Medical weight loss works on the part of weight loss that willpower struggles with: appetite. At Benicia Medical Aesthetics it is a supervised program that pairs prescription weight loss medication, when it suits your health, with body contouring and B12. Progress builds over months and holds best when your habits change with it.
It won't do everything, and it isn't for everyone. Here is what I tell patients at the first visit.
What does medical weight loss actually do?
The prescription weight loss medication we use helps most patients feel full sooner and stay full longer. That makes eating less feel manageable instead of miserable.
Medication is one tool in the plan. The patients who do best eat enough protein, move most days and keep coming to their check-ins, because the check-ins are where the plan gets adjusted.
I would rather you lose weight steadily and keep it off than lose it fast and watch it come back.
What won't medical weight loss do?
- It won't replace food and movement. Medication makes the changes easier. It doesn't make them optional.
- It won't tighten loose skin. As weight comes off, skin on the stomach, arms and neck can loosen. That's what the body contouring in your program and treatments like XERF skin tightening are for.
- It won't come with a promised number. Anyone who guarantees you a set number of pounds by a set date is guessing.
- It isn't for everyone. Prescription weight loss medication has side effects, and some health histories rule it out. Your consultation settles that before you spend anything on the program.
How much weight will I lose?
No honest provider can promise a number, and I won't. Weight loss on a medical program varies with your starting point, your health, how your body responds to the medication and the habits you build alongside it.
Results come gradually. Most of the change happens over months, and the pace varies from one person to the next. What you get is regular check-ins and a plan that changes when your progress does.
We don't publish before and after weight numbers or body photos. Your results are yours.
Why does the program include body contouring and B12?
The Weight Loss membership bundles prescription weight loss medication with body contouring and B12, because how you look and feel matters as much as the scale.
Body contouring. Your program includes Evolve body contouring by InMode. Evolve uses radiofrequency energy to tighten skin and reduce fat in areas like the stomach, arms and legs, and Evolve Transform adds muscle stimulation to firm the muscle underneath. Sessions run about 30 to 45 minutes. It shapes the areas that weight loss alone tends to leave behind.
B12. If your B12 runs low, a shot tops it up, and your provider can tell you whether that's likely for you. We include B12 for that reason, and make no weight loss claim for it. You can read more about B12 injections.
Is medical weight loss right for you?
The program tends to suit you if:
- You've made real changes to how you eat and move, and your weight still won't budge
- You want a medical provider checking your progress in person, not an app
- You can commit to at least three months, the time it takes to see how your body responds
- You care about your shape as well as your weight, and want the loose or stubborn areas treated as you go
It is the wrong program if you want a fast result before an event. It runs for a minimum of three months, and steady progress is the point. It is also wrong for you if you don't want follow-up, because check-ins are part of the program.
How does the program start?
It starts with a consultation, in person at the clinic or by phone. We go through your health history, your current prescriptions, what you've already tried and what you want to change. If prescription weight loss medication isn't right for you, I'll say so at this visit.
Next come baseline labs from your primary care provider: an A1C, a lipid panel and a kidney function test. I review the results with your health history to decide whether the medication is safe for you and how to start. Nothing is prescribed before that.
Once you start, your check-ins keep the plan honest. We review how you feel, any side effects and your progress, then adjust your dose or plan.
The medical protocols behind the program are overseen by Sundar Natajaran, M.D., who has practiced internal medicine for more than 20 years. He does not perform treatments, but his protocols guide every plan.
How much does medical weight loss cost?
Medical weight loss is $950 a month through the Weight Loss membership, with a 3-month minimum. The membership is a supervised weight loss program with prescription weight loss medication, body contouring and B12.
You can compare memberships or read about payment plans before you decide.
Where do I start?
Find out whether prescription weight loss medication is right for you before you commit to a program. Book a consultation or call (707) 361-9421. The studio is at 701 Southampton Rd, Suite 104, Benicia, CA 94510. For the full program, see medical weight loss.