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.
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.
A BMI requirement could also vary from surgeon to surgeon at ACPS. This is because there is no one-size fits all surgery and a BMI restriction is for the safety of the patient and discussed at length during the consultation process while going over each patient’s unique health history and desired outcomes.
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.
Semaglutide is a prescription medication that ACPS uses, along with diet and exercise, to help patients lose weight. Semaglutide, sold under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic among others, is an antidiabetic medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and long-term weight management. Ozempic was FDA approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in 2017. Wegovy was FDA approved for the treatment of long-term weight management in 2021.
Semaglutide is an injectable medication 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.
What is medical weight loss?
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.
What is a BMI?
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.
I have a high BMI but another plastic surgeon didn’t ask me to lose weight?
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.
How fast will I see results? How long will they last?
The short answer is that many of our patients lose weight in the first week of taking Semaglutide. 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 weight loss medication could be voided.
Healthy sustainable weight loss is 0.5 – 2.0 pounds a week.
The STEP 1 study for Wegovy lasted for 68 weeks. Unfortunately, we have no follow-up information from those patients to assess whether study participants maintained their weight loss after stopping the medication. The average weight loss achieved in the STEP 1 study of Semaglutide for weight loss was 14.9% of the initial body weight over 68 weeks.
How long is the program?
The ACPS program is customized to each patient’s needs. We recommend a 16-week program and to assess results and determine a continued game plan at that time. A 2nd round of 16 weeks might be needed.
ACPS does not offer Semaglutide for extended use for weight loss alone.
Is Semaglutide safe?
While no medication is without risks and side effects, Semaglutide is relatively safe for most people.
What are the most common side effects?
The most common side effects of Semaglutide may include: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdomen) pain, headache, tiredness (fatigue), upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, gas, stomach flu and heartburn.
NOTICE: Are there any contraindications?
- Do not use semaglutide 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 semaglutide if you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in semaglutide 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 semaglutide 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: Semaglutide may cause serious side effects, including:
- inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using semaglutide 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. Semaglutide 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 semaglutide 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 semaglutide
- increased heart rate. Semaglutide 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.