ASK KRISTINA: An effective way to lose weight? Semaglutide may be your answer

Maricopa Wellness Center’s medical director, Dr. Kristina Donnay, DNP, FNP-C, gets many emails asking aesthetic and wellness questions. We have decided to answer some of the most-common questions about the weight-loss peptide Semaglutide in this article.

Q. What is the difference between Ozempic and Semaglutide?
A. Semaglutide initially was developed to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and marketed under the brand name Ozempic. Semaglutide (generic Ozempic) is a medication injected under-the-skin weekly and is the first FDA-approved drug for chronic weight management in adults with general obesity since 2014. Semaglutide is used to treat obesity as a chronic metabolic disease, forcing medicine to look at obesity as a chronic disease rather than perpetuating the misconception that obesity is a problem that can be overcome by willpower.

Q. Will I gain back weight if I stop Ozempic or Semaglutide?
A. Semaglutide works by mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake. The drug and class of medications is not new though. This class of GLP-1 analogue medications has been used for more than 15 years to treat type 2 diabetics.

Semaglutide doesn’t work for everyone and there are some chronic conditions that make it not a good fit. But, when Semaglutide is successful, it can help someone shed 10% to 20% of their body weight. For many people, the medication appears to work. The results of a clinical trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed the average weight loss was 12.5% against the placebo group and one third of the participants lost 20% of the initial body weight. All anti-obesity medications should be prescribed along with lifestyle changes to maximize the benefits.

Q. Is “Ozempic” face real?
A. Yes, and no. Rapid weight loss spurred by Ozempic, Semaglutide or any other means can change the skin and reduce fat volume all over the body, including in the face. So, weight loss in general can cause skin laxity.

Ways to combat skin laxity include using collagen peptides, RF facial treatments and surgical removal.

Here at MWC, we recommend the use of our collagen peptide powder and Evoke treatments.

Maricopa Wellness Center’s collagen peptide contains a unique blend of three that are patented and supported by clinical research, showing their efficacy for supporting collagen production to strengthen bones, joints and improve skin elasticity.

Evoke features cutting-edge technology for jowl lifting, collagen strengthening and skin tightening for the face and neck. Evoke is a quick, pain-free treatment that provides a naturally younger-looking facial appearance with no downtime.

If you have a question you want answered in the next edition of “Ask Dr. Kristina,” email it to [email protected]
You should always speak with your provider before you start, stop or change any part of your care plan or treatment. This article is not considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your provider or dial 911 immediately.

Text MWC to 520-464-6193 to sign up for our texting list where we share special pricing and events.