Medical Weight Loss

GLP-1 medications are the rage nowadays. It seems like everyone is on them. The most common medications are semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound). These medications mimic certain hormones in the body and slow down how fast the stomach empties. They also work in the brain to reduce appetite and cravings. They specifically affect a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Interestingly, they are also being studied to help people overcome addictions to alcohol and narcotics.

Semaglutide is the weaker drug…Tirzepatide is the more potent drug. A large study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that tirzepatide resulted in about 40% more weight loss than semaglutide. It also appears that tirzepatide has fewer side effects, like nausea and vomiting, in our experience. Therefore, we prescribe tirzepatide if possible.

We Are Seeing Phenomenal Weight Loss on Low-Dose Tirzepatide

Most of our patients are on the starter dose of 2.5 mg per week. We typically leave most of our patients on that dose as long as they continue to lose weight. We have found that the low dose works extremely well…IF the patient is drinking enough water. Most of our patients report that their hunger is well controlled, and they don’t experience the “food noise” on the low dose. We also strongly encourage patients to eat until they’re comfortably full, with breakfast being the biggest meal of the day. We instruct patients to consume 2 cups of fruits or veggies first at each meal (if they haven’t undergone bariatric surgery) and then the protein. It’s essential to eat enough protein in your diet to prevent you from losing muscle mass and from getting “flabby”.

We also prescribe these medications for some patients who haven’t lost enough weight after bariatric surgery. We still encourage these patients to eat better, and we will usually ask the patient to do a 2-week food log to make sure they understand the diet.

You May Have Heard of “Ozempic Face”

It’s the gaunt, malnourished look of some people on Ozempic/Tirzepatide. We are always looking for signs of malnutrition in our patients, but we rarely find it. Following up with Dr. Chang allows us to reassess the weight loss and ensure it’s progressing well, without any loss of muscle mass. We also check your body composition to ensure that you’re not losing muscle. Finally, when we look at you and ask a couple of questions, we can usually understand if you’re in a starvation state (like Ozempic face)…and we can fix it.

Worried About Regaining Your Weight After Coming off GLP-1 Meds?

Most people are concerned about this. Some studies suggest that patients regain most of their weight within 1 year of stopping the meds. We aren’t seeing that!! We see that many patients continue to lose weight even after stopping the medication! We coach patients on how to eat and exercise better, helping them rev up their metabolism. Then, they keep losing weight!

At present, the starter dose of tirzepatide is only $85 per month (subject to change without notice). Many of the wellness clinics charge $300-400 per month for semaglutide (the weaker drug). Our goal is to help you have superior results at an affordable price. Feel free to join the Advanced Bariatric and Surgical Specialist Facebook support group… https://www.facebook.com/groups/1485242818453122

You can also Call or text us at (361) 570-8585 to set up an appointment.