Semaglutide (Wegovy)

Semaglutide is a medication that helps people to achieve significant weight loss. With just a once-weekly injection, patients can attain their ideal weight with all of the health benefits that come with it. Impacting the hormones responsible for regulating fullness, semaglutide injections also cause the stomach to digest more slowly. This allows the body to feel fuller for longer after eating.

As an extremely effective and popular method of losing weight without surgery like a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, many have turned to semaglutide-based medications to gain freedom from incessant cravings to make more nutritious, healthful food choices. You may be most familiar with semaglutide by its brand names, Wegovy and Ozempic.

With Wegovy, Nubo Spa helps patients take action for the good of their well-being- both physical and mental. To see if this medication is right for you, call our location in Berkeley, CA at (510) 637-9394 or get in touch using our contact form. Nubo Spa now offers free informal consultations to help you determine if semaglutide is right for you. Our staff will be happy to answer any inquiries you may have or help you book your appointment with a professional to discuss your goals. 

A Revolutionary Weight-Loss Tool

Since semaglutide gained FDA approval in 2017, it has taken off as the most well-known weight loss medication available today. The science behind the medication supports it as an incredibly safe and effective way for patients to achieve positive changes in the way they view and think about food.

How Does It Work?

Semaglutide stimulates the production of insulin, a hormone that enters the bloodstream to break down glucose (sugar) from food. It accomplishes this action by acting like the GLP-1 hormone, a substance that functions to regulate the amount of insulin created and released.

Semaglutide for Diabetes Management

Semaglutide was first designed for type 2 diabetics to have better control of their blood sugar levels. Since it impacts insulin, it can act as a supplemental medication for diabetics to keep their condition and overall health in check. It also promotes better functioning of the pancreas, the organ that creates insulin but is impaired in people with type 2 diabetes. Increasing insulin production, can not only lower high blood sugar, but it can also help prevent more severe conditions like nerve damage, kidney dysfunction, and heart disease in the long term. ⁽¹⁾

Research into Semaglutide

Though semaglutide has only been available in the United States for about 6 years, research revealed remarkable results long before its FDA approval. In one study, participants attained weight loss results with just 2.4 mg weekly doses of injected semaglutide. With just this small amount, patients were able to lose about 28% of their initial weight. The average BMI of these participants was 37.9, so this was a significant accomplishment. ⁽²⁾ This particular study extended to over a year, demonstrating that weekly injections can support gradual and safe long-term weight loss.

Benefits of Semaglutide

Semaglutide can offer many benefits if you are looking to transform your life for the better:

Personal Consultation

We treat every patient with the utmost professionalism and understand that everyone’s journey and experience is different. Scheduling a personal consultation at Nubo Spa is the first step to gaining control over your health and weight loss success. During this appointment, we will ask you about your history of dieting and weight fluctuations, discuss the strategies you have tried already, and come up with a treatment plan that supports your health goals. We will go into further detail regarding how semaglutide works in the body, when you can expect to see results, and how to incorporate a nutritious diet into your plan. We will also review your medical history to ensure that there aren’t any major health concerns.

To get started today, call (510) 637-9394 to reachour office in Berkeley, CA or inquire about our services via our online form. You can also read more on our blog to get familiar with our other skin rejuvenation treatments, our specialty at Nubo Spa. 

Semaglutide Treatment Plan

A semaglutide treatment plan is as simple as a once-weekly injection. It is administered via subcutaneous injection, meaning it is injected just beneath the skin. Your weight loss specialist will first prescribe it at a lower dose to see how your body adapts to the medication- only 0.25 mg per injection. Typically, we will increase your dosage to 0.5 mg after the first month to better maximize your results. If you aren’t experiencing any negative side effects, your specialist can gradually continue to increase the dosage to a maximum of 2.4 mg weekly.

Semaglutide Pills

Although semaglutide is available as Rybelsus, the pill form, this medication is reserved for type 2 diabetics and has yet to earn FDA approval for weight loss. Many providers agree that injections are superior since they are administered directly to the body, rather than sent through the digestive system where some of its potency is lost. As a result, Rybelsus is prescribed at much higher doses of 7 mg and 14 mg. Moreover, research finds that oral semaglutide is more closely associated with negative side effects like nausea and abdominal cramping. ⁽⁴⁾

When To Expect Results

Semaglutide can change your overall vitality, energy, and mental clarity, as well as help you achieve the body of your dreams, but it isn’t a “magic pill” that will change the way your body looks overnight.With this in mind, you should follow a healthier lifestyle to prevent any possibility of weight regain. Your weight loss specialist can provide you with customized nutrition and fitness guidance to help you stay on the right track. We will take into consideration your unique challenges and support you every step of the way. With semaglutide, the process is easier because you will have reduced appetite.

Here are some other factors that will influence the extent of your results:

In general, patients with much higher BMIs (class II and class III obesity) may begin to shed pounds within just the first couple of weeks. For others, it may take a month or more to see significant results. Throughout your treatment, you should try to consumemore whole foods- foods that are typically not overly processed with additional fats, preservatives, and empty calories. Getting an adequate amount of vegetables and fruits is essential for getting enough fiber and micronutrients for optimal health, not just weight loss.

Your specialist can also speak with you about which cardiovascular and weight resistance exercises can work for your schedule and abilities. Maintaining your results is just as important as achieving them in the first place which is why at Nubo Spa, we take a comprehensive and personalized approach.

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures

Sculptra

Sculptra, an FDA-approved dermal filler, can help you combat tissue volume loss as you lose weight. Sculptra is made from biocompatible poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a polymer that continues to stimulate collagen production in the skin for up to 2 years. ⁽⁵⁾ Sculptra is a resilient filler that can produce long-lasting results even in places of high movement and pressure, like the thighs and buttocks. With Sculptra, you can fight against the dreaded “Ozempic face” or “Ozempic butt” that can occur with rapid weight loss from semaglutide treatment.

Restylane^Ⓡ and Juvéderm^Ⓡ

Both Restylane^Ⓡ and Juvéderm^Ⓡ are made from hyaluronic acid, a lubricating, moisturizing substance that is naturally found and produced in the skin. These fillers can produce similar volumizing results to Sculptra, but results settle in immediately as water within the skin binds to the injected hyaluronic acid microspheres. Over time, your body will process and safely metabolize the microspheres. One of the greatest advantages is that if you don’t like the results, your injector can dissolve it using an enzyme called hyaluronidase, allowing the skin to break down the filler right away.

Cost of Semaglutide in Berkeley, CA

Semaglutide can be a temporary tool for weight loss or a long-term treatment- it all depends on your personal goals and what you feel most comfortable with. During your consultation at Nubo Spa, we can give you the total cost estimate for your treatment plan and any follow-up appointments you may need.

Begin today by calling us at (510) 637-9394 or contacting us online. You can also stop by our high-quality, physician-owned medspa in Berkeley, CA, and we will let you know your next steps toward greater beauty and wellness. 

References

1. Mouri Mi, Badireddy M. Hyperglycemia. National Library of Medicine. Published 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430900/ 
2. Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2021;384(11). doi:https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183 
3. Vaughan RW, Cork RC, Hollander D. The effect of massive weight loss on arterial oxygenation and pulmonary function tests. Anesthesiology. 1981;54(4):325-328. doi:10.1097/00000542-198104000-00013  
4. Hughes S, Neumiller JJ. Oral Semaglutide. Clinical Diabetes. 2020;38(1):109-111. doi:https://doi.org/10.2337/cd19-0079 
5. Christen MO. Collagen Stimulators in Body Applications: A Review Focused on Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA). Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 2022;Volume 15:997-1019. doi:https://doi.org/10.2147/ccid.s359813