Unlock Your Body's Natural Healing Intelligence
Cellular regeneration through precision peptide therapy
Peptides are your body's original language of healing – molecular instructions that tell cells exactly how to repair, regenerate, and perform at their peak. At Lifetime Performance in Los Gatos, we use clinically guided peptide protocols to accelerate recovery, optimize hormone balance, and unlock your body’s full performance potential. Under Dr. Richard Nguyen and Morgan Carmean, ARNP, personalized treatments go beyond symptoms to create lasting improvements in performance, healing, and longevity.
Your peptide journey starts with precision diagnostics that map your cellular health, hormonal patterns, and recovery capacity. From these insights, Dr. Nguyen and our clinical team architect a peptide protocol calibrated to your biology and goals – whether that's healing stubborn injuries, building resilience, amplifying athletic performance, or extending healthspan.
BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-CU
These foundational peptides are your body's master repair specialists. BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound) accelerates healing of virtually any tissue – tendons, ligaments, muscles, digestive tract, and even neural tissue. TB-500 enhances cellular migration and tissue remodeling while providing powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. GHK-Cu stimulates collagen production and provides antioxidant protection for comprehensive tissue rejuvenation.
Together, these peptides create an optimal healing environment that reduces recovery time, resolves chronic injuries, and restores structural integrity to damaged tissues.
Benefits include:
• Accelerated healing of tendons, ligaments, and muscle tissue
• Reduced inflammation throughout the body
• Enhanced wound healing and tissue repair
• Improved digestive health and gut barrier function
• Faster recovery from injuries and surgical procedures
• Reduced pain and improved mobility
• Enhanced collagen production for skin and connective tissue health
CJC-1295 WITH IPAMORELIN
This synergistic combination represents the gold standard for natural growth hormone optimization. Rather than introducing external hormones, this peptide pairing stimulates your body's own pituitary gland to produce growth hormone in physiological pulses that mirror youthful patterns.CJC-1295 extends growth hormone release over several days, while Ipamorelin provides selective, gentle stimulation without affecting cortisol or prolactin levels. The result is sustained improvements in body composition, sleep quality, recovery capacity, energy levels, and overall vitality – without the risks associated with direct hormone replacement.
Benefits include:
• Improved lean muscle mass and reduced body fat
• Enhanced sleep quality and deeper REM cycles
• Accelerated recovery from exercise and physical stress
• Increased energy levels and daytime vitality
• Improved skin elasticity and reduced visible aging
• Enhanced bone density and structural integrity
• Better cognitive function and mental clarity
• Strengthened immune system function
MOTS-C, NAD+
Metabolic peptides work at the mitochondrial level – your cells' energy powerhouses – to optimize how your body produces, utilizes, and preserves energy. MOTS-C enhances metabolic flexibility and insulin sensitivity, allowing your body to efficiently switch between fuel sources. NAD+ (administered as a peptide precursor or IV therapy) restores cellular energy production and activates longevity pathways that naturally decline with age.
These peptides don't just help you look better – they fundamentally improve how your body functions at the cellular level, supporting healthspan, vitality, and biological age reversal.
Benefits include:
• Enhanced mitochondrial efficiency and cellular energy production
• Improved metabolic flexibility and fat utilization
• Better insulin sensitivity and glucose regulation
• Increased exercise endurance and performance
• Support for healthy aging and longevity pathways
• Preservation of lean muscle during weight loss
• Reduced biological markers of aging
• Enhanced cellular repair and DNA protection
KPV, THYMOSIN ALPHA-1, LL-37
Chronic inflammation is the hidden driver behind most age-related diseases and performance limitations. These specialized peptides provide targeted anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects without suppressing your body's natural defense mechanisms.KPV selectively reduces inflammation while preserving beneficial immune responses. Thymosin Alpha-1 enhances immune system coordination and resilience. LL-37 provides antimicrobial protection while supporting tissue repair. Together, they create balanced immune function and reduced systemic inflammation – essential foundations for optimal health and longevity.
Therapeutic applications include:
• Management of chronic inflammatory conditions
• Enhanced immune system resilience and coordination
• Support for autoimmune condition management
• Improved gut health and digestive inflammation
• Skin condition management (eczema, psoriasis, acne)
• Reduced systemic inflammation markers
• Enhanced recovery from infections
• Support during periods of high stress or immune challenge
Peptides are short chains of amino acids – the building blocks of proteins – that function as your body's sophisticated communication network. Unlike synthetic pharmaceuticals that often override or suppress biological processes, peptides enhance your existing cellular signaling pathways with remarkable specificity and safety.
Think of peptides as molecular messengers carrying precise instructions to your cells about repair, optimization, and performance. When introduced therapeutically, they amplify beneficial processes that may have declined due to aging, injury, stress, or lifestyle factors.
Targeted Cellular Communication: Peptides activate cell receptors, triggering powerful biological responses that support tissue repair, hormone balance, and immune function.
Enhanced Biological Processes: Rather than introducing foreign substances, peptides enhance what your body already does naturally, just more efficiently and effectively.
Minimal Side Effects: Because peptides work through natural biological pathways, they typically produce fewer side effects than traditional pharmaceuticals while delivering remarkable results.
Personalized Precision: Different peptides target different systems, allowing us to create customized protocols that address your unique health goals and biological needs.
Synergistic Combinations: Strategic peptide combinations work together to amplify results – like pairing healing peptides with growth optimization peptides for comprehensive recovery and performance enhancement.
By activating your body's natural repair mechanisms, peptide therapy dramatically reduces recovery time from injuries, exercise, and physical stress. Patients experience faster healing, reduced pain, and restored function – often resolving chronic issues that resisted conventional treatments.
Optimized growth hormone patterns, improved mitochondrial function, and enhanced cellular energy production translate to real-world improvements: better workouts, sustained energy throughout the day, improved mental clarity, and the vitality to fully engage with life.
Peptide therapy enhances your body's ability to build lean muscle, burn fat efficiently, and maintain metabolic flexibility. The result is improved body composition, stable energy levels, and a metabolism that works for you rather than against you.
By addressing aging at its cellular roots – declining NAD+ levels, accumulated inflammation, reduced growth hormone, compromised repair mechanisms – peptide therapy supports healthy aging and helps you maintain youthful function and vitality well into your later decades.
We're not a symptom suppression clinic. We're a medical practice focused on optimizing your body's fundamental biological processes – the cellular communication, tissue repair, and metabolic functions that determine how you feel, perform, and age.
Using cutting-edge peptide therapies, advanced diagnostics, and personalized treatment design, we create programs that transform your biology from the inside out. This isn't about masking problems – it's about restoring your body's innate capacity for healing, performance, and longevity.With Dr. Richard Nguyen and Morgan Carmean, ARNP, you gain a clinical team that combines deep medical expertise with genuine care, guiding and supporting you through every phase of your transformation toward sustainable, life-changing results.
Medically supervised protocols tailored to your unique biology
Physician-led care with continuous monitoring and optimization
Strategic peptide combinations for synergistic, amplified results
Integration with IV therapy, lifestyle optimization, and metabolic support
Transparent education about mechanisms, expectations, and realistic timelines
Long-term partnership focused on sustained vitality, not quick fixes
Our peptide therapy programs are meticulously designed and closely monitored by experienced clinicians to ensure optimal safety, efficacy, and personalized results.
Medical Oversight: Dr. Richard Nguyen personally reviews each peptide protocol, ensuring safe implementation and strategic adjustments as your body responds. Every prescription is grounded in diagnostic data and clear health objectives.
Therapy Management: Peptide selection, dosing, timing, and combinations are precisely calibrated to your unique biochemistry, health status, and optimization objectives. We start conservatively and adjust based on your individual response patterns.
Patient Monitoring: Regular assessments of clinical markers, symptom improvement, and overall health allow our team to make timely protocol modifications for maximum effectiveness and safety. You're never navigating this journey alone.
Quality Assurance: All peptides are sourced exclusively from U.S. FDA-regulated compounding pharmacies that meet the highest standards for purity, potency, sterility, and consistency. We verify certificates of analysis and maintain strict quality control standards.
Patient Education: You'll receive comprehensive explanations about your specific peptides, proper administration techniques, expected timelines, and what to monitor. Our team is always available to answer questions and provide guidance.
Have questions about peptide therapy and how these remarkable biological tools can optimize your health? Below, we address the most common concerns about mechanisms, safety, administration, and what to expect from your peptide journey.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids (typically 2-50 amino acids linked together) that function as signaling molecules in your body. They act as precise biological messengers, carrying specific instructions between cells to regulate processes like tissue repair, hormone production, immune function, and cellular metabolism.
How they work:
Unlike traditional pharmaceuticals that often force biochemical changes, peptides enhance your body's existing communication networks. When a therapeutic peptide binds to its specific receptor on a cell surface, it triggers a cascade of natural biological responses – stimulating growth hormone release, accelerating tissue repair, reducing inflammation, or enhancing immune coordination.
The key advantage is specificity and safety: peptides work through natural biological pathways your body already uses, which typically results in fewer side effects and more sustainable results compared to synthetic drugs that override normal physiology.
Most healthy adults seeking performance optimization, accelerated healing, or longevity enhancement are excellent candidates for peptide therapy.
Peptide therapy may be right for you if you:
• Are seeking accelerated recovery from injury, surgery, or chronic physical stress
• Want to optimize body composition, energy levels, or athletic performance
• Experience persistent inflammation or autoimmune challenges
• Are interested in longevity optimization and biological age reversal
• Have chronic injuries or musculoskeletal issues that resist conventional treatment
• Want to enhance sleep quality, cognitive function, or overall vitality
• Are committed to a medically supervised, science-based approach to optimization
• Have specific health goals that align with peptide therapy benefits
Who may need additional evaluation:
Certain medical conditions, active cancers, pregnancy, or specific medications may require careful evaluation before starting peptide therapy. During your consultation, Dr. Nguyen will review your complete health history, current medications, and therapeutic goals to design the safest, most effective protocol for your unique situation.
Most therapeutic peptides are administered via subcutaneous injection (similar to insulin injections) – a simple, virtually painless technique you'll learn during your first visit. Injections are typically done with tiny insulin syringes into fatty tissue areas like the abdomen or thigh.
Some peptides may be administered through:
• Oral capsules (certain stable peptides)
• Nasal sprays (for peptides requiring rapid absorption)
• Topical creams (for localized effects)
• IV infusion (for certain peptides like NAD+ precursors)
Your personalized protocol will specify:
• Which peptides to use and in what combination
• Precise dosing for each peptide
• Administration timing (some peptides work best at specific times)
• Duration of therapy (typically 3–6 months initially, with potential for longer-term use)
• Monitoring schedule and follow-up assessments
Results vary by peptide type, individual biology, and therapeutic goals, but here are general timelines:
Healing & Recovery Peptides (BPC-157, TB-500):
• Initial improvements: 1–2 weeks (reduced pain, increased mobility)
• Significant healing: 4–8 weeks (noticeable tissue repair)
• Optimal results: 8–12 weeks (resolution of chronic issues)
Growth Hormone Optimization (CJC-1295/Ipamorelin):
• Sleep quality: 1–2 weeks
• Energy and recovery: 3–4 weeks
• Body composition changes: 8–12 weeks
• Full optimization: 3–6 months of consistent use
Metabolic Peptides (MOTS-C):
• Energy improvements: 2–4 weeks
• Metabolic changes: 6–8 weeks
• Body composition shifts: 8–16 weeks Anti-Inflammatory Peptides
(KPV, Thymosin Alpha-1):
• Symptom improvement: 2–4 weeks
• Systemic inflammation reduction: 4–8 weeks
• Long-term immune optimization: 3–6 months
Important notes:
Peptide therapy works with your body's natural processes, so results are progressive rather than instant. Consistency is crucial — missing doses or stopping prematurely significantly reduces effectiveness. Many patients experience subtle improvements early (better sleep, improved energy) before noticing dramatic changes in their primary concern.
When prescribed and monitored by qualified medical professionals, peptide therapy has an excellent safety profile.
Because peptides work through natural biological pathways rather than forcing pharmacological changes, they typically produce fewer and milder side effects than traditional medications.
Common Side Effects (Generally Mild and Temporary):
• Injection site reactions: slight redness, minor bruising, or temporary tenderness
• Mild water retention (with growth hormone–stimulating peptides)
• Increased hunger (with certain growth peptides)
• Mild flushing or headache (usually resolves quickly)
• Temporary fatigue as body adjusts to enhanced recovery processes
How We Minimize Side Effects:
• Conservative starting doses with gradual titration
• Careful peptide selection based on your health profile
• Regular monitoring and protocol adjustments
Serious Side Effects (Rare):
Serious adverse effects with properly prescribed peptides are extremely uncommon. However, we monitor for any unexpected responses and maintain close communication throughout your treatment.
Contraindications:
Peptide therapy may not be appropriate for individuals with:
• Active cancer (growth-promoting peptides)
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Certain autoimmune conditions (requires careful evaluation)
• Allergies to specific peptides or components
During your consultation, we'll thoroughly review your medical history to ensure peptide therapy is safe and appropriate for you.
One of the most powerful aspects of peptide therapy is strategic combination – using multiple peptides that work synergistically to produce amplified results that exceed what any single peptide could achieve alone.
Common Strategic Combinations:
For Injury Recovery:
• BPC-157 + TB-500 + GHK-Cu
(Tissue repair + inflammation control + collagen production)For
Performance Optimization:
• CJC-1295/Ipamorelin + MOTS-C + NAD+
(Growth hormone optimization + metabolic enhancement + cellular energy)
For Longevity Focus:
• NAD+ + Thymosin Alpha-1 + MOTS-C
(Cellular energy + immune optimization + metabolic flexibility)
For Body Composition:
• CJC-1295/Ipamorelin + MOTS-C
(Muscle preservation + targeted fat loss + metabolic efficiency)
Personalization is Key:
Your specific combination is designed around your unique biology, health status, and therapeutic goals — not a one-size-fits-all approach. This is the art and science of advanced peptide therapy.
Peptide therapy duration depends entirely on your therapeutic goals and response to treatment.
Unlike medications for chronic conditions that require indefinite use, many peptide protocols are used cyclically or for defined periods to achieve specific outcomes.
Treatment Approaches:
Acute/Targeted Use (6–12 weeks):
• For specific issues like injury recovery, post-surgical healing, or addressing acute inflammatory conditions.
• Once the therapeutic goal is achieved, peptides may be discontinued with maintained benefits.
Cyclical Use (3–6 month cycles with breaks):
• For performance optimization, body composition enhancement, or periodic "tune-ups."
• Many patients use peptides in cycles — 3–6 months on, 1–3 months off — to optimize results while preventing adaptation.
Long-Term/Maintenance Use (ongoing with adjustments):
• For longevity optimization, chronic condition management, or sustained performance enhancement.
• Some patients choose ongoing peptide therapy with adjusted dosing, combinations, or frequencies as their needs evolve.
Not Dependency-Creating:
Unlike many pharmaceuticals, properly prescribed peptides don't create physiological dependency. When discontinued, your body simply returns to its baseline function — though many patients choose to continue treatment because of the remarkable benefits they experience.
The Decision is Collaborative:
Dr. Nguyen will help you determine the optimal duration and approach based on your results, goals, and preferences. Some patients achieve their objectives and discontinue treatment. Others find the benefits so transformative that peptide therapy becomes an integral component of their long-term health optimization strategy.
At Lifetime Performance Medicine, we're committed to transparency and helping you access the therapies that can transform your health.
Our team will:
• Provide detailed estimates during your consultation
• Offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees
• Work with you to design a protocol that fits your budget
• Provide documentation for HSA/FSA reimbursement when applicable
• Explain all costs upfront so you can make informed decisions
Value Perspective:
While peptide therapy represents a financial investment, consider it an investment in your most valuable asset—your health, vitality, and quality of life. Many patients find that the improvements in energy, performance, recovery, and overall well-being far exceed the financial cost, particularly when compared to ongoing management of chronic conditions or decreased quality of life.
We'll work collaboratively to find the most effective protocol that aligns with both your therapeutic goals and your budget.
Look no further for your wellness solution. Our practice combines advanced diagnostics with innovative treatments to address the health challenges that have resisted conventional approaches. Here, you'll find the personalized answers and transformative results you've been searching for.
