Weight Loss Injections in Des Moines

How to Know If Weight Loss Injections Are Right for You

A Brightside Aesthetics provider adminsters weight loss injection in Des Moines into a patient's arm.

At Brightside Aesthetics, we like to compare weight loss to putting together a thousand-piece puzzle. It involves finding an eating plan, exercise regimen, and healthy lifestyle habits that fit together perfectly—a task that’s time consuming and often easier said than done.

If attempting to solve your weight loss puzzle has become overwhelming, weight loss injections in Des Moines could be the solution you’ve been searching for. With tools like semaglutide and tirzepatide under your belt, you can add the final piece to your weight loss plan and create results you feel confident in.

Keep reading our blog to learn if weight loss injections are a good fit for you. Ready to embark on your weight loss journey and speak with one of our experts? Visit our website to schedule your initial consultation.

What are weight loss injections?

If you’ve been searching for weight loss solutions, you may already know that injections like semaglutide and tirzepatide are helping people all over the world achieve significant weight loss. But what you may not know is how these medical weight loss injections interact with the body’s natural processes to help you lose weight and keep it off for good.

The Science Behind Semaglutide

Semaglutide is an FDA-approved injectable used for type 2 diabetes management. Traditionally, physicians prescribe semaglutide to help type 2 diabetics regulate their blood sugar levels. In more recent years, semaglutide has also been used to help overweight and obese individuals shed those stubborn pounds.

Semaglutide serves as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, mimicking the hormones released in the gut after eating. Upon activating the GLP-1 receptor, semaglutide increases insulin production, increasing the levels in the body to lower blood sugar. At the same time, semaglutide slows the gastric emptying process while also suppressing feelings of hunger, helping you feel fuller for longer.

When used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise plan, semaglutide weight loss injections in Des Moines help patients avoid overeating. It also lowers your risk of developing a weight-related health condition, including:

  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol

Don’t Forget About Tirzepatide

Semaglutide isn’t your only weight loss injection option at Brightside Aesthetics! We also offer tirzepatide for all your medical weight loss needs.

Like semaglutide, tirzepatide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that suppresses appetite in overweight and obese individuals. These medications are largely similar, but the main difference between the two is that tirzepatide is also a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist, which reduces the secretion of stomach acid. This helps tirzepatide act as an additional catalyst for weight loss.

Good Candidates for Weight Loss Injections

At Brightside Aesthetics, we recommend weight loss injections in Des Moines to patients who are overweight, obese, or have one or more weight-related conditions. This includes patients with a BMI of 27 or higher and have been unable to achieve significant weight loss through traditional methods alone.

While semaglutide and tirzepatide are great options for many patients, they aren’t for everyone. Individuals who may not be suitable for treatment include those with a history of:

  • Thyroid cancer
  • Endocrine problems
  • Gut issues
  • Severe psychiatric problems
  • Eating disorders

The best way to determine if you are a good candidate for weight loss injections is to schedule a consultation with one of our weight loss specialists.

The Brightside Aesthetics Weight Loss Process

So you’ve decided that you’re interested in learning more about weight loss injections in Des Moines—what should you expect next? Fortunately, the experts at Brightside Aesthetics are here to take the guesswork out of weight loss to help you achieve your goals.

Here’s what you need to know about our weight loss program:

Initial Phone Consultation

The first step in your weight loss journey will be a complimentary phone consultation with one of our providers.

At this time, your provider will ask about your medical history and any medications you’re currently taking. They may also ask about previous weight loss attempts to determine what did and didn’t work well for you in the past. All of this information will help your provider assess if weight loss injections are right for you.

A patient is checking in at the Brightside Aesthetics for her appointment to discuss weight loss injections in Des Moines.

 

If your provider determines you could benefit from weight loss injections, they will then develop your personalized treatment plan. This plan will specify whether you’ll receive semaglutide or tirzepatide injections, along with the appropriate dosage tailored to your weight loss needs.

Your provider will also ask about your eating habits during your phone consultation. Because weight loss injections work best when paired with a healthy diet, your provider may provide guidance regarding nutrition and dietary regimens. This information will help you rework your relationship with food to create long-lasting weight loss results.

Preparing for Treatment

There isn’t much prep work associated with weight loss injections in Des Moines, but you will need to be open to making lifestyle changes to support your treatment.

To prepare for your weight loss journey, we recommend you:

  • Find an accountability partner to join you on your workouts and help you stick to your fitness program.
  • Look for healthy, nutritious options for meals and snacks.
  • Start making small changes to your everyday routine to engage in more physical activity, like parking in the back of the parking lot or taking the stairs.
  • Avoid bored, mindless snacking, and drink plenty of water in between meals.
  • Try out new forms of exercise to find physical activities you enjoy.
  • Begin cooking more meals at home instead of going out to eat.

We also recommend consulting your provider for additional recommendations as you implement healthy habits into your everyday lifestyle.

In preparation for financing your weight loss injections, we recommend researching our payment options through Cherry. Cherry is a financing platform that helps you choose from flexible payment plans designed to fit your budget. With a quick application, no hard credit check, and a high approval rate, Cherry can help make weight loss injections more affordable, putting your goals within reach.

Visit our website for more information about Cherry and other financing options.

Injection Appointments

Once you and your provider have created your personalized weight loss plan, you will then schedule an additional appointment to take measurements and receive your first two months of injections.

At this appointment, they will also show you how to cleanse your injection site and self-administer your injections, which can be injected into the skin of your upper thigh, stomach area, or upper arm.

Like all medications, there are mild side effects associated with weight loss injections, but the benefits far outweigh the costs. Common side effects associated with weight loss injections include but are not limited to:

  • Diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Stomach pain
  • Vomiting

Be sure to notify your provider if you experience more serious side effects, including allergic reactions, heart palpitations, and gallbladder problems.

Long-Term Weight Loss Results

The best part about our weight loss plan? Our providers will help you achieve significant weight loss and develop a healthy lifestyle you can maintain for years to come.

2 months after your first visit, you will begin scheduling monthly appointments to assess your weight loss progress. During these visits, your provider may adjust your dosage to better suit your weight loss needs.

Everyone’s weight loss story looks different, but most of our patients see results after 2 months on weight loss injections in Des Moines. This depends on a variety of factors, including your metabolism and how well you adhere to your treatment plan.

A patient is adminstering weight loss injections in Des Moines into their abdomen.

 

The length of your treatment plan will also depend on your unique health needs. After your initial 6-month treatment course, you will likely need to stay on a smaller monthly dosage intended to maintain your weight loss results. This varies from person to person, as some patients may only need to be on semaglutide or tirzepatide for a short period of time. On average, most patients are on weight loss injections for a minimum of 12 to 24 months.

If you ever miss a dose, don’t stress! Be sure to contact your provider immediately to discuss your next steps.

Combine Weight Loss Injections With Body Contouring

Though injections like semaglutide and tirzepatide are great options for patients who want to shed those stubborn pounds, they can also lead to a loss in muscle mass.

Almost 40% of the weight lost on weight loss injections tends to be lean muscle, which can impact your metabolic rates and total body composition. To make up for this loss, our experts recommend investing in body contouring treatments that strengthen a variety of muscle groups.

Emsculpt NEO is a great treatment option for patients who want to build back their lean muscle. This body contouring treatment uses a combination of radiofrequency (RF) energy and High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to create up to 20,000 muscle contractions in one 30-minute treatment session.

We recommend consulting your provider to learn if combining body contouring with weight loss injections is right for you.

Why should you choose our experts?

When it comes to weight loss, you need a team of professionals who are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals. This level of care should look like support through every step of the process. Practitioners who cheer you on at your proudest moments and pick you back up when you encounter roadblocks.

At Brightside Aesthetics, we’re proud to put patients first. Always. We believe your weight loss journey should be handled with utmost care and compassion. From knowledgeable physicians, responsive registered nurses, and friendly support staff, our team is here to serve as a guiding hand throughout your treatment plan.

Schedule Your Consultation

Though weight loss can often feel like a confusing endeavor, the Brightside Aesthetics team is here to make the process easier. Between our medical weight loss injections, nutritional counseling, and a treatment plan tailored to you, we have the resources you need to achieve your goals.

If you think weight loss injections in Des Moines are the missing piece to your weight loss puzzle, please visit our website to schedule your initial consultation. Weight loss success is only a few clicks away.

Request an Appointment

Want to learn more about semaglutide and tirzepatide? Head over to our blog for the details you need to make an informed decision about weight loss injections.