Regenerative Medicine
Semaglutide (Wegovy / Ozempic)
GLP-1 medical weight loss — average 12–15% body weight reduction with proper supervision.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that reduces appetite, slows gastric emptying, and improves insulin sensitivity. It's the active ingredient in Ozempic (FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes) and Wegovy (FDA-approved for weight loss). At Elements, we run medically supervised semaglutide programs with proper baseline labs, dosing protocols, and lifestyle support to ensure muscle is preserved while fat is lost.
Semaglutide protocols at Elements include initial consultation, baseline labs (CMP, lipid panel, A1c, TSH, lipase, pregnancy test in childbearing-age women), dose titration starting at 0.25mg weekly and progressing to maintenance dosing over 12–16 weeks. We pair the medication with structured protein and resistance training targets — without these, 20–40% of weight lost is lean mass, which is a worse metabolic outcome than not losing weight at all. Side effects: GI symptoms (nausea, constipation) most common, particularly during titration, and most resolve over 1–2 weeks at each dose. Less common: pancreatitis (rare, requires discontinuation), gallbladder issues. Contraindications: personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, MEN2 syndrome, severe gastroparesis, history of pancreatitis, pregnancy. The regulatory landscape on compounded semaglutide shifts; we work only with US-licensed 503A pharmacies and use brand-name where appropriate.
Key Benefits
Common Questions
Frequently asked
How much weight do most patients lose on semaglutide?
Average 12–15% of body weight at 12 months in the major STEP trials. Real-world results are similar with proper supervision and lifestyle support — patients who skip the lifestyle work tend to have lower-quality losses (more lean mass).
How is the dose titrated?
Standard protocol starts at 0.25mg weekly and increases every 4 weeks: 0.5mg → 1.0mg → 1.7mg → 2.4mg maintenance. Slower titration reduces side effects significantly. We adjust pace based on your tolerance.
Will I gain the weight back if I stop?
Yes, partially — studies show 60–80% regain within 1–2 years of stopping. This is why most patients plan for long-term maintenance dosing. The lifestyle changes (protein, resistance training) implemented during the active phase substantially reduce regain.
How is muscle loss managed?
Studies show 20–40% of weight lost on GLP-1s without intervention is lean mass. We build muscle preservation into every program: protein targets (typically 0.8–1g per pound goal body weight), resistance training prescription, and periodic body composition tracking.
What labs do you require?
Baseline: CMP, lipid panel, A1c, TSH, lipase, pregnancy test (childbearing-age women). Repeat at 3 months and every 6 months thereafter.
Brand name vs compounded — which do you use?
Both, depending on availability and patient situation. Brand-name (Wegovy, Ozempic) when insurance covers it or budget allows. Compounded through US-licensed 503A pharmacies when appropriate. We never use research-only or non-US suppliers.
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