Dr Louisa Albertyn

15/04/2026

There is a lot of confusion around aesthetic treatments and understandably so.

Terms like Botox, fillers and biostimulators are often used interchangeably, but medically they work very differently.

Toxin injections (commonly known as Botox) act on muscles. They temporarily relax specific facial muscles that cause repetitive movement, which softens lines such as frown lines and crow’s feet.

Fillers, usually made of hyaluronic acid, are used to restore volume. As we age, we lose fat, bone density and structural support in the face. Fillers help replace that volume in areas like the cheeks or lips.

Biostimulators work differently again. Instead of adding volume directly, they stimulate your body’s own collagen production. This leads to gradual improvements in skin quality, firmness and structure over time.

These treatments are not interchangeable. They are tools, and each one has a specific role.

In many cases, subtle, natural results come from combining approaches rather than overusing one.

Most importantly, treatment decisions should always be based on:

Your individual anatomy

Your medical history

Your goals

A proper consultation

Aesthetic medicine, when done correctly, is not about changing your face. It is about supporting healthy ageing in a safe, considered way.

If you are unsure where to start, ask questions.
You deserve clear, medically accurate information before making any decisions.

💬 You’re welcome to DM me if you’d like me to explain what might be appropriate for you


| CollagenSupport | YourFriendlyGP | GentleCare

11/04/2026

I’ve had quite a few messages asking where I am lately, so I thought I’d share a little life update with you 🤍

Yes, I am still at the GP practice, and very much committed to my patients there. That part of my work hasn’t changed.

At the same time, 2026 has brought a new opportunity my way. I’ve joined the team at Age Zero Aesthetic Clinic, and it has been such a special experience being surrounded by a group of incredibly skilled and supportive women.

For me, this doesn’t feel like a shift away from general practice, it feels like an extension of it.

So much of what I see daily as a GP overlaps with skin, hormones, ageing, confidence, and how people feel in their own bodies. Being able to support patients from both a medical and aesthetic perspective has been really meaningful.

I know change can sometimes feel uncertain, so I want to reassure you:
I’m still here. Still practicing. Still your GP.

I’ll keep sharing updates on when I’m at the practice and when I’m at Age Zero, so you always know where to find me. And I am still involved with My Sexual Health, as that is still very close to my heart also.

Thank you for trusting me, for following along, and for being part of this journey with me. It truly means more than you know.

💬 If you have any questions, you’re always welcome to reach out.

31/03/2026

March brings three powerful global conversations:

World Obesity Day.
Nutrition awareness.
Colorectal Cancer awareness.

But underneath all of them is one core issue: metabolic health.

Metabolic health refers to how effectively your body:

Regulates blood sugar

Manages insulin

Stores and uses energy

Controls inflammation

Protects long-term organ function

Blood sugar is not just about sweets.
Refined carbohydrates, stress, poor sleep and inactivity all affect glucose spikes.

Over time, repeated spikes increase insulin levels. Chronically elevated insulin promotes fat storage, particularly around the abdomen.

This is why waist circumference matters.
Excess abdominal fat is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes risk.

Stress also plays a direct role.
Elevated cortisol encourages abdominal fat storage and worsens insulin resistance.

And nutrition affects more than weight.
Serotonin production is influenced by carbohydrate quality, gut health and protein intake. Stable blood sugar supports stable mood.

In South Africa, rising obesity and diabetes rates are not about individual failure. They are about biology, environment and accessibility.

This month, we focussed on understanding how the body works, not criticising how it looks.

If you want to:

Assess your metabolic risk

Check your blood sugar

Measure waist circumference correctly

Learn realistic food swaps

Break stress-eating cycles

We are here.

Metabolic health is protection, not punishment.



albertyn_dietitian

27/03/2026

GLP-1 medications are powerful tools.

But tools only work when used correctly.

As a GP, the two biggest problems I see are:

Patients stop eating properly.

Patients make no dietary changes at all.

Both create problems.

When appetite drops dramatically, some patients eat very little. This leads to:

Muscle loss

Fatigue

Nutrient deficiencies

Slower metabolism

When patients do eat but continue with high ultra-processed, low-protein patterns, they may lose weight initially but struggle with sustainability.

From a dietitian’s perspective, two additional concerns are common:

Under-eating protein

Severe constipation

Protein is essential for maintaining muscle mass during weight loss. It also helps reduce nausea, which is a common side effect of GLP-1 medication.

Low fibre intake, combined with reduced overall food volume, often leads to constipation and gut discomfort.

GLP-1 medication changes appetite. It does not replace metabolic education.

Sustainable outcomes require:

Adequate protein intake

Structured meals

Fibre support

Hydration

Muscle-preserving strategies

Medical monitoring

This is why coordinated care between doctor and dietitian matters.

The goal is not rapid weight loss.
The goal is preserved muscle, improved insulin sensitivity and long-term metabolic stability.

If you are considering GLP-1 therapy, or already on it, make sure your plan includes more than just a prescription.

Because sustainable health is built, not injected.
albertyn_dietitian

24/03/2026

GLP-1 medications have changed the conversation around weight management.

They reduce appetite.
They improve blood sugar control.
They can support meaningful weight loss.

But they are not magic.

When I prescribe a GLP-1 medication, I refer every patient to a dietitian.

Here is why.

These medications suppress appetite significantly. Many patients eat far less than before. That may sound helpful, but without guidance it often leads to:

Loss of muscle mass

Inadequate protein intake

Micronutrient deficiencies

Low fibre intake

Slowed basal metabolic rate

Muscle mass matters.

If muscle mass drops too low, your metabolic rate decreases. That means your body burns fewer calories at rest. When medication is stopped, weight regain becomes more likely.

This is one of the main reasons people “pick up all the weight again.”

GLP-1s reduce appetite. They do not teach metabolic skills.

Working with a dietitian ensures:

Adequate protein to preserve muscle

Sufficient fibre to support gut health

Structured meals despite lower appetite

Sustainable eating patterns

Prevention of nutrient deficiencies

Medication without structure is temporary.
Medication with metabolic support is transformative.

This is not about extremes. It is about protecting your long-term metabolic health.

If you are on a GLP-1 medication and have not had structured nutrition support, it is worth addressing.

Weight management is medical care. It deserves a team.

19/03/2026

19/03/2026

When we talk about serotonin, we often think about the brain.

But more than 80% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut.

That does not mean food replaces therapy or medication.
It does mean the gut and brain are deeply connected.

This connection is called the gut–brain axis.

Your gut microbiome, the trillions of bacteria living in your digestive tract, plays a role in:

Serotonin production

Inflammation regulation

Nutrient absorption

Stress response

Immune signalling

When the gut is in dysbiosis, meaning the microbial balance is disrupted, we often see:

Bloating and digestive discomfort

Low fibre intake

High ultra-processed food consumption

Irregular meals

Increased stress

Poor sleep

Over time, this can influence mood, energy and resilience.

In practice, we frequently see that when patients:

Increase fibre intake

Improve protein quality

Include fermented foods

Reduce highly processed snacks

Stabilise blood sugar

Move their bodies regularly

Their energy improves. Their mood stabilises. Their mental clarity shifts.

This is not magic. It is physiology.

Serotonin production depends on adequate tryptophan intake, balanced blood sugar and a healthy gut environment.

Mental health is complex. It includes biology, trauma, hormones, stress, genetics and environment.

But nutrition is one powerful lever we often underestimate.

If you are struggling with low mood, fatigue or emotional eating, it may be worth assessing:

Your gut health

Your dietary patterns

Your blood sugar stability

Your stress load

Small, consistent changes can create meaningful shifts.

If you would like support from both a GP and a dietitian, we are available. ( )

You do not need stricter rules.
You need support that works with your biology.

DM us your questions

18/03/2026

There is something to this year so far... People are tired, and it is March. Believe me, I get it. May this uplift you💜

Burnout does not mean you have failed.
Anxiety does not mean your calling is gone.
Exhaustion does not cancel the anointing God placed in your life.

Sometimes, it simply means you are human…

Even the strongest servants of God had moments like this. Moments where they felt empty, tired, and ready to give up.

Elijah was one of them.
After a great victory, he found himself alone, afraid, and exhausted in the wilderness.
He did not feel strong.
He did not feel brave.
He wanted to quit.

“I have had enough, Lord… Take my life.”
1 Kings 19:4

But God did not rebuke him.
God did not shame him.

God sent an angel.
God sent rest.
God sent food.
God sent provision.

“The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.’”
1 Kings 19:7

Before direction, God gave him rest.
Before sending him back, God restored him.

Sometimes we think we need to push harder.
But God is inviting us to pause, to breathe, to be restored in His presence.

Burnout is not the end of your story.
It may just be the place where God meets you differently.

So do not quit in the middle of your wilderness.
Do not walk away in the moment of exhaustion.

Stay. Rest. Receive.

Because God is still providing, even when you feel empty.
And sometimes, your breakthrough comes right after the moment you felt like giving up. ❤️‍🔥

11/03/2026

World Obesity Day often focuses on weight.

But medically, weight alone does not tell us enough.

What matters more is where fat is stored.

Waist circumference helps us estimate visceral fat, the fat that sits around your internal organs. This fat behaves very differently from fat under the skin.

Visceral fat is metabolically active. When levels are elevated, the body releases more inflammatory markers and free fatty acids. Over time this can:

Reduce insulin sensitivity

Increase risk of type 2 diabetes

Raise blood pressure

Increase cardiovascular disease risk

Disrupt hormonal balance

This is why we measure it.

In clinical practice, commonly used cut-offs are:

Women: above 80–88 cm increases risk
Men: above 94–102 cm increases risk

The exact cut-off can vary slightly depending on ethnicity and risk profile, but the principle remains the same: abdominal fat predicts metabolic risk more accurately than body weight alone.

And here is what is important:

You do not need to look overweight to have increased visceral fat.
And if you are overweight, you deserve informed medical care, not judgement.

This is where small, consistent nutrition shifts make a difference. Visceral fat responds well to:

Stabilising blood sugar

Increasing protein and fibre intake

Reducing ultra-processed foods

Improving sleep

Managing stress

Extreme dieting is not required. Regulation works better than restriction.

If you have never had your waist measured properly, ask your GP. It is quick, simple and clinically meaningful.

Health is not about shrinking your body.
It is about understanding it.
albertyn_dietitian

06/03/2026

March is Metabolic Health Month.

And it’s time we say this clearly:

Weight gain is not a personality flaw.
It is often a physiological response.

In South Africa, rates of obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes continue to rise. But the conversation still centres on willpower, calories and discipline.

Medically, that is outdated.

Weight changes are influenced by:

Insulin resistance

Chronic stress and elevated cortisol

Poor sleep

Hormonal shifts

Genetics

Ultra-processed food exposure

Socioeconomic access to nutrition

When insulin levels remain high, the body stores more fat and struggles to access stored energy. This makes weight loss feel biologically difficult, not mentally weak.

Repeated dieting can worsen this cycle by increasing stress hormones, reducing metabolic rate and disrupting hunger signals.

This is why we look beyond the scale.

Two early markers that matter:

Waist circumference, which reflects visceral fat and cardiometabolic risk (more on this later in the month with .albertyn_dietitian )

Fasting blood sugar and HbA1c, which indicate how your body handles glucose

Metabolic health is about how your body processes energy, not how it looks.

That is why GP and dietitian support together is powerful.
Medical assessment plus practical, sustainable nutrition guidance.

Understanding your metabolism changes everything.

Let me know if you have any questions.

04/03/2026

Your stool might not be dinner-table conversation, but medically, it’s incredibly important.

As GPs, we don’t ask about bowel habits to embarrass you. We ask because your gut reflects how your whole body is functioning, from stress hormones and digestion to liver and gallbladder health.

Hard stools, loose stools, changes in colour or frequency can all be early signs that your gut needs support, often long before something serious develops.

The good news?
Most gut issues improve with:

Early assessment

Gentle medical guidance

Nutrition that supports digestion, not restricts it (Here I can recommend expert advice from a Dietitian .albertyn_dietitian )

If something looks different, persistent, or worrying - don’t guess. Let’s check it properly.

💬DM me if you’re unsure what’s normal