Weight Loss Injections

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If you have struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise or other weight loss methods, you are certainly not alone—over 40% of adults in the US are overweight. Thankfully, weekly weight loss injections have opened up a promising new possibility for men and women seeking weight management solutions.

Weight loss shots are medications that act as an appetite suppressant; they resemble a natural hormone in our body and help control your blood sugar levels to help you lose weight and keep it off.

The “skinny shot” works by slowing down the digestive process, boosting the release of insulin, and lowering the production of another hormone to lower overall blood sugar levels. The end result can be significant, maintainable weight loss.

Patients who have a BMI over 30 may benefit from weight loss injections. This weight management program may also benefit patients who have a BMI of 27 or greater who additionally have weight-related medical issues, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes.

Weight loss injections may not benefit patients with certain conditions. If you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), you should not use them.

The weight loss shot can help patients lose weight safely and gradually and keep it off. Some of the other health benefits associated with weight loss injections include the following:

• Lowers blood sugar, blood pressure, and inflammation
• Suppresses appetite to help you feel full for longer and thus curb cravings
• Enhances insulin synthesis and secretion
• Lowers cardiovascular risk factors for conditions associated with obesity

During your consultation, we will assess your weight loss goals and body composition and run labs to determine if this treatment may help you safely achieve your weight loss goals.

If we determine injections are likely to positively support your medical weight loss journey, you can start treatment, coming in once weekly for 12 weeks to receive a quick injection of your specific dose at our office. During your weekly body assessments, we will monitor your progress, answer any questions you may have, and otherwise coach you through the process.

The goal of each 12-week program is to lose 10% of your body weight, so depending on your goals, you may be satisfied after 1 treatment program or choose to complete multiple treatment programs.

Although each medical weight loss clinic approaches medical weight loss in a different way, clinical research shows that 10% is the amount of weight you can lose and keep off with the combination of medications and accountability coaching.

You may likely see your weight loss jump to more than 10% of your body weight, but we set the goal at 10% because it achieves significant improvements across all metabolic and inflammatory markers.

Most patients report that the weekly injections are relatively painless and easily tolerated. The thin needle is inserted just below the skin (subcutaneous), not into a vein or muscle. We will alternate the injection sites each week—under the skin of your stomach, thighs, or upper arm—to further minimize potential tenderness.

Yes! We recommend Evolve Tite, Trim, & Tone to tighten lax skin, boost fat removal, and tone underlying muscles. One of the most popular non-surgical body contouring treatments, Evolve uses radiofrequency (RF) energy and EMS muscle stimulation to help your weight loss transformation look and feel more complete!

We offer special pricing on Evolve for patients in our weight loss program. While combining non-surgical body treatments with medications can be beneficial, we do not recommend you take any other weight loss medication during your program unless otherwise directed by your primary physician.

Medical weight loss injections cost $1,200 for one 12-week treatment program. We also offer a $125/week appointment payment option for patients who prefer to pay for treatment as they go.

You’ll receive weekly injections and accountability coaching over the course of 12 weeks.

There is no specific diet or nutrition sessions required while having weight loss injections; that said, we recommend adopting a conscientious and sustainably flexible approach to nutrition to help you achieve optimal weight loss results as well as support your general health and wellness.

• Choose healthier food options without becoming overly focused on restricting or counting calories.
• Minimize the amount of fast-digesting carbs you consume (i.e., white bread, sugary desserts, potato chips or fries, sweet beverages).
• Incorporate vegetables and ‘superfoods’ into your diet to be sure your nutritional needs are being met.

Yes, weight loss shots are FDA-approved and have been safely used since 2005. A 2022 meta-analysis reviewed the statistical data of eight randomized controlled trials. The study found that the medication achieved “significant body weight loss” and was deemed safe for overweight or obese individuals.

Most common side effects of include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Stomach pain
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Digestive upset
• Dizziness
• Bloating
• Belching
• Gas
• Heartburn

These side effects are typically mild and are manageable by proper dosing and some overlap with the intended effect of “feeling full.”

One of the most common side effects patients report when starting a medical appetite suppressant is nausea; we’ve compiled a list of tips to help manage this effect while you get used to the medication:

• Slow down when eating, taking time between each bite and eating smaller portions
• Eat foods that are high in water content (low sodium soup or sugar-free gelatin can be especially helpful)
• Avoid lying down immediately after you eat
• Go outdoors for fresh air
• Do your injection in the evening before bed. Taking a Dramamine right before can also help alleviate nausea
• Eat high-fiber foods the day of your injection
• Avoid eating 2 hours before and after your injection

Our weight loss injections are administered by Nurse Andrea under the direction of triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. Talon Maningas. Contact our Joplin and Northwest Arkansas office online or call (417) 437-0303 to schedule your consultation and start your weight-loss journey today.