WEGOVY WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM, BELLEVUE

What Is Wegovy?

Wegovy is a drug that mimics the functions of a specific appetite hormone known as GLP-1. This reduces appetite, lowers blood sugar, and helps lead to significant weight loss. Thus, semaglutide was originally prescribed to treat type II diabetes. However, recent studies and approval have shown that it is safe for patients without type II diabetes to take semaglutide for weight loss.

Wegovy is the first weight loss drug approved since 2014. Therefore, Wegovy fills an essential niche in the healthcare industry, especially considering an over 40% obesity rate in the United States.

When using Wegovy, the patients often experienced weight loss which improved their condition since losing weight with diabetes can be difficult. This led to further study into the potential weight loss benefits. Weight loss, like what semaglutide can achieve, can improve quality of life and have several benefits for patients with certain medical conditions and other concerns.

Benefits

Wegovy for weight loss comes with many possible benefits. They can vary from patient to patient depending on the patient’s medical history and goals. Some of the possible benefits of semaglutide treatment may include:

• Significant weight loss of up to 15% or more of the original body weight
• Reduce the risk of type II diabetes and heart disease
• Can help patients curate a healthier lifestyle without setbacks
• Help patients stay motivated’
• Improve metabolism
• Well tolerated by most patients
• Easy to administer
• Comes in an injection or pill form type
• Can take the medication long-term
• Helps patients with medical conditions that make it difficult to lose weight (PCOS, menopause, etc.)
• Dosage customized and adjusted each month as needed
• Monthly check-ins with a medical provider
• Personalized diet and exercise plan included
• Overseen by qualified physicians and physician assistants with years of experience

Risks

Outside of severe or long-lasting side effects, the biggest risk of semaglutide is low blood sugar. One of the effects of the medication is that it can lead to extremely low blood sugar in patients without a history of low blood sugar or any blood sugar problems. This can be dangerous in certain situations; if a patient experiences symptoms of low blood sugar while on Wegovy, they will likely need to discontinue the medication. Thankfully, this is rare and can usually be avoided with proper administration, dosing, and taking near mealtimes.

Other risks generally are associated with certain thyroid or endocrine disorders. Gallbladder disease and a history of pancreatitis can make patients more prone to complications. Therefore, it is important for the patient to give the provider a full understanding of their medical history.

Before & After Wegovy Weight Loss

Consultation

Each patient is assessed indivually to ensure they are a candidate for semaglutide weight loss treatment, during a consultation appointment. This appointment can take place in the office or virtually. The provider will ask about the patient’s weight loss goals, medical history, other medications, and lifestyle. This helps confirm the initial candidacy for Wegovy.

From there, the provider will discuss the starting dosage of semaglutide and work with the patient to create a diet and exercise plan. The goal is not perfection but to make progress. A slow and steady approach to lifestyle changes is generally recommended.

Administering Wegovy

Wegovy comes as a weekly injection. The Wegovy pen keeps the patient from handling the needle directly and makes injections simpler and less daunting. Understandably, patients can become nervous about injecting themselves, but with a single use injection pen, it is easy, quick, and virtually painless to administer the once-weekly injection.

Side Effects

Mild side effects can occur but should reduce and/or subside within a few weeks. Possible side effects include:

• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Gas
• Headache
• Changes in bowel movements
• Feeling bloated

The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery can give the patient Vitamin B in order to prevent any negative side effects from becoming unmanageable. 

Ongoing Treatment

Included in the monthly cost of Wegovy treatment in Bellevue is a monthly follow-up meeting. Patients will weigh themselves and discuss their progress. Their provider may choose to alter their dose of Wegovy. They can also discuss how the diet and exercise plan is working for them.

Not only does this allow patients to discuss concerns and make adjustments to their weight loss plan, but they can also receive the support necessary for any weight loss journey. These follow-up appointments can take place in person or virtually.

Dosage

The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery uses the recommended Wegovy dosage guide provided by the manufacturer. However, the dosage can be changed if the patient does not adjust well or has certain health conditions. Usually, the dosage plan goes as follows: 

• Starting 4 weeks: 0.25 mg 
• Next 4 weeks: 0.5 mg 
• Following 4 weeks: 1 mg 
• Next 4 weeks: 1.7 mg 
• Final Maintenance Dose: 2.4 mg  

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need A Prescription For Wegovy?

The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery offers a prescription Wegovy plan that requires the patient to go through a pharmacy of their choosing. The Wegovy weight loss program is $199, not including the price of the medication. It does include consultation, diet and exercise programs, monthly check-ins, and 24/7 access to on-call doctors. 

It’s important to note that it’s entirely up to the patient to check with their insurance provider to see if it will cover the cost of Wegovy. The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery’s weight loss program is not covered by insurance.   

What Diet Works Best With Wegovy?

The recommended diet plan may vary from patient to patient. Though, some recommendations are common among all patients. For example, patients should reduce sugar and processed foods. Eating a protein-rich diet—especially lean proteins like chicken, fish, and beans—also can contribute to success on Wegovy.

A diet Wegovy patients frequently go on is the Mediterranean diet which does not cut out fat, carbs, or protein, but helps patients find better sources for those nutrients. This diet is also used to help people with diabetes, heart disease, and other similar medical conditions.

How Long Are The Consultation & Follow-Up Appointments?

The consultation and subsequent check-in appointments tend to be around 20 to 30 minutes. This is true for both virtual and in-person appointments.

Is Any Preliminary Testing Needed?

Usually, no preliminary testing—beyond the consultation—is needed to proceed with Wegovy weight loss treatment in Bellevue. However, in rare cases, the patient’s medical provider may request it. This is unlikely—even for patients with pre-existing conditions—but is possible in some cases.

How Many Calories A Day Should I Eat on Wegovy?

Caloric intake varies widely even when not dieting. Factors such as gender assigned at birth, medical conditions, activity level, and starting weight can all impact how many calories a patient should eat. Also, the patient’s provider may not recommend counting calories at all.

In general, the range for the number of calories consumed while taking Wegovy is somewhere between 1200 and 1800. However, this will be different for every patient on the semaglutide weight loss program. Additionally, if a patient is doing well on their exercise plan, more calories may not cause a problem.

The quality of calories and the nutrients they provide are exceptionally important for patients taking Wegovy. Instead of getting the majority of calories from processed and sugary foods, choosing a good variety of protein, fruits, and vegetables improves the quality of calories and tends to make it difficult to eat more calories.

How Much Is Wegovy?

The Wegovy weight loss program is $199, not including the cost of the medication through your pharmacy. 

Wegovy Weight Loss Program At The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery

The providers at The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery created a weight loss program that uses Wegovy to support a healthier lifestyle and sustainable weight loss. Our version of semaglutide is compounded and dosed specifically for each patient, but it contains the same active ingredient as Wegovy. This allows The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery to offer their semaglutide weight loss program, including semaglutide, injection supplies, diet plan, and exercise regimen all at a lower cost than a month’s supply of name-brand Wegovy.

To learn more or schedule a consultation, call us at 425-775-3561. Patients can also reach out online via chat, contact form, or Price Simulator.