Achieve your weight loss goals with medical support tailored to your needs. Dr. Teri Moak offers expert guidance through personalized plans, including weight loss medications, balanced nutrition, and physical activity recommendations. Dr. Moak ensures a holistic approach, helping you reach your healthiest self safely and effectively.
Lose weight safely and sustainably
Medical weight loss is a comprehensive, medically supervised approach to help you achieve sustainable, healthy weight loss. Dr. Moak combines the use of weight loss medications with personalized guidance on balanced nutrition and physical activity. You’ll receive expert support at every step, including meal tracking, nutritional advice, and exercise recommendations. The program ensures you’re losing weight safely and effectively while promoting long-term wellness in a holistic, supportive environment.
The fundamentals of sustainable weight loss…
Balanced nutrition
Sustainable weight loss starts with balanced nutrition. Tracking your meals, either through an app or a journal, helps monitor daily intake and encourages healthy food choices. To support your weight loss journey, it’s essential to consume lean proteins and nutrient-dense foods and maintain proper portions. Dr. Moak also provides access to nutritionist advice, helping you create a personalized, sustainable eating plan that aligns with your lifestyle.
Physical activity
Regular physical activity plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and achieving weight loss. Dr. Moak recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, like brisk walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, like jogging, each week. Coupled with at least two days of muscle-strengthening exercises, physical activity helps burn calories, improve metabolism, and enhance overall well-being as part of your holistic plan.
Weight loss medications
Weight loss medications can be a helpful tool in achieving significant results. Dr. Moak offers medications like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, which are self-administered weekly to help you lose weight and keep it off. These medications work by suppressing appetite and slowing down gastric emptying, which helps you stick to low-calorie diets for extended periods without the discomfort of persistent hunger pangs.
Your weight loss medication options…
Semaglutide
Semaglutide is a weekly injectable formulated to aid in weight loss by mimicking the action of the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 helps regulate appetite by signaling to your brain that you’re full, which reduces food intake and promotes weight loss. By slowing gastric emptying and enhancing insulin secretion, Semaglutide helps control blood sugar levels as well. Patients using Semaglutide may experience a weight loss of approximately 15% of their body weight, making it an effective tool when combined with nutrition and exercise.
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide is another injectable medication that targets both GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), two hormones that influence appetite and glucose regulation. By activating these hormone pathways, Tirzepatide suppresses appetite, enhances insulin sensitivity, and promotes even greater weight loss than Semaglutide, which targets only one hormone. Patients using Tirzepatide may experience up to 20% body weight reduction. Tirzepatide offers an advanced option for those seeking significant weight loss.
Advantages of weight loss medications:
- Reducing appetite by mimicking natural hunger-regulating hormones
- Supporting significant weight loss when combined with lifestyle changes
- Improving blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity
- Decreasing the risk of weight-related health conditions like diabetes and heart disease
- Providing a structured, medically supervised approach to weight loss
- Targeting specific hormones involved in metabolism and appetite control
- Flexible options with both single and dual hormone-targeting medications
- Helping achieve sustainable weight loss with long-term use
- Administered as a convenient once-weekly injectable
How to inject Semaglutide/Tirzepatide?
Step 1: Prepare the medication
Begin by ensuring your Semaglutide or Tirzepatide medication is stored in the refrigerator. Avoid freezing the medication. Before injection, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and put on gloves if available. Check the medication label to confirm the correct dosage, then remove the cap from the vial and wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab.
Step 2: Draw the medication
Hold the syringe like a dart and insert the needle perpendicularly into the center of the rubber stopper. Turn the vial and syringe upside down, ensuring the needle tip stays in the liquid. Slowly pull the plunger to draw the correct dose into the syringe. Once you have the appropriate amount of medication in the syringe, remove it from the vial.
Step 3: Clean the injection area
Use an alcohol swab to clean the area where you will inject the medication. Recommended injection sites include:
- Abdomen: Inject at least 2 inches away from your belly button. Avoid the navel.
- Outer Thigh: Target the fatty tissue on the outer part of the upper thigh.
- Upper Arm: Target the outer part of the upper arm where there is enough fatty tissue.
When selecting an area, ensure it is free of any injuries, redness, swelling, or scarring. Rotate the injection site with each dose to avoid repeated use of the same area.
Step 4: Administer the injection
Inject the medication subcutaneously (under the skin) into the selected area, ensuring it is in fatty tissue, away from veins and muscles. After injection, dispose of the needle in a designated sharps container and return the medication to the refrigerator. Following proper injection technique is key to maximizing the medication’s effectiveness and minimizing side effects.
Your complete weight loss journey roadmap
Initial consultation
Your journey begins with a thorough initial consultation, where we review your medical history and perform baseline lab tests to ensure that weight loss medications are appropriate for you. Dr. Moak and her team will assess your health and develop a plan tailored to your goals.
Month 2: Virtual visit
After starting your medication, we will follow up with a virtual visit to assess how your body is responding to the treatment and make any necessary adjustments to your dosage. We also provide ongoing support with nutritional guidance and physical activity recommendations.
Month 3: In-person visit
In the third month, you will come in for an in-person visit to review your progress. We will conduct a weigh-in, monitor your overall health, and adjust your medication dosage if needed. This ensures you are safely progressing toward your weight loss goals with supervision.
Month 4: Virtual visit
In the fourth month, you will have another virtual check-in to review your progress. At this point, we will assess any changes in your weight, appetite, or overall health and adjust your plan if necessary. We will ensure you remain on track and address any concerns you may have.
Month 5: Virtual visit
As you enter the fifth month, another virtual visit will allow us to keep monitoring your weight loss progress and the effectiveness of your current dosage. We will continue providing guidance on maintaining balanced nutrition and regular physical activity to support your results.
Month 6: In-person visit
By the sixth month, you will have another in-person visit where we conduct a thorough progress review, weigh-in, and perform repeat lab tests to ensure your health is optimized. If necessary, we’ll adjust your medication dosage to maintain effective weight loss.
Become a member for only $75 per month
Take control of your weight with our comprehensive membership program. For only $75 per month, you’ll receive expert medical guidance, regular check-ins, and exclusive perks that ensure you’re supported every step of the way. Your $75 per month membership includes:
- Educational resources tailored to your unique weight loss plan
- Shared decision-making with a licensed healthcare professional
- Monthly check-ins to monitor progress and adjust your plan
- Laboratory studies to assess and optimize your health
- Prescription medication delivered directly to your home
- Medspa perks including your first Botox at $10/unit and Diamond Glow Facials
- Complimentary surgical consultation with Dr. Moak after completing your weight loss journey
Medical weight loss FAQs
What should I do if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose of Semaglutide/Tirzepatide, you may administer it within five days. If more than five days have passed, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Does it matter what time of day I take my dose?
No, it doesn’t matter what time of day you take your dose, but it’s recommended to take it consistently at the same time each week for optimal results.
What are the side effects of these medications?
Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and mild itching around the injection site. In rare cases, low blood sugar or pancreatitis-related symptoms may occur.
How do I store the medication?
Store your medication in the refrigerator, but avoid freezing it. Always check your medication before administration and avoid using expired medication.
Can I change the day I take my medication?
Yes, you can change the day of weekly administration as long as there is at least a 48-hour (2-day) gap between doses.
What are some tips to help with nausea from the medication?
Eating smaller meals, avoiding high-fat foods, and staying upright after eating can help manage nausea. Anti-nausea medication can also be prescribed if needed.
How long will I need to take this medication?
The length of time depends on your individual needs and goals. A healthy diet and regular exercise can help you achieve results sooner.
What are the other health benefits of starting weight loss medication?
These medications can reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and osteoporosis by helping you reach and maintain a healthy weight.
How long will I be on each dose?
Typically, you will stay on each dose for at least four weeks before increasing. Your healthcare provider will guide you through any dosage changes.
Can I regain weight after stopping my medication?
Yes, it is possible to regain weight after stopping, as these medications suppress appetite. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine is crucial for long-term weight stability.
Be beautiful, thoughtfully
Dr. Teri Moak is a fellowship-trained, award-winning plastic surgeon in Atlanta, GA, specializing in aesthetic surgery and holistic wellness. She believes in thoughtful, natural beauty and combines the art of plastic surgery with a holistic, balanced approach to weight loss. Dr. Moak’s compassionate care and personalized guidance empower patients to achieve their goals safely and sustainably. Schedule a consultation today to begin your medical weight loss journey.
