Semaglutide

Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) is an injectable medication that optimizes digestion and reduces appetite to help patients lose a significant amount of weight. This treatment has become increasingly popular in recent years because of its effectiveness; the convenient injectable medication has helped many patients lose weight. Semaglutide works by mimicking natural hormones and influencing insulin release for improved weight loss and potentially long term health benefits.

At Colorado Facial Plastic Surgery, we have helped thousands of patients on their weight loss journeys with weight loss treatments like semaglutide. Dr. Mario Imola and Dr. David Kowalczyk can help you lose weight and improve your health as a result with holistic treatments that safely and effectively help you reach your goals.

Weight loss can improve your quality of life; it is not just about aesthetics. With a simple injectable treatment once a week, we can help you transform your health.

To learn more about our customizable weight loss therapies, contact our office or call (303) 839-7980.

About Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It works by increasing your body’s insulin levels by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, which also helps increase feelings of satiety. ⁽¹⁾ If you want to maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI), semaglutide can help you lose a large amount of weight after consistent weekly injections.

Although semaglutide was created to help individuals with diabetes manage their symptoms, it is effective as a weight loss therapy when combined with regular exercise and healthy dieting. Semaglutide can help you effectively lose weight over time if you struggle with traditional weight loss methods. ⁽²⁾

Semaglutide vs. Tirzepatide

Semaglutide and tirzepatide are both effective GLP-1 medications. However, tirzepatide is a dual agonist; it mimics both GLP-1 and GIP hormones. Because of this dual action, tirzepatide can potentially result in greater weight loss for patients. We can discuss the best treatment for your needs during your consultation. The medication you receive will depend on your medical history and health goals.

Semaglutide Benefits

Candidates

Ideal candidates for semaglutide are patients who have one or more weight-related conditions. Weight-related conditions include, but are not limited to:

Candidates have often attempted traditional weight loss methods like consistent exercise and eating healthily, but have not seen substantial results. If you have struggled with weight loss and want to improve your health, you are probably a great candidate for weekly semaglutide injections.

It is important to note that candidates must be prepared to make healthy lifestyle changes, as the medication is most effective when patients follow a healthy diet and exercise routine. ⁽³⁾

While committing to a semaglutide regimen, candidates will need to:

Consultation

During your consultation, we will review your medical history and discuss your weight loss goals to determine if you are an eligible candidate for semaglutide. We will also discuss your current lifestyle and expectations about what the medication can help you accomplish. Our team can provide you with helpful resources and recommendations for lifestyle changes you can make to enhance your treatment and long-term health.

Treatment Process

Patients can choose to administer the weekly injections themselves at home, or they can opt to schedule weekly appointments where our team can provide the injections. In any case, a thin needle is used to administer the medication in the hip, abdomen, or thigh. Injection sites should be rotated each week to prevent irritation. After injection, you can resume your normal routine.

After Your Treatment

Unlike surgical weight loss treatments, semaglutide does not require any recovery or downtime. However, minor side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, or abdominal pain might occur while your body adjusts to the medication. These symptoms typically subside after your body becomes more used to the weekly injections. We will help you schedule follow-up appointments where we can monitor your progress and adjust your dose accordingly.

Results

With regular semaglutide injections, you can enjoy feeling fuller after eating smaller portions of food. After committing to the medication for an extended period of time–about a year or longer–you can see significant weight loss results that can improve your health in the long term. Semaglutide is intended to be a long-term medication; weight loss occurs over time.

Once you’ve reached your weight loss goals, you can choose to continue to stay on the medication, lower your dose to a maintenance dose, or discontinue your injections completely. It is important to note that, if you stop taking semaglutide after achieving weight loss results, previous appetite tendencies may return and potentially result in rebound weight loss. Patients should continue to eat healthy meals and exercise regularly to maintain their results, even after achieving their weight loss goals with the medication.

Facial Contouring After Weight Loss

It is normal to experience droopy skin on the face and neck after weight loss, colloquially known as “Ozempic face.” Facial contouring procedures can reduce excess skin in these areas, as well as diminish the appearance of wrinkles to create a more youthful look.

Neck Lift

A neck lift removes excess droopy skin from the neck for a smoother and more youthful appearance. A neck lift can also reduce the appearance of muscle banding, a condition that causes the neck muscles to thicken with age. Many patients combine neck lifts with mini facelifts because if they have sagging facial skin, they often have this issue in the neck region as well.

Brow Lift

A brow lift addresses wrinkly or sagging forehead skin for a lifted, more alert look. If you have loose skin and wrinkles above the brows, we can tighten the skin with a discreet incision. We can also combine the procedure with an eyelid lift for a more youthful and awake appearance.

Dermal Fillers

If you recently lost facial volume as a result of weight loss, we can rejuvenate hollow areas with dermal fillers that add natural-looking volume to the skin. We offer several kinds of injectables, some of which stimulate collagen production to renew your skin over time.

The Cost of Semaglutide in Denver

The cost of semaglutide will depend on the length of your treatment plan, your dosage, and your weight loss goals. Some patients choose to remain on semaglutide after achieving their weight loss goals to help them maintain their results. We can provide a cost estimate for your treatment at your personal consultation.

Contact our office or call (303) 839-7980 to learn more about a simple but powerful treatment that can help you achieve results.

FAQ

References

1. Lingvay I, Brown‐Frandsen K, Colhoun HM, et al. Semaglutide for cardiovascular event reduction in people with overweight or obesity: SELECT study baseline characteristics. Obesity. 2022;31(1):111-122. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23621
2. Chao AM, Tronieri JS, Amaro A, Wadden TA. Clinical Insight on Semaglutide for Chronic Weight Management in Adults: Patient Selection and Special Considerations. Drug Design, Development and Therapy. 2022;Volume 16:4449-4461. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/dddt.s365416
3. Mahapatra MK, Karuppasamy M, Sahoo BM. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist with cardiovascular benefits for management of type 2 diabetes. Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders. 2022;23(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-021-09699-1