our expert team helps you look and feel your best, ready to take on whatever the day has in store.
