Main Content
Medical Weight Loss
Medical Weight Loss
Medical Weight Loss
Conveniently located to serve Atlanta and Sandy Springs
At Monarch Plastic Surgery and Skin Renewal Center in Atlanta, we believe in a comprehensive approach to weight loss. This type of approach pairs weight loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro with a weight loss program designed for each patient’s specific needs and goals.
We’ve created the Monarch Wellness Program, which includes everything you’ll need to achieve your goals effectively with the help of a health care professional. Our approach ensures that your weight loss journey is supported, safe, and successful.
With the help of medical weight loss, Atlanta patients can lose up to 25 lbs. in two months and up to 50 lbs. in four months. In many cases, by the end of the treatment process, patients successfully lose ten to twenty percent of their body weight.
What Is Medical Weight Loss?
Weight management centers around the core principles of diet and exercise. Focusing on a healthier diet and regular physical activity can help us achieve our weight loss goals. However, for many of us, diet and exercise alone aren’t enough. In these cases, a combination strategy with the addition of medication can support our efforts and ensure effective, healthy weight loss.
There are many forms of weight loss medications available on the market today. Two of these, semaglutide and tirzepatide (the active ingredients in Ozempic and Mounjaro), are injectable medications that regulate appetite and metabolism, leading to significant results.
At Monarch Plastic Surgery and Skin Renewal Center in Atlanta, we offer tailored treatment programs using either semaglutide or tirzepatide to help you reach your weight loss goals. Our office isn’t far from the Sweet Auburn Historic District, Ponce City Market, and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.
What Are the Benefits of Medical Weight Loss?
There are multiple benefits to medical weight loss. The benefits for each individual may differ, but they often include:
- The ability to achieve and maintain a healthier weight
- Reduced risk of obesity-related conditions like stroke, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes
- A lowered chance of developing obesity-related dementia
- Improved metabolic health
- Increased confidence
- Ongoing support through our comprehensive membership
- Monitoring by a health care professional
- Improvement of weight-related health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, fertility problems, and sleep apnea
- Decreased inflammation levels in the body
- Improved control over blood sugar levels
Because medical weight reduction doesn’t involve any bariatric surgery, it helps patients avoid incisions, anesthesia, painful recovery periods, and changes to the internal organs.
How Do Weight Loss Medications Work?
Whenever you eat, your digestive tract releases a hormone called glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1), which prompts your body to create insulin and sends messages to your brain to indicate that you are full. The result is that you are less hungry and have less of a drive to eat more food.
Semaglutide and tirzepatide are GLP-1 agonists, meaning they mimic the GLP-1 hormone, making you feel less hungry. Tirzepatide also mimics the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which increases the action of tirzepatide.
Both of these medications have the added effect of slowing the movement of food through your stomach, making your stomach take longer to empty after eating. The result of their activity is that you feel fuller more quickly and for a longer period of time. You have a decreased appetite and fewer cravings, and you eat less during mealtime and eat fewer snacks, leading to effective weight loss.
These medications are self-injected on a weekly basis, ensuring that you continue to have less of an appetite and experience fewer cravings over time. As a result, you continue to lose weight throughout the treatment process.
Is Medical Weight Loss Right for Me?
If you haven’t achieved the weight-loss results you’ve been hoping for through diet and exercise alone, you might be the perfect candidate for medical weight loss at Monarch.
The best candidates for medical weight loss in Atlanta are searching for a non-surgical way to reduce their weight. Various forms of bariatric surgery can also be combined with weight loss medications when patients are interested in increased benefits.
If you’re at a BMI of 30 or higher, you may be an excellent candidate for medical weight reduction. If you have a lower BMI but have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or another weight-related medical issue, medical weight loss may still be right for you.
Good candidates are able to diet and exercise consistently while self-administering their weight loss medication. Falling behind on a healthy diet and regular exercise can reduce the efficacy of the program.
Pre-existing medical conditions may affect your candidacy for this treatment option. You may not be a suitable candidate if you have gallbladder disease, diabetic ketoacidosis, MEN2, Type 1 diabetes, medullary thyroid cancer, or pancreatitis. Additionally, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it will be best to postpone medical weight loss.
What Is Monarch Plastic Surgery’s Wellness Program?
Many of us have decided to embark on a weight loss journey. While some are able to achieve health goals through diet and exercise alone, others need the help of weight loss medication or bariatric surgery.
At Monarch Plastic Surgery and Skin Renewal Center, we aim to help our patients through this journey with more than just surgery. We offer personalized treatment plans tailored to your concerns and specific needs. These plans feature semaglutide and tirzepatide weight loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.
Our medical weight loss program takes a holistic approach and involves achievable and sustainable long-term exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes. These changes help keep off the weight for years instead of just creating temporary weight loss. Throughout this process, you’ll receive support from our physicians, who will regularly check in with you, offer guidance and encouragement, and make changes to your plan based on your progress.
Our experts have a deep understanding of the factors that can affect a patient’s weight, including social, psychological, and physiological factors. Using their knowledge of these factors, they design weight reduction plans that account for the root causes of each patient’s weight issues.
To find out if Monarch’s personalized medical weight loss program is right for you, it’s best to contact our clinic for a consultation. We’re only a short drive from beautiful downtown Atlanta, home to The Curb Market, SkyView Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium, and The Sun Dial Restaurant. Downtown Atlanta features the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Centennial Olympic Park, the World of Coca-Cola, and more.
Why Choose Monarch for Medical Weight Loss?
The patient-focused physicians at Monarch Plastic Surgery and Skin Renewal Center have helped numerous clients lose weight and keep it off effectively. Atlanta patients searching for a personalized medical weight loss plan that really works have found the Monarch Wellness Program to be the perfect choice.
Dr. Carmen Kavali, a board-certified plastic surgeon, has been interviewed as a medical expert in several magazines, on podcasts, and on radio shows, where she has shared her vast knowledge on various subjects. She has traveled to medical conferences, where she has delivered several presentations and lectures.
Dr. Kavali earned her Doctorate from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. She completed a general surgery residency at the University of Illinois and then traveled to Detroit’s Wayne State University for a specialized plastic surgery fellowship.
Along with authoring several articles in medical journals, Dr. Kavali is a member of a number of medical associations. These include the Medical Association of Georgia, the Atlanta Women’s Medical Alliance, the Medical Association of Atlanta, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.
Dr. Kavali has been named a Castle Connolly Exceptional Woman in Medicine since 2020 and a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly since 2017. Atlanta Magazine and The Atlantan magazine have both recognized her as a Top Doctor. For several years, she has been recognized as one of America’s Top Plastic Surgeons by the Consumers’ Research Council of America.
Dr. Teri N. Moak is a board-eligible aesthetic plastic surgeon who has taught in clinical settings and written textbook chapters, manuscripts, and medical journal articles. She regularly travels to medical conferences to deliver lectures. Dr. Moak is a member of medical societies like the Medical Association of Georgia, the Aesthetic Society, the International Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Before becoming a surgeon, she earned undergraduate degrees in Physics and Biochemistry from the University of Mississippi, followed by a Master’s Degree in Biophysical Chemistry. She also graduated from Mississippi College with a Master’s in Biological Medical Sciences. She studied Physical Therapy at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
At the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, she earned her Doctorate. Dr. Moak followed this by completing the Plastic and Reconstructive Residency Training Program at Washington University in St. Louis. She then pursued a fellowship with Dr. Grady Core endorsed by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Kavali and Dr. Moak have surgical privileges and are on staff at Northside Hospital and Atlanta Outpatient Surgery Center.
Your Medical Weight Loss Consultation
To start your weight loss journey, you’ll first need to meet with one of our physicians at Monarch for a personalized medical weight loss consultation. Our Atlanta office is near healthy restaurants like Clean Eatz, Kale Me Crazy, Strive Foods, Kid Cashew, and Rush Bowls. It’s not far from the Atlanta History Center, the Fox Theatre, and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport.
During your consultation at our clinic, you’ll go over your weight reduction goals in detail. Your physician will take down your weight and perform a physical examination. Additionally, they’ll inquire about your current medications and supplements, allergies, past weight loss attempts, and pre-existing conditions.
Make sure to tell your physician about all of your current medical conditions, because weight loss medication’s efficacy can be affected by health conditions that affect your hormones, your thyroid, or the processing of insulin.
Any conditions that affect hormone production or regulation can impede the weight loss process. A person’s metabolism may be slowed down due to thyroid issues such as hypothyroidism. A resistance to insulin creates issues managing blood sugar levels, resulting in weight gain.
During the consultation, your physician will discuss the details of the Monarch Wellness Program, including information about how to self-administer your weight loss medication injections. They will customize your plan using the information gathered during the consultation, determining your proper medication dosage and recommending the right diet and exercise program to go with your plan.
Your physician will set expectations in terms of weight reduction results, both in terms of the amount of weight you may potentially lose and the time it may take to see results. Questions are highly encouraged at any time.
How Quickly Does Medical Weight Loss Work?
Many patients start experiencing changes relatively quickly, though this varies depending on the details of each patient’s plan and their metabolism. Metabolism affects the rate at which weight loss medication affects the body, and the higher the metabolism, the more quickly the body processes the medication. Lifestyle factors like sleep and stress can also affect the time it takes to see results.
Often, people experience initial weight loss within the first one to four weeks, along with more of a feeling of satiety after eating and a decreased appetite. After four or five weeks, the medication’s concentration in the bloodstream is usually steady.
During weeks five to twenty, as the dose is increased, patients start to see a more significant weight decrease. This process is usually gradual and steady. Sustained weight loss can be achieved after this period, along with various health changes.
Clinical trials have demonstrated that after eight weeks taking weight loss medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, or Mounjaro, patients have lost an average of over four percent of their body weight. After twenty weeks, patients on the highest dose have lost an average of around ten percent of their body weight. After sixty-eight weeks, they have lost an average of almost fifteen percent.
How Much Does Medical Weight Loss in Atlanta Cost?
Our Monarch Plastic Surgery Wellness Program Membership is priced at $75 per month for a minimum of six months.
This membership fee includes:
- Your initial comprehensive screening with a licensed healthcare professional, which includes shared decision making for your particular program
- Laboratory workup at your consultation and six-month follow-up to ensure maintenance of optimal nutrition
- Monthly check-ins with your healthcare professional to monitor and maximize your progress
- Semaglutide or tirzepatide prescriptions*, sent right to your door
- Medspa perks like Botox and Diamond Glow Facials and a complimentary surgical consultation
*Cost of medication is NOT included in membership fee and varies by level of treatment.
Find Out More with a Consultation
Contact Monarch Plastic Surgery and Skin Renewal Center to learn more about the benefits of medical weight loss during a consultation. Our Atlanta office isn’t far from midtown Atlanta, which features popular tourist spots like the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Piedmont Park and the High Museum of Art. We’re also near coffee shops like Bagel Boys Café, Just Love Coffee Cafe, and Zambawango.
Questions & Answers
Semaglutide and tirzepatide are self-administered as once-weekly injections under the skin in the stomach (two inches from the belly button), the front of the thigh, or the upper arm. Many patients prefer to inject the medication into the back of the upper arm, since this keeps marks less visible.
Generally, it’s recommended to rotate between injection sites every time instead of injecting into the same area; this minimizes any soreness, bruising, swelling, or redness afterwards. Rotating allows the skin to heal. Rotation can include switching between the left and right side of the abdomen and the left and right upper arm and thigh.
You’ll need to administer your weight loss medication injections on the same day every week and at the same time of day every time (whichever time works best for you). For injections, you’ll use a very thin needle, which you’ll insert carefully under your skin and into the fat layer beneath. This helps the medication be absorbed gradually into your bloodstream instead of instantly.
If you notice hives or rashes forming at the injection site after self-administering an injection, contact us and let us know; this may be an allergic reaction to the weight loss medication.
We are happy to help you with your initial injections and teach you how to properly administer them during a consultation at our office. We’re located near hotels like Hyatt Place Perimeter Center, Sheraton Atlanta Perimeter North Hotel, and Crowne Plaza Hotel Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia. We’re also not far from popular attractions like the LEGO Discovery Center and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
For those patients who have significant difficulty with injections, we do offer a sublingual (under the tongue) form of semaglutide. This form of the medication is not as strong, leading to slower weight loss. However, in the right patient, this form of the medication may be preferable. Your health care professional will discuss all of your options with you and help you determine which form of medication is right for you.
This varies based on the type of weight loss injection being used. For semaglutide medications, dosage starts at 0.25 mg for four weeks, keeping the chance and severity of side effects low. During this process, the body slowly gets more acclimated to the weight loss medication.
After this, the semaglutide dose will be slowly increased every four weeks. Once sixteen weeks have passed and the dosage is 2.4 mg, this will be the consistent dosage.
For tirzepatide, the dosage begins at 2.5 mg for four weeks. It’s usually increased by 2.5 mg for the next four weeks, then again by 2.5 mg every four weeks. Once it reaches the maximum dosage recommended by your physician, it will stay at this dosage.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I MISS A DOSE OF MY WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATION?
If you miss a dose of your weight loss medication, you’ll need to either self-administer the dose as soon as you can or skip that dose, depending on the timing. If it’ll be over forty-eight hours until the next scheduled dose, self-administer the missed dose as soon as possible. If it’ll be less than forty-eight hours until the next scheduled dose, you can just skip the missed dose entirely.
To get the best results from medical weight loss at Monarch Plastic Surgery and Skin Renewal Center, you’ll need to follow the medication schedule as diligently as possible. This means sticking to the right dosage and frequency and administering them at the same time on the same day each week. It also means sticking with any new changes made by your physician.
You’ll need to keep hydrated during the treatment process. Make sure to always be drinking enough water, which can often mean bringing a water bottle with you whenever you go out and setting reminders on your phone.
Drinking water is an excellent way to keep your stomach feeling full and your appetite low, supporting the effects of your weight loss medication. Proper hydration is key for supporting the enzymes involved in metabolic processes. It helps your body process glucose, remove waste products, and transport nutrients, and it also aids in proper blood circulation. Additionally, drinking water can reduce medication side effects like nausea and headaches.
To ensure optimal weight loss results, you’ll need to avoid recreational drugs and certain medications, since these can potentially cause negative side effects or reduce the effectiveness of your weight loss medication.
You’ll also need to avoid alcohol in order to keep blood sugar levels from being elevated. Alcohol has a lot of empty calories, and if you’re inebriated, you may have trouble effectively sticking with your weight loss plan.
Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule is vital for effective weight loss. Without enough sleep, the body has trouble with hormone regulation, including hormones like ghrelin and leptin, both of which have an effect on a person’s appetite. Without proper regulation of these hormones, your metabolism can slow down, and you may feel hungrier.
It’s important to manage stress and anxiety as well as you can while following our weight loss program. Limiting internal and external stressors will help prevent sleep issues and emotional issues, keeping weight loss optimal. Healthy coping mechanisms are incredibly important, as are relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation. Many patients also attend weight loss support groups and therapy sessions regularly to aid in emotional regulation.