Coolsculpting vs Liposuction: Which Treatment is Right for You? | Houston

Weight Loss Program
HOUSTON, TX

At ACPS, our goal is to help you become the best version of yourself. Each patient’s aesthetic journey is customized and ACPS is excited to now offer medical weight loss as a part of that journey.

Weight Loss Program

We advise that all patients be as close to their ideal weight, as possible, before having surgery. For certain ages, health histories and type of surgical procedure there might be a BMI [body mass index] requirement before surgery will be allowed at ACPS. The ACPS weight loss program is ideal for patients who are ready to take the next steps towards plastic surgery but have a BMI between 25 – 45 and their surgeon is suggesting weight loss prior to proceeding with surgery. There are many benefits to being closer to your ideal weight prior to surgery, those include:

  • Less risk for complications: There is an increased risk for infection or other complications after surgery for patients with higher BMI.
  • Improved recovery: Patients with higher BMI tend to have weakened immune systems and chronic inflammation, this can slow down the recovery process.
  • Getting better results: Surgery is not a solution to weight loss. It is an effective way to address what diet and exercise can’t, including troublesome fat and loose skin.

Medical weight loss isn’t just for patients who are looking to have surgery, it can also benefit recent surgical patients who are looking for ways to maintain their results. Adjusting to your new body after surgery can be scary. The right diet and exercise can help maintain results and utilizing our medical weight loss can jump start your post-surgical journey for a beautiful body for years to come.

What is Required Before I Can Enroll in the Program? 

Patient safety is ACPS #1 concern. We require all patients have recent lab work reviewed by our providers prior to enrolling in the weight loss program. Lab work is valid if from the last 3 months and includes a CBC [ Complete Blood Count], CMP [Comprehensive Metabolic Panel] and A1c. ACPS can send in lab orders to QUEST DIAGNOSTIC, if requested by the patient. A patient can provider their insurance information to QUEST if choosing to use insurance for the lab work. We also accept lab results from ANY LAB TEST NOW® which doesn’t require lab orders and often same day appointments, their “Semaglutide monitoring panel” is $250 for cash paying patients and include the tests we require. We also require a screening thyroid ultrasound prior to enrolling to help rule out the biggest contraindication for tirzepatide.

What is Tirzepatide?

Tirzepatide is a weekly injectable prescription medication that ACPS uses, along with diet and exercise, that can help balance out hormones, like insulin, which can curb appetite and decrease food intake. This can help patients eat fewer calories, which can lead to weight loss.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Medical weight loss is the use of prescribed medication to help lose weight while being supervised by a physician during the weight loss journey.

ACPS wants to help patients throughout their aesthetic journey.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person’s weight in kilograms (or pounds) divided by the square of height in meters (or feet). BMI is an inexpensive and easy screening method for weight category—underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. You can calculate your BMI here.

  • Under 18.5: Underweight
  • 6 to 24.9: Normal or healthy weight
  • 0 to 29.9: Overweight
  • 0 and above: Obese

For example, a female who is 5’ 9” and weighs 132 pounds has a BMI of 19.5 and is considered to have a normal or healthy weight. At that same height, 5’ 9”, a female patient with a weight of 176, has a BMI of 26 and is considered overweight.

Many plastic surgeons have BMI requirements, but it will vary from office to office and surgeon to surgeon. If you have a high BMI and want plastic surgery, it’s important to research and find a board-certified plastic surgeon who has experience operating on high BMI patients. They can perform a thorough consultation and determine if you are a good candidate for plastic surgery. It’s important to set the right expectations for results when operating on a patient with a high BMI.

Only after a visit with one of our providers can we determine whether you qualify for Tirzepatide. However, there are minimal BMI requirements.
Tirzepatide is a weekly injectable prescription medication that ACPS uses, along with diet and exercise, that can help balance out hormones, like insulin, which can curb appetite and decrease food intake. This can help patients eat fewer calories, which can lead to weight loss.
The program includes tirzepatide alongside recommended nutritional coaching and personal training. Tirzepatide is $700/month or 3600 for six months. Packages including nutritional coaching and personal training each starting at $700/month.
The short answer is that many of our patients lose weight in the first week of taking tirzepatide. The first dose is small. It is primarily used to gently introduce the medication to the body without risking developing severe side effects. However, weight loss is not just one thing in other words, it Is possible that without making any lifestyle changes or thinking it’s not possible to overindulge, any results from a weightloss medication could be voided. Healthy sustainable weight loss is 0.5 – 2.0 pounds a week.
The ACPS program is customized to each patient’s needs. We offer 6-month programs incorporating the prescription of tirzepatide with nutritional coaching and personal training. Refills of tirzepatide are reconsidered on an annual basis. ACPS DOES NOT OFFER TIRZEPATIDE FOR EXTENDED USE [32+ WEEKS] FOR WEIGHT LOSS ALONE.
ACPS does not have control over the turn around time of the compounding pharmacy, but ACPS haschosen to work with a long standing reputable pharmacy based here in Houston, EMPOWER. Patient should expect at least 15 days from the day the RX is submitted. The medication will be available at the clinic for pick-up. Prescriptions are not submitted until lab results, thyroid ultrasound report have been received and evaluated by the physician.
ACPS does offer on-site injections if desired. These would be performed weekly.
The ACPS weight loss program is not covered by insurance.
While no medication is without risks and side effects, tirzepatide is relatively safe for most people.

The most common side effects of tirzepatide may include: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdomen) pain, headache, tiredness (fatigue), upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, gas, stomach flu and heartburn.

ACPS does not accept HAS/FSA
You will receive a prescription for the compounded medication. Due to the national shortage of tirzepatide. The FDA is allowing production and distribution of compounded tirzepatide.
The medication will be prescribed and delivered to our office for pick-up only. The medications come as home-kits that has all supplies and instructions to inject the medication. If you prefer to have our medical team do the injections, we can also do that for you.

NOTICE: Are there any contraindications?

  • Do not use tirzepatide if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
  • Do not use tirzepatide if you have had a serious allergic reaction to tirzepatide or any of the ingredients in tirzepatide prescription.
  • Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer.

NOTICE: Before using tirzepatide tell your healthcare provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:

  • have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneys.
  • have type 2 diabetes and a history of diabetic retinopathy.
  • have or have had depression, suicidal thoughts, or mental health issues.
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

NOTICE: tirzepatide may cause serious side effects, including:

  • inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using tirzepatide and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.
  • gallbladder problems. tirzepatide may cause gallbladder problems, including gallstones. Some gallstones may need surgery. Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms, such as pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools.
  • increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in patients with type 2 diabetes, especially those who also take medicines for type 2 diabetes such as sulfonylureas or insulin. This can be both a serious and common side effect. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or light-headedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, or feeling jittery.
  • kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration) which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration.
  • serious allergic reactions. Stop using tirzepatide and get medical help right away, if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeat.
  • change in vision in patients with type 2 diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with tirzepatide
  • increased heart rate. tirzepatide can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutes.
  • depression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to any mental changes, especially sudden changes in your mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse or worry you.