Medical Weight Loss

Have you struggled to see results from your weight loss efforts? The majority of Americans are obese or overweight, a problem that puts their health and emotional well-being at risk. Medical weight loss uses a medication that helps you eat less and feel less hungry.

Medical weight loss uses an injectable medication to produce significant weight loss. Studies have indicated that people taking the medication often lose 15% to 20% of their body weight. These studies also included the beneficial effects of a comprehensive lifestyle program for maximum results.

While medical weight loss is not right for everyone, it works safely and effectively for most people. Tamara Elwell, our experienced Nurse Practitioner, will guide you through the process and help you perform your injections independently. Weight loss can have significant medical as well as self-esteem benefits.

Drugs for medical weight loss include Semaglutide and Tirzepatide. Both come under several brand names. Before their approval for weight loss, they were used to treat type 2 diabetes due to its beneficial effects on insulin production. Semaglutide mimics the action of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1); Tirzepatide minics GLP-1 and GIP (gastric-inhabitatory peptide). These peptides act on the parts of the brain that control appetite, regulate food intake, and manage how your body responds to the calories you eat. It triggers the release of more insulin to process your food more efficiently, keeping blood sugar stable.

These drugs are administered as a weekly injection, given subcutaneously, under the skin. Your dose may vary depending on your needs and your response to the medication. Your team will describe what to expect from the injections. In most cases, you will work with your team to build up to your desired dose to minimize potential side effects. The most common side effects include nausea and digestive disturbances. However, others can occur.

Medical weight loss usually includes a comprehensive program of exercise and nutritional education to help you lose weight in a healthy way. These changes will help you see more results and maintain your weight loss for the long term.

Many people with obesity make good candidates for medical weight loss. Like any medication, however, some people should not use them. These include people with a history of thyroid and some other cancers, those with kidney issues or pancreatitis, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Only a full consultation can determine if this treatment is best for you.

Many people on a medical weight loss program notice that they think about food less and have less appetite. While minor side effects such as nausea affect many people, most do not find them problematic enough to stop treatment. How fast you lose weight depends on your calorie consumption, exercise program, and metabolism.

People who stop taking these medications without making changes to their eating habits and lifestyle risk regaining the weight lost. Your Winter Park Plastic Surgery team will support you in your efforts to make long-lasting life changes with the assistance of medical weight loss.

The most common side effects of these medications include digestive system issues such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. More serious side effects can occur, especially in people with pre-existing health conditions, so make sure to discuss these with your team. These side effects are not generally bothersome enough for people to stop the program.