Weight Loss

Semaglutide is a once-weekly injection that suppresses your appetite significantly. The semaglutide injection was first used as a diabetes medication but has since been FDA-approved to help with chronic weight management and to help individuals lose weight. It works by increasing the production of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar. It’s typically injected into the upper arm, thigh, or stomach.

On average patients have lost 15% of their body weight with semaglutide injections and a diet and exercise program.

Semaglutide improves body composition by reducing excess body fat, including abdominal fat, and increasing the proportion of lean body mass and the amount of weight someone carries that is not body fat. The more body weight a patient loses, the greater the improvement in body composition.

Cigdem Gali, MSPA, PA-C

Owner, Practitioner

As one of the founders of GaliDerm Skin Care and the owner of GaliDerm Aesthetics, Cigdem is committed to enhancing natural appearances through aesthetic services. She is an NCCPA board certified PA with her Masters in Medical Science, and a Master Injector specializing in Women’s Health, Aesthetics, Medical Weight Loss and Procedural Medicine.

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Who is a Good Candidate for Semaglutide Injections?

Some of the criteria we look for when determining whether a patient is a good candidate for semaglutide include the following:

• Body mass index (BMI) of 30kg/m2 or greater
• Body mass index (BMI) of 27kg/m2 or greater and having at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, Type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol
• Having realistic expectations
• Don’t have a personal or family history of gallbladder disease, kidney disease, low blood sugar, pancreatitis, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2), or medullary thyroid cancer
• Don’t have an unusual or allergic reaction to semaglutide or other weight loss medications

What are the side effects of semaglutide?

Semaglutide injections may cause some side effects that typically resolve quickly and can easily be controlled with over-the-counter medications. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: