semaglutide weight loss

Consultation 

45 MINUTES | $100*

Semaglutide is a once-per-week injectable prescription medication. Approved by the FDA, this treatment curbs your appetite and enhances your feeling of fullness, steering you towards a healthier lifestyle. We are proud to offer a provider-supervised Semaglutide Weight Loss program to ensure you are losing weight safely and effectively.

Before you get started, our medical director needs to make sure you are a candidate for this medication and there aren't any underlying factors that would disqualify you from getting treated with Semaglutide.

We offer 2 options for your consultation:

• In-person

• FaceTime Video Call

*Applied to your first dose or as store credit for those who do not qualify.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is Semaglutide? Semaglutide is an injectable medication which, when used in combination with diet and exercise, helps with blood sugar control in type 2 diabetics. Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, which mimic the hormone GLP-1 in your body to lower blood sugar IeveIs after you have eaten a meal.

What is the hormone GLP-1? Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a hormone that causes huge effects on the regulation of blood sugar by stimulating glucose-dependent insulin secretion. Insulin is a hormone that promotes sugar uptake by the cells, stores sugar as glycogen, promotes the building of fat, and signals the body to build skeletal muscle. In addition, GLP-1 inhibits glucagon release (which slows down the release of sugar into the blood so that you burn more fat), slows down gastric emptying (makes you feel full), and lowers the desire for food intake (because you feel full).

How does Semaglutide work for weight loss? GLP-1 agonists like Semaglutide help to control your blood sugar, but people taking them also tend to lose weight. GLP-1, the key hormone involved, slows down how fast your stomach empties food (called gastric emptying). And in addition to causing your pancreas to release insulin, Semaglutide also blocks a hormone that causes your liver to release sugar (glucagon). Together, these functions can help you feel less hungry, causing you to eat less food and lose more weight.

Does Semaglutide curb your appetite? Yes, it is believed that Semaglutide helps curb your appetite. In addition to slowing gastric emptying to make you feel full longer. GLP-1 also plays a direct role in how appetite is regulated.

How long does it take to lose weight on Semaglutide? With Semaglutide, you will slowly work your way up to the target dose at which time you will see the most amount of weight loss. This was the case in the clinical trials, where participants had their dose adjusted until they reached 2.5 mg dose if needed. In the phase 3 trial that measured outcomes at 20 weeks, most participants were able to reach the full dose and lost weight as their dose was increased. They saw additional weight loss over the remaining 48 weeks at the full dose. It is important to keep in mind that weight loss can take time, and you'll see the best results when you are using your medication in combination with a healthy diet and exercise. Sometimes the medication may not work for you, or you may not be able to tolerate the full dose due to side effects in which case your practitioner will provide additional options or change the protocol to better suit your individual needs.

How long should you take Semaglutide for weight loss? Currently, Semaglutide is only FDA-approved for obesity and to help with blood sugar control in type-2 diabetes and to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events (like heart attack and stroke) in people with both type-2 diabetes and heart disease. If you are taking Semaglutide for either of these reasons, you'll take it as directed by your healthcare provider since you are using it to manage a chronic condition. But if you do not have type-2 diabetes and are looking to try Semaglutide to help you lose weight, we'll have a better idea of long-term safety once the FDA reviews data for this new indication. What we do know is that study participants received treatment for a period of 68 weeks (about1.5 years) during each of the four trials conducted by the company.

Is Semaglutide a type of insulin? No, Semaglutide is not a type of insulin or a substitute for insulin. Semaglutide does stimulate your pancreas to release insulin when glucose (sugar) is present. Because Semaglutide relies upon your body's own insulin to have this effect, Semaglutide isn't used when your pancreas can't make insulin, such as in patients with type-1 diabetes.

Is Semaglutide a stimulant? No, Semaglutide is not a stimulant. While other weight loss medications, like phentermine, have stimulating effects that help curb your appetite, Semaglutide works differently (see above).

Is Semaglutide safe? Yes. Semaglutide is safe and effective when used as indicated. However, safe doesn't mean there aren't risks. Semaglutide also carries a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors occurring in rodents (with unknown risk in humans). Semaglutide shouldn't be used if you or your family have a history of certain thyroid cancers. Semaglutide should not be used in people with type-1 diabetes or a history of pancreatitis. Semaglutide should be used cautiously for people on other blood sugar lowering medications.

What are the common side effects associated with using Semaglutide?
The common side effects of Semaglutide are:

• Nausea*

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea*

• Stomach pain

• Constipation

*Effects like nausea and diarrhea are the most common.

Are there any significant health risks associated with using Semaglutide? Yes. Semaglutide may cause rare side effects, including:

• Prolonged vomiting. Patients on Semaglutide can develop gastroparesis where the stomach stops moving, and patients vomit considerably. This can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Stop using Semaglutide and call your healthcare provider right away if you have vomiting that persists more than a day.

• Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Semaglutide and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.

• Changes in vision. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Semaglutide.

• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your risk for getting low blood sugar may be higher if you use Semaglutide with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or lightheadedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, and feeling jittery.

• Kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration.

• Serious allergic reactions. Stop using Semaglutide and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeat.

Things to keep in mind when you are on Semaglutide:

Alcohol: Limit how much alcohol you're drinking. Alcohol can influence your blood sugar and there is a risk that it may drop too low in combination with Semaglutide, especially if you are a diabetic and or drinking on an empty stomach. Alcohol may irritate your stomach and worsen GI side effects when in combination with the medication.

Medications: Make sure your provider is aware of all medications you are taking before starting Semaglutide. Semaglutide slows down gastric emptying which could potentially impact the amount of oral medication absorbed by the body. Although clinical trials haven't shown this to be significant with Semaglutide in particular, it is best to use caution when taking any oral medication.

Weight Loss Power Duos

Emsculpt Neo + Semaglutide

When used in tandem, these complementary approaches to healthy weight loss promise a potent combination to burn fat, build muscle, and sculpt a body. An important part of Semaglutide long term management of weight loss is incorporating exercise. Emsculpt Neo helps to build muscle and diminish fat. Tap to learn more about EmsculptNeo

Exion + Semaglutide

The skin tightening and spot fat reduction of EXION rounds out your health and weight loss journey. Not only can EXION burn stubborn fat, it tightens skin laxity. Tap to learn more about EXION.

EmFace + Semaglutide

It’s common for the face to develop sagging and hollow areas after weight loss. EMFACE™ lifts and tightens skin to help you achieve a younger-looking appearance. Tap to learn more about EMFACE.

For reservations:

Schedule your in-person consultation online or by giving our clinic a call. For telehealth consulations via FaceTime, call our clinic to setup your consultation.