Medical Weight Loss
Do you struggle with reaching a healthy weight? Our medical weight loss service will help you look and feel beautiful.
At Eluma Laser and Aesthetics, we offer two medical weight loss options: Semaglutide and Tirzepatide.
WHAT IS SEMAGLUTIDE?
Semaglutide is a new FDA-approved drug that is helping people lose weight and reach their ideal size. As we age, it can be difficult to lose weight and keep the pounds away. That’s where Semaglutide can help.
This treatment previously was used for individuals who have diabetes, but the benefits extend to anyone who is interested in losing a significant amount of weight. It is often prescribed to individuals who have had difficulty losing weight and with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or higher.
HOW DOES SEMAGLUTIDE WORK?
Semaglutide works by regulating food intake by reducing feelings of hunger. It does this by mimicking the hormone GLP-1 which regulates hunger. Semaglutide also helps you feel more full and satisfied after a meal by delaying gastric emptying.
Semaglutide has been proven to be extremely effective at reducing weight, especially when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. A recent study of almost 2,000 people with a BMI over 30 were administered this treatment along with exercise. The results showed a mean decrease in body weight of 14.9% over 68 weeks, compared to the placebo group which saw only a 2.4% mean decrease in weight.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SEMAGLUTIDE?
Semaglutide injections offer many benefits to qualified candidates, including:
- Reduce weight significantly
- Help you to look and feel beautiful
- Reduce appetite
- Leave you feeling more full for longer periods of time
- Regulate blood sugar
- Requires only one treatment per week
WHAT TO EXPECT?
During your initial consultation, your medical expert at Eluma Laser and Aesthetics will conduct a thorough health history, determine if you are a candidate for Semaglutide treatment, and answer any questions you might have about the treatment. If found to be eligible, you will have the option of receiving in-office injections or taking vials of the medicine home with you.
Semaglutide typically takes between “2 to 4 weeks” until clients begin to notice a reduction in weight. The amount of Semaglutide administered will gradually increase as the weeks progress.
Your medical expert at Eluma Laser and Aesthetics will most likely recommend you combine treatments with consistent exercise and a healthy diet. Studies show that Semaglutide is most effective when paired with these lifestyle changes.
HOW LONG DOES SEMAGLUTIDE TREATMENT LAST?
Most Semaglutide treatments will take place consistently for up to 16 weeks. After this period of time, clients can receive periodic treatment as needed. However, the exact amount of time this medication is administered will depend on your goals and health. Many clients can expect to lose up to 15% of their initial weight within one year.
WHAT IS TIRZEPATIDE?
Tirzepatide (otherwise known by the brand name Mounjaro) is a weight loss and type 2 diabetes medication that has recently gained attention. That’s because it’s both a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medication — the first of its kind.
Tirzepatide is a medication used to help patients with type 2 diabetes navigate glycemic control (lower blood sugar) and lose weight. Type 2 diabetes is a long-term health condition where blood sugar levels are too high due to the body not producing enough insulin or not producing insulin properly.
This can lead to other serious health problems like increased cardiovascular risk, kidney disease, and obesity. Tirzepatide works to lower blood sugar levels by increasing the production of insulin and decreasing the amount of sugar produced by the liver [1].
Like other weight loss drugs, Tirzepatide also slows down how food is metabolised by the body, which in turn makes people feel fuller for longer and aids in weight loss and body weight reduction.
HOW DOES TIRZEPATIDE WORK FOR WEIGHT LOSS?
Tirzepatide works by mimicking both of these receptor agonists, which includes processes like alerting the pancreas to stop releasing insulin after eating and sending signals to the liver to decrease glucose levels. In turn, this not only helps you feel fuller for longer but it slows down digestion, and aids in glycemic control, which all lead to weight loss and weight management.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF TIRZEPATIDE?
While most side effects tend only to occur when first starting the treatment or increasing the dose, they’re still important to keep in mind when deciding to take Tirzepatide.
The most common side effects include:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Loss or decreased appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
Aside from these common side effects, Tirzepatide can also cause low blood sugar and its advised to seek medical attention if you experience any of these adverse effects:
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Anxiety, mood changes or irritability
- Sweating
- Slurred speech
- Headaches
- Fast heart rate
It’s also important to note that Tirzepatide does have some other potentially serious side effects and adverse events including:
- Serious allergic reaction: Allergic reactions can cause breathing difficulties and rashes, so it’s important to seek urgent medical care if you experience a severe allergic reaction.
- Thyroid cancer: In animal clinical trials and studies, Tirzepatide has caused thyroid cancer and thyroid tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). While the relevance in humans is low, this can’t be completely ruled out. If you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer, it’s advised not to take this diabetes and obesity medicine.
- Pancreatitis: Tirzepatide can cause severe abdominal pain or back pain, fevers and vomiting which requires treatment discontinuation and immediate medical attention
WHICH DRUG IS MORE EFFECTIVE?
After many studies, results showed that Tirzepatide stimulates more weight reduction than Semaglutide. However, Semaglutide has been around much longer than Tirzepatide, which means we have a better understanding of its long-term effects. With that said, every patient responds differently to each medication.
AM I A CANDIDATE FOR SEMAGLUTIDE OR TIRZEPATIDE?
You might be eligible for receiving Semaglutide or Tirzepatide treatment if you:
- Have excess weight and need to lose up to 30 pounds
- Are obese
- Have a BMI of 27 or higher
- Are under the age of 65
- Do not have any serious health complications or family history of thyroid or pancreas issues
IS LAB WORK REQUIRED?
Yes, all patients must have the following labs drawn and a copy must be provided to us at your consultation.
Labs Required: Complete Blood Count, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, TSH/T4 and Cholesterol.
If labs have not been completed prior to your consultation, you must do so and provide us with your results before any medications are provided.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Consultation: $75 (can be applied towards your first month of weight loss if you qualify)
Monthly cost: Semaglutide ranges from $300-$425 and Tirzepatide ranges from $600-$850.
Please click on the photo below and print for the lab drawing you blood. This is a fasting blood draw, meaning no food after midnight. You may resume food after your blood draw. You should drink plenty of water!