Your first visit tells us everything we need.
The Meliora Comprehensive Assessment — a full hormone, nutrient, and metabolic lab panel reviewed against optimal ranges by Dr. Chua. Not a 15-minute appointment. A real clinical picture.
The Framework
Twelve years of practice, distilled into The Meliora Method.™
Most doctors look at whether your numbers are normal. We look at whether they're optimal.
The reference ranges most labs use reflect population averages — not the level at which you actually feel well. A ferritin of 12 may be “in range.” Most women feel significantly better when it's closer to 70. A TSH of 3.5 may be unremarkable. For many patients, optimal is between 1 and 2.
Dr. Chua reviews every result in the context of your symptoms, your life stage, and how your systems interact. Hormones affect your gut. Your gut affects your stress response. Your stress response affects your sleep. Your sleep affects your hormones. We evaluate the whole loop.
This is why we find things other doctors miss — not because we're better doctors, but because we're asking different questions. We're looking for optimal, not just normal.
What's Included
Everything in the Comprehensive Assessment.
Comprehensive Lab Draw
A blood panel covering your full hormone profile (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA), complete nutrient panel (vitamin D, B12, folate, ferritin), thyroid panel (TSH, free T3, free T4), and basic metabolic panel. Drawn in-office by our clinical team.
Intake Review
Dr. Chua reads your full intake before your consultation — your symptom history, health history, medications, and goals. She comes prepared. So should you.
60-Minute Consultation
A sit-down with Dr. Chua to walk through your results, connect your labs to your symptoms, and build your personalized treatment plan. Not a 10-minute summary — a real conversation.
Personalized Treatment Plan
Your plan may include supplements, hormone therapy, dietary interventions, and follow-up labs. Everything is explained: what you're taking, why, what to expect, and when to adjust.
Five-Week Follow-Up
The milestone where most patients notice real change. We reassess your labs, review your symptoms across all domains, and refine your plan. Healing is iterative.
See it for yourself
Where does “normal” end and optimal begin?
Drag the slider. Pick a different marker. The gray band is what a conventional lab calls “normal.” The teal band is where Dr. Chua targets in clinical practice.
Try it
Population “normal” vs. Meliora optimal.
In range — but below optimal
A conventional lab report would say "normal." Dr. Chua reads this as room to optimize — often the most clinically meaningful zone.
A level of 30 may be flagged "normal." 60–70 is associated with stronger immunity, better mood, and reduced chronic-disease risk.
Educational tool — not a clinical assessment. Optimal ranges shown reflect Dr. Chua’s clinical targets and may differ for individual patients based on age, sex, hormonal status, and symptom context.
Who Benefits
If you've been told your labs are fine but you don't feel fine — this is for you.
Women 35–65
Women experiencing perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause — or any woman who suspects her hormones are affecting her energy, weight, mood, sleep, or cognitive clarity.
Anyone who's been dismissed
Patients who've seen multiple doctors, been told everything is normal, and still feel like something is off. We often find what other labs missed — because we're looking at more, and we're looking for optimal.
Men with low energy or hormonal symptoms
Hormone optimization, nutrient repletion, and metabolic support are as relevant for men. Many of our male patients are referred by female partners who experienced results.
Patients ready to be thorough
Our process requires an upfront investment of time and lab work. It's designed for people who want a complete picture — not a quick fix.
What to Expect
What to expect at your first visit.
The process is designed to give Dr. Chua a complete clinical picture — so your consultation is a plan, not an introduction.
01
Request an appointment
Complete the new patient inquiry form. Our team reviews your information and reaches out within one business day to schedule your lab draw.
02
Complete your intake forms
A detailed medical and symptom history. The more complete it is, the more Dr. Chua can prepare before you arrive.
03
In-office lab draw
A comprehensive blood draw at our Evanston office. Fasting is recommended for the metabolic panel. Evening lab pickup is available via Healthlab.
04
Your consultation (~Day 10)
Dr. Chua has reviewed your results before you walk in. The consultation covers your full lab picture, connects findings to your symptoms, and delivers your treatment plan.
Common questions.
Will my insurance cover this?
We are a cash-pay, direct-pay practice and do not accept insurance. We can provide a superbill for HSA/FSA reimbursement where eligible.
How is this different from a regular checkup?
A standard annual physical typically includes a basic metabolic panel and a CBC. Our assessment adds a full hormone panel, detailed nutrient testing, and thyroid function — and evaluates results against optimal ranges, not population averages.
How long until I feel better?
Most patients notice meaningful change by their five-week follow-up. Significant optimization typically comes by month six. We set realistic expectations from the first visit.
What if I've already had labs done recently?
Bring your results. If they cover what we need and were drawn recently, we may not need to repeat everything. Dr. Chua will review them and advise.
Do you offer telemedicine?
Yes, we offer it. Initial consultations and follow-up visits are conducted through video visits.
AI Assistant
Have a question before you book?
Meli is trained on Dr. Chua's clinical approach and can answer questions about the Comprehensive Assessment — what's included, how to prepare, what to expect, and whether it's right for you. Not a replacement for a real conversation with Dr. Chua, but a good place to start.
Meliora Academy
Want to understand your labs before your visit?
The Meliora Academy's free first module introduces the framework behind the Comprehensive Assessment — and Module 04 teaches you how to read your own labs.
Explore the Academy →Start your patient journey.
Every Meliora patient begins with a new patient inquiry. Our team reviews your information and schedules your lab draw — labs come first, consultation follows.
Still have questions? Ask Meli above — our AI assistant can answer questions about what to expect, how to prepare, and whether the Comprehensive Assessment is right for you.