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Weight Loss
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Achieve Your Goals
Transform your health and achieve your weight loss goals with our Medical Weight Loss program at Supportiv. Our expert team offers personalized plans that combine medical expertise with tailored strategies to help you lose weight safely and effectively. Through a comprehensive approach, including nutritional counseling, customized IV therapy, and ongoing support, we empower you to reach and maintain a healthy weight for the long term. Start your journey to a healthier, happier you today.
Our weight loss providers have 60+ years of experience in medical and surgical weight loss. Dr. Tom Lavin founded Surgical Specialists of Louisiana, and has dedicated his professional career to helping people achieve long-term weight loss and optimal health through minimally invasive surgery and incisionless procedures. Alison Nolan, NP has worked alongside him for 15 years and specializes in Medical Weight loss.
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Caroline Brennan, NP and Samantha Spansel, PA have also been trained extensively by Dr. Lavin and Ali. Collectively our providers focus their efforts of slow, effective, and sustainable weight loss through medications such as Semaglutide and Tirzepatide alongside diet and lifestyle modifications. At Supportiv Wellness, you not only receive a prescription, a provider will hold your hand through every moment of your weight loss journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide 1) agonist. It mimics the actions of the hormone glucagon-like peptide 1, which is produced in the gut and released in response to food.
When blood sugar levels start to rise after someone eats, these drugs stimulate the body to secrete more insulin. The extra insulin helps lower blood sugar levels.
GLP-1s also help suppress appetite and slow the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine. As a result, you may feel full faster and longer, so you eat less.
The combination of better blood sugar levels, decreased appetite, and delayed gastric emptying results in decreased calorie intake and diminished cravings, making weight loss much easier than it is with diet and exercise alone.
In a 68 week trial, participants with a BMI of 30 or greater, or 27 with one comorbidity were given once weekly subcutaneous semaglutide, plus healthy lifestyle changes. The participants (with an average starting weight of 232 lbs) lost an average of 35 lbs (~15% of body weight), and even had some reduced cardiometabolic risk factors.
This drug is a subcutaneous injection given with an insulin needle in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. It should be administered by the patient weekly, and can be taken with or without a meal. It must be stored in the refrigerator. The most common adverse effects are mild nausea or diarrhea.
What is Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide (brand name Mounjaro) is a “cousin” of Semaglutide (Ozempic). It is a GLP-1 agonist (like Semaglutide) but also is a GIP agonist (unlike Semaglutide).
This means that in addition to suppressing appetite it may also improve how the body breaks down sugar and fat.
Tirzepatide helps the body release insulin when sugar is high, removes excess sugar from the blood, stops the liver from making and releasing too much sugar, and slows down how quickly food leaves the stomach (thereby decreasing food intake).
How do I get the medication once it is prescribed?
Your medication will be shipped to your door.
What will I receive:
- Semaglutide or Tirzepatide
- Needles (as a side note, if you want to use needles you already have, they must be the same exact needles or else these is a high risk for the wrong dose of the drug)
- General information on giving a subcutaneous injection (wiping top of vial and wiping skin)
- Specific information on your drug and dose
- How to store your vials
- Alcohol swabs
How often do I give myself the shots?
The injections are once per week. It is best to pick a day of the week, and continue to give them on that same week day. (That also means you can reach us/the pharmacy on the phone during our business hours if you have any questions about your injections.)
How do I dispose of the used needles after I give my injection?
Please put your needles in an FDA-cleared sharps container if you have one available. DO NOT throw singular needles away in your household trash.
You can purchase FDA-cleared sharps container at most drug stores/pharmacies. Visit https://safeneedledisposal.org for more information on needle disposal.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose ASAP. (As long as there is at least 48 hours before your NEXT dose is due)
How is the drug stored?
The vial must be stored in the refrigerator.
What are the possible side effects?
Some patients experience mild nausea and GI upset.
Do I have to come to my follow ups to receive my prescription?
YES. We need to see you/or hear from you (virtually, or in person) each month to make sure you are tolerating the drug well with little to no ill effects. This is how our medical provider will decide if we need to increase your dose- or keep it the same. This is why a new prescription is called in each month.
How much weight should I expect to lose?
The average patient lost about 35 lbs, or ~15% of their body weight.
I am pregnant/trying to get pregnant/breastfeeding. Am I a candidate?
If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant within 1 year you are not a candidate for this medication.
I’ve lost a lot of weight, including muscle, now what?
We always recommend prioritizing protein and continuing to weight train while on your weight loss journey to minimize muscle loss.
Muscle loss, however, is inevitable with aging and substantial weight loss.
If this is a problem for you, please speak with your providers at SupportIV- they will likely recommend hormone optimization and possibly recommend peptides to improve muscle mass and maintain weight loss.
What does it cost?
Dose | Consult Fee and 1-month supply of Medication | Shipping |
Semaglutide 0.25mg | $260 | FREE |
Semaglutide 0.5mg | $280 | FREE |
Semaglutide 1mg | $300 | FREE |
Semaglutide 1.7mg | $320 | FREE |
Semaglutide 2.4mg | $340 | FREE |
Dose | Consult Fee and 1-month supply of medication | Shipping |
Tirzepatide 2.5mg | $310 | FREE |
Tirzepatide 5mg | $335 | FREE |
Tirzepatide 7.5mg | $360 | FREE |
Tirzepatide 10mg | $410 | FREE |
Tirzepatide 12.5mg | $460 | FREE |
Tirzepatide 15mg | $560 | FREE |