At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we understand that achieving significant weight loss isn’t easy. When the weight loss journey gets tough and your progress has reached a plateau, it can be hard to stick to healthy lifestyle habits.
Fortunately, semaglutide near Fruit Cove, FL, is a great resource for eliminating those stubborn pounds of fat and crushing your weight loss goals once and for all.
In this blog post, we’ll be covering the science behind semaglutide injections and everything you’ll need to know before your initial consultation. Ready to speak with one of our weight loss experts? Visit our website or give our team a call to request your appointment.
What is semaglutide?
If you’ve heard anything about weight loss injections, you likely already know that semaglutide is helping some celebrities achieve significant weight loss. But semaglutide isn’t just for influencers or famous people—it’s an effective weight loss treatment for everyday individuals who are overweight or obese.
Semaglutide is an FDA-approved injectable traditionally used for type 2 diabetes and blood sugar management. In more recent years, semaglutide near Fruit Cove, FL, has been used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise to help patients with weight-related medical conditions lose weight and keep it off.
How does semaglutide work?
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which mimics the hormone released in the gut in response to eating. Upon activating the GLP-1 receptor, semaglutide increases insulin production and slows gastric emptying.
When used for type 2 diabetes management, GLP-1’s main responsibility is to reduce blood sugar levels. When used in higher amounts and in addition to diet and exercise, GLP-1s also suppress appetite and help you avoid overeating.
Who is a good candidate for semaglutide injections?
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we recommend semaglutide injections to overweight and obese patients who have not found weight loss success with traditional methods alone. This includes individuals with a BMI of 27 or higher.
We also recommend weight loss injections for those with one or more weight-related health conditions.
Though semaglutide near Fruit Cove, FL, is a great option for many patients, it’s not for everyone. We recommend avoiding weight loss injections if you have one or multiple of the following conditions:
- Medullary thyroid cancer
- Gallbladder disease
- Pancreatitis
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2
The Semaglutide Process
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we’re dedicated to the well-being of our patients. We strive to help all of our patients achieve their weight loss goals and create a body they feel confident in.
Here’s a brief summary of what you can expect from our medical weight loss program.
Step 1: Decide to Take Control of Your Health
If you’ve chosen to embark on your weight loss journey, congratulations on behalf of the team at Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates! Making the decision to put you and your health first isn’t easy, and we admire the commitment you’ve made to yourself.
Though the journey can be difficult, we have confidence that you’ll be able to push through the hard days in pursuit of the light at the end of the tunnel.
After deciding to invest in your weight loss goals, we recommend scheduling a medical weight loss consultation to speak with our experts about your options.
Step 2: Stop In for Your Initial Consultation
At your medical weight loss consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to meet your provider and discuss your weight loss goals.
Your provider will ask about your medical history, medications you’re currently taking, and any previous weight loss attempts. This information will be used to determine which weight loss methods will work best for your unique situation and health conditions.
From there, your provider will create your personalized weight loss program. This could include weight loss injections like semaglutide or tirzepatide, as well as suggestions for healthy diet and exercise habits.
If your provider recommends medical weight loss injections, they will then explain the treatment process for semaglutide near Fruit Cove, FL, and dosages you will be prescribed. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions or voice any concerns you may have about the treatment program.
Step 3: Attend Weekly Injection Appointments
After you and your provider have created your personalized weight loss program, you’ll schedule and attend weekly injection appointments. These appointments will typically take 10 to 15 minutes to complete, which means you can get back to your busy schedule immediately after!
At these appointments, your provider will first clean your injection site, which can include under the skin of your upper thigh, stomach area, or upper arm. They will then administer your semaglutide injection, and you can get on with your day!
Step 4: Continue to Live a Healthy Lifestyle
No semaglutide treatment plan would be complete without a well-balanced diet and exercise. Healthy lifestyle habits are essential in seeing weight loss success with semaglutide. These changes can also help you prolong your weight loss results—even after you stop taking semaglutide!
Though semaglutide has no specific dietary guidelines, the drug’s manufacturer recommends eating foods that regulate blood sugar levels and help you avoid side effects associated with delayed gastric emptying.
Examples of foods that support your semaglutide weight loss results include:
- Whole grains
- Potatoes
- Legumes
- Lean proteins
- Non-starchy vegetables
- Avocados
- Berries
- Lentils
On the other hand, some foods can slow down the weight loss process and cause negative side effects. Examples of foods to avoid while on semaglutide include:
- Spicy foods
- Fatty proteins
- Baked goods
- Ice cream
- Sugary beverages
- Fried foods
We recommend consulting with your CSA provider if you have questions about dieting plans to support your medical weight loss results.
Step 5: Enjoy Your Weight Loss Results
The best part about semaglutide near Fruit Cove, FL? When paired with the right healthy lifestyle habits, you can achieve significant weight loss in a matter of months!
Though every weight loss journey is different, our patients achieve most of their weight loss within the first 4 to 5 months of using semaglutide. These results depend on a variety of factors, including your metabolism, adherence to treatment plan, and lifestyle habits.
The amount of time spent on semaglutide also varies from person to person. Some patients only need to take semaglutide briefly to achieve their weight loss goals, whereas others may choose a longer treatment plan. On average, most patients are on semaglutide for a minimum of 12 to 24 months.
You and your CSA provider will work together to determine the best treatment program length for your specific weight loss goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we understand that the medical weight loss process can seem overwhelming at first. Here are some more details about semaglutide near Fruit Cove, FL, to inform your decision.
Is semaglutide my only option?
No! Our practice also offers tirzepatide injections for all your medical weight loss needs.
Like semaglutide, tirzepatide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite. That being said, tirzepatide is also a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which acts as an additional catalyst for weight loss.
Tirzepatide can also be an alternative to semaglutide if your results begin to plateau. Your Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates weight loss expert will determine which injection fits your weight loss needs best during your initial consultation.
Are there any side effects of semaglutide?
Like all medications, semaglutide comes with a list of manageable but important side effects to look out for. While on semaglutide near Fruit Cove, FL, you may experience:
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
Let your provider know immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:
- Allergic reactions
- Dehydration
- Gallbladder problems
- Pancreatitis
- Change in vision
- Heart palpitations
Will insurance cover semaglutide?
Insurance only covers semaglutide and tirzepatide if they are prescribed and used for type 2 diabetes management. Unfortunately, insurance does not usually cover these injections if they are being used to achieve weight loss.
That being said, we do offer a variety of financing and payment options to make your semaglutide treatment process as affordable as possible. These options include:
- CareCredit – Choose between multiple payment plans without upfront costs or pre-payment penalties.
- Cherry – Get approved for regular payment installments without hurting your credit score.
- Patient Fi – Access payment plans that look beyond your credit score and address your financial needs.
Start Losing Weight With Semaglutide
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we have faith that you’ll be able to push through the tough days of your weight loss journey and see success on the scale. Whether you’ve struggled with exercise plans or have been left frustrated by fad diets, we have the resources and semaglutide near Fruit Cove, FL, to help you achieve your weight loss goals.
The start of your journey to self-love and confidence is only a few clicks away. Visit our website or give our team a call to learn more about your options.
Interested in learning more about our weight loss clinic and other ways to shed stubborn body fat? Read our latest blog posts for more information.
