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weight-loss
GLP-1 Weight Loss Injections
GLP-1 medications are a class of prescription weight loss injections that reduce appetite and slow gastric emptying, helping patients eat less and feel full longer. At Ultimate Image they are prescribed and monitored by a physician as part of a supervised program, not dispensed on their own.
How GLP-1 Medications Work
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone your body produces after eating. It signals fullness to the brain, slows how quickly the stomach empties, and helps regulate blood sugar.
GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic that hormone. The practical effect is that you feel full sooner, stay full longer, and the constant background pull toward food quiets down. Patients frequently describe it as the first time appetite has not been a daily fight.
The medication is administered as a weekly injection, with dosing started low and increased gradually to limit side effects.
Who This Program Is For
Physician-supervised weight loss suits patients who:
- Have struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise alone
- Have a significant amount to lose and want medical support
- Want dosing managed by a physician rather than a subscription service
- Are prepared to attend follow-up visits and lab work
It is not appropriate for everyone. Personal and family medical history, current medications and thyroid history all factor into eligibility, which is why treatment begins with an evaluation rather than a prescription.
What to Expect
Your program starts with a full evaluation: medical history, current medications, weight history, goals and lab work. Dr. Besnoff determines whether medication is appropriate for you and, if so, which approach fits your history.
Dosing begins low and steps up on a schedule. You will be seen regularly so dose, tolerance and progress can be assessed and adjusted. Nutritional guidance and supplement support are built into the program, because medication works best alongside adequate protein intake and resistance training that protects muscle.
Ongoing Care
Nausea, reduced appetite and digestive changes are the most common side effects, particularly in the first weeks and after each dose increase. Most settle as your body adjusts, and the gradual dosing schedule exists to minimize them.
Weight loss is steady rather than sudden. Follow-up visits track progress and allow the plan to be adjusted rather than left to run unattended. Rapid weight loss can leave facial and body volume loss behind, which is why patients often pair the program with treatments that restore contour.
Session Length
Initial evaluation, then brief follow-up visits
Downtime
Initial evaluation, then brief follow-up visits
Session Count
Ongoing program with regular follow-up visits
Results Timeline
Steady loss over months, dose dependent
Results Duration
Maintained with continued care and lifestyle support
Device or Brand
Prescription GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy
FDA Status
Prescribed by a physician following evaluation
Frequently Asked Questions
How much weight will I lose?
It varies considerably by starting point, dose, and how closely nutrition and activity support the medication. Your physician will set realistic expectations at your evaluation rather than quote a number in advance.
Do I have to stay on it forever?
Not necessarily, but appetite often returns when medication stops, and some patients regain. The program is built around habits that hold once dosing changes, which is why nutrition and strength work are part of it.
Is this just a prescription, or a program?
A program. Treatment includes evaluation, lab work, supervised dosing, follow-up visits and nutritional support. Medication without oversight is not what is offered here.
What happens to loose skin and lost volume?
Significant weight loss commonly leaves volume loss in the face and contour irregularity on the body. Treatments such as alloClae, dermal filler and skin tightening address it, and many patients plan for that as part of the journey.
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Dr. Todd A. Besnoff, MD
Medical Director
Top Doctor in Tampa Bay
Dr. Besnoff has been referred to as one of the Top Doctors in Tampa Bay (as seen in the recent Tampa Bay Magazine Top Doctors issue) and Top 100 Aesthetic Provider in America! Dr. Besnoff has assisted and/or performed hundreds of thousands of surgical procedures since 1995 in specialties such as plastic surgery, gynecology, tissue donation and life-saving emergency treatments. In fact, Ultimate Image has been known to have performed more BOTOX® / Dysport® treatments in Tampa Bay than any other provider.