FAQ

Semaglutide is a medication that helps regulate insulin secretion to lower blood sugar levels, curb cravings, and keep you fuller for longer. Doing so reduces hunger levels to assist patients trying to lose or maintain their weight. It can help those looking to lose significant amounts of weight or others who may just want to lose those last few stubborn pounds. A free consultation with our experts here at Weight Loss Shots will help you develop the best plan for your body, regardless of your target weight and goals.

The amount of time you will be on the medication will depend on your body and goals. Patients lose an average of 6% of their body weight in about three months, and 12% in about six months. With your goals, health concerns, and current weight in mind, we will devise a personalized plan for you to lose weight and then maintain your new body. Call our office to speak with a provider about concerns regarding how long you will need to be on semaglutide to reach your desired results.

Everyone responds differently to the medication. If you are experiencing any side effects, you can always reach out to your provider for solutions. The most common side effects are GI issues such as nausea, diarrhea, and constipation.

"Ozempic face" is portrayed in the media as a side effect of semaglutide, with semaglutide takers reporting aging in their faces as they lose weight. This so-called "Ozempic face" is simply the effect of fat loss in the face, as the medication causes weight loss all over the body. When the face loses fat, people can appear slightly aged. This phenomenon is common as thinner people look somewhat older than those carrying more weight due to lack of facial volume—a small price to pay for the body you've always dreamed of having. A slimmed facial profile can also add to your appearance by making bone structure pop, giving you a refined look. Aesthetic treatments like dermal filler and Sculptra are great options for people concerned about facial aging and are services we provide in our office. Talk to us if you have further concerns—we are here to address any questions.

The warnings regarding the risk of medullary thyroid cancer from GLP-1 medications like semaglutide came from a study of rats treated with substantial doses of GLP-1 medication—higher than doses commonly suggested for human use. To date, there have been no clinical trials that show a risk of thyroid cancer in humans. We do, however, check our patient's thyroid blood work and family history of thyroid conditions before starting medication to ensure the safety of weight loss shots for each potential candidate.

Yes and no. Weight Loss Shots uses a specialty compound semaglutide that has been FDA approved specifically for weight loss. While semaglutide is the active ingredient in GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, semaglutide itself has been approved for weight loss rather than diabetes treatment. We use compounded semaglutide, which does not affect the supply of Ozempic medication available for people with diabetes. We believe that by giving patients the tools and support to achieve their weight loss goals, we can help them avoid future health issues commonly associated with obesity, such as diabetes.

After adolescence, the body stops producing or eliminating fat cells, meaning you will grow and shrink the size of your existing fat cells with weight gain and loss. Your body has a natural configuration of fat cells, causing you to "hold weight" in certain areas. Since you cannot spot-treat those areas at the gym, you gain and lose weight proportionally over your whole body. Suppose you have a specific body part that bothers you, like your inner thighs, lower belly, or double chin. In that case, CoolSculpting is an excellent treatment that will permanently eliminate stubborn fat cells in a targeted area. Many of our patients pair semaglutide weight loss injections with CoolSculpting treatment to achieve their goals. Many will begin with weight loss injections to slim down all over, then target the remaining "problem areas" with CoolSculpting treatment. For those that are local, meet with our CoolSculpting Master Technicians at our sister medspa SDBOTOX in Austin & San Diego.

Yes, we will be with you every step of the way! You will administer your first injection during a video visit with our provider, and you can always refer back to our injection video to make sure you feel confident with the process. The injection allows the medication to enter directly into the bloodstream allowing it to begin to work immediately. The needle is so tiny, you almost can't even see it—we promise, self-injection is much easier than it sounds and allows you to take control of your weight loss program on your own time.