Wellness
Semaglutide Weight Loss Injection
Want to drop the stubborn weight that’s been holding you back from having the figure you long for? If countless diets prove ineffective and gym sessions aren’t delivering the results you hoped for, a new injectable drug known as semaglutide may help. While the therapy is relatively new, it’s already earning immense recognition for the ability to lose weight easily.
The medication is making headlines as a quick and effective way to lose weight.
Celebrities are doing it, and the treatment is catching on around the country like wildfire. Data from the Centers for Disease Control report that more than 42% of American adults are technically obese, making semaglutide injection a game-changer for losing weight.
What is semaglutide?
Semaglutide is an injectable medication that assists in weight loss in overweight and clinically obese adults.
Semaglutide is unique and stands apart from other weight loss medications because it is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to help control hunger. In addition, these weekly injections have a track record of treating Type 2 diabetes and are now utilized to rev up weight loss.
Semaglutide is recommended to assist in weight loss for those with a BMI over 27. Semaglutide injections are now considered the secret miracle to losing weight, especially for those who have struggled with the scale for years. Most patients find that the benefits and effects are amplified when using the injections in conjunction with a low-calorie, high-protein diet and regular exercise.
Although there are a variety of weight loss drugs and medications on the market (some new and some not), what makes semaglutide injections unique and stand apart from the rest is the amount of weight you can lose. Other therapies can result in a five to 10% weight loss. With the injections, it’s nearly double that amount. Plus, patient compliance is improved since the injections are weekly and no oral medication is taken.
How do semaglutide injections work?
The medication works to slow the transit of the food in the intestinal tract, creating a feeling of fullness for longer than usual.
Semaglutide mimics the hormone the body produces when food is in the intestinal system. Semaglutide reduces cravings by limiting hunger and assisting digestion by controlling the release of GLP-1, which is released after eating. Routine injections give the body higher-than-average levels of GLP-1 so that the body feels fuller for longer. Since you’re not as hungry as normal and not craving as much food or the desire to eat, the appetite is reduced, and there’s less mid-day and late-night snacking. Plus, food moves slower through the digestive system.
Semaglutide works by mimicking a hunger hormone in the body that senses when there is food in the intestine, allowing the pancreas to make insulin. This hormone also slows down the rate at which the gastrointestinal system works, helping you to feel full and decreasing hunger.
Initially, the single-used pre-dosed injections start with a low amount of semaglutide, usually around .25 mg. During the first month, the injections help acclimate the body to the medicine. Therefore, your doctor may not adjust the initial dose for the first few weeks. Then, the amount will increase slightly and continue to advance monthly. The dose will likely be around 2.4 mg (if tolerated) by the fourth month. This slow yet steady increase allows semaglutide to continue to work as designed while helping to minimize the potential for side effects.
The goal with semaglutide injections is sustained weight loss, which may require you to stay on the medication for the long term. Customizable maintenance plans also help sustain weight loss and prevent you from gaining back weight.
What are the benefits of semaglutide injections?
There are multiple benefits of semaglutide injections, the most obvious one being weight loss. But that doesn’t mean the treatment isn’t limited to weight loss. Other positives of a series of routine injections that makes the treatment a win-win include:
- Long-lasting weight control and maintenance
- Slows down eating
- A feeling of fullness
- Suppressed appetite and food cravings
- Lower blood pressure levels
- Lower blood glucose levels
- Slows or stops the plaque formation in blood vessels
- Reduced risk of strokes and heart-related diseases and attacks
Who is semaglutide for?
Semaglutide works well for a variety of people who will benefit from it, but it’s not appropriate for everyone. The injections are not recommended for patients who are not clinically overweight with a BMI of 27 or more. The treatment is also effective in those with type 2 diabetes and clinically-diagnosed obesity.
Semaglutide is not a suitable treatment for people with:
- Medullary Thyroid cancer
- Multiple endocrine neoplasias
- Kidney disease
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Pancreatitis
- People with type 1 diabetes
- People with type 2 diabetes already taking a GLP-1 medication
What do the injections feel like?
The injections are relatively painless and are administered with a small needle. No numbing cream is needed.
A few different areas are suitable for injection, which include:
- The upper arms
- The inner thighs
- The stomach (away from the belly button)
Common FAQs
The cost of semaglutide injections can vary from person to person, depending on your weight goal and the number of sessions necessary to reach the target weight.
We recommend a consultation for a detailed estimate to determine your treatment’s cost.
The cost of semaglutide injections can vary from person to person, depending on your weight goal and the number of sessions necessary to reach the target weight.
We recommend a consultation for a detailed estimate to determine your treatment’s cost.
The results are not immediate, but the medication starts working fast. During the first week of treatment, your blood sugar levels will begin to decline, and you may lose a pound or two. By the end of the first month, there is likely to be some weight loss. The full effects often take at least eight weeks, although every patient is different, and some notice results sooner or later than that.
While there’s no hard and fast rule about what to eat and not to eat while undergoing semaglutide treatments, a clean, healthy diet will result in optimal results.
A high intake of lean protein and reduced consumption of sugar, fat, and processed carbohydrates is often recommended to help counteract some side effects of the injections. However, you can take the injections with or without food.
Each patient is different, and there’s no set number of injections that you need to follow. Instead, a protocol is determined based on your goals and starting weight. Most patients start on a three-month supply and reassess at that point.
You should be aware of reported side effects with the mediation. Common side effects of semaglutide (and other medications in the GLP-1 category) include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Burping or gassiness
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Bouts of fatigue
Everyone experiences different effects, and some don’t have any adverse effects. On average, the side effects can last a few days to a few weeks.
It’s also important to know that semaglutide can cause interactions with some medications, like those that reduce blood sugar levels. Therefore, discussing your current medical history with your provider is important.
Get started with AdvancedMD Aesthetics of Atlanta
If you’re ready to drop bothersome weight, there’s no better time than now to book a consultation with Advanced MD Aesthetics of Atlanta. A one-on-one consultation with Dr. Rheaume, a board-certified internal medicine doctor, will determine the body weight management treatment for you. We can also customize a package specific to your needs so you can obtain the best results possible.
Click the button below to schedule a consultation or book your semaglutide injection appointment today!
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