Obesity is something that affects us all at some point in our lives, whether directly through our own health or indirectly through our friends or loved ones.
And whether you’re living with obesity or watching someone else suffer…
We know how much of an impact it can have – psychologically as well as physically.
That’s why we’re pleased to offer a variety of treatments to help both men and women struggling with their weight win back their health and their life!
Including Semaglutide/B12 injections.
So on this page, you’ll get all the answers you need regarding this alternative treatment, such as:
- How do semaglutide weight loss injections work?
- What’s the correct dose for semaglutide injections?
- How fast can I expect to see results with semaglutide injections?
Read on to find out how Sadeghi Plastic Surgery, New Orleans, can help you.
What Is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is an injectable GLP-1 agonist (a substance that triggers the production of GLP-1) which can be administered to assist in weight loss.
While the name might not be familiar to you, you may recognize it used in Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.
Semaglutide works by slowing down the process of food leaving your stomach – also known as gastric emptying – making you feel full sooner after eating and for longer too.
As a direct result of this, semaglutide has helped patients:
- Lose weight (15% – 20% in most cases)
- Decrease their waist size
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduce inflammation
Semaglutide injections are also used to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and even death in heart disease and type 2 diabetes patients, although it is not a replacement for insulin.
Although Semaglutide was only approved in the USA in 2017, it’s fully FDA-approved as a weight loss aid when combined with a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise.
What Is a GLP-1?
GLP-1 stands for Glucagon-Like Peptide-1, a naturally occurring hormone in the small intestine.
Semaglutide binds to and activates the GLP-1 hormone to stimulate insulin secretion, suppress glucagon secretion, and slow gastric emptying.
As a consequence, this causes blood sugar levels to drop.
This is why Semaglutide was first introduced as a drug for type-2 diabetes.
How Do Semaglutide
And Vitamin B-12 Work Together?
Semaglutide injections are often combined with vitamin B-12 to create a more comfortable experience for our New Orleans patients.
This is because vitamin B-12 has been shown to reduce the side effects sometimes associated with semaglutide injections, including gastrointestinal side effects and fatigue.
The presence of vitamin B-12 also helps in:
- Reducing appetite
- Reducing food cravings
- Improving glycemic control
How Fast Can I Expect
To See Results With Semaglutide?
Although semaglutide injections are incredibly effective at helping Louisiana citizens lose weight when combined with exercise and healthy eating…
It’s important to remember that this is not an obesity quick-fix.
Blood sugar levels will begin to decline just one week after your first visit to the clinic for injections, but it can take 8 weeks or more to start seeing the full effects of semaglutide, with as much as 1-3 pounds of weight loss per week reported in many cases.
We always start with low doses and increase slowly to avoid unwanted side effects.
In some cases, it may take up to 16 weeks to reach full-strength semaglutide injections and experience the most notable results in your weight loss journey.
Results will always vary from patient to patient, and we suggest that you speak with a member of our clinic team about your unique circumstances.
Who Is The Ideal Candidate
For Semaglutide Injections?
Semaglutide weight loss treatment is a great option for Louisiana patients who are considered overweight (27+ BMI) or obese (30+ BMI).
It can even help patients maintain weight loss following bariatric surgery.
It’s also highly recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.
However, we must stress that there are patients who are NOT eligible for semaglutide injections and will not be treated at our clinic:
- Patients with type 1 diabetes
- Patients with type 2 diabetes already taking a GLP-1 medication
- Patients with chronic kidney disease
- Patients who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- Patients with a history of medullary thyroid cancer
At Sadeghi Plastic Surgery, you’ll receive a full consultation session where you’ll discuss your medical history with your doctor, including any medication you currently take.
This will allow us to decide if semaglutide is the right weight loss treatment for you.
Please also note that most Louisiana insurance companies refuse to cover medical weight loss, which may impact whether or not this is the right treatment for you.
Are Semaglutide Injections Really Painless?
Most people assume that semaglutide injections are performed using a needle similar to the ones used in vaccinations.
However, they’re actually done with a needle that’s much smaller that only goes under your skin – not into your muscles.
The injection is so painless that many patients don’t even realize they’ve received their shot.
It also means that our patients enjoy their weekly appointments with us!