An appetite-supressing injectable to aid weight loss journeys.
A companion treatment for those seeking additional assistance in their journey to full fitness, our weight loss programme includes an appetite-suppressing injectable to galvanise a more positive long-term outlook.
What is it and how does it work?
Regardless of commitment to losing weight, for many people a combination of genetic and epigenetic factors (the environmental aspects that influence the way an individual’s genes work) means it’s still a struggle to reach and/or maintain key goals. To remedy this, we use a medical injectable, an analogue of Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP–1), one of the most powerful satiety hormones used in weight control – this acts on the brain to create a feeling of satisfaction from considerably smaller portions of food.
Critically, this type of therapy also reduces visceral fat – that which surrounds the organs and can be detrimental to the metabolic system in the long-term. It can also often increase when surface (subcutaneous) fat is lost, as the body automatically seeks to rebalance itself.
After first completing a blood panel test to determine a patient’s overall state of health (including the likely impact of the medication), the expert doctors at TLC will provide a customised prescription for an easy-to-use injectable pen that patients can self-administer. Additional elements of the treatment plan may include a referral to one of our nutritionist consultant partners (if applicable and at added cost).
'Many people have great intentions and a strong ethic regarding weight loss, but the majority of diets are very hard to maintain if you have a genetic predisposition to weight gain and the fat is often regained soon after the dieting stops. This programme is designed to help people achieve a healthy BMI, improving quality of life now and, thanks to its capacity to reduce incoming risks, also in the future.'
Dr Kishan Raichura
The Lovely Clinic, Walton Street
How long will it last for and what’s the downtime?
Appetite suppression occurs within days, and weight loss typically occurs within weeks of the initial treatment.
There is no downtime associated with this treatment, but some patients may experience some nausea, which can be easily managed by modifying the dosage.
Please note that all treatment responses are dependent on the individual patient.
WEIGHT LOSS SERVICES FAQs
Who is it primarily good for?
Designed to support those for whom conventional diet and exercise-based regimens remain unsuccessful, it’s suitable for people who are obese or overweight – with a BMI of 27 and above. It can be key for preventing conditions as diverse as diabetes, arthritis, depression, and metabolic syndrome (a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes).
Because this treatment is focused on supporting overall (‘global’) weight loss it cannot be used to target specific areas.
Which body parts is it designed for?
This treatment is focused on supporting overall (‘global’) weight loss and so targets the body holistically.
What's the process to get started?
You’ll attend an in-clinic consultation which will include confirming your weight. Additionally, you’ll have a blood test at one of our partner laboratories (this allows us to create a customised prescription) the results of which will be explained to you in a dedicated meeting with your TLC doctor to reveal and elaborate on important health markers that will give you vital information to support your weight loss journey. During this meeting you’ll be provided with an easy-to-use appetite-supressing injectable pen to use at-home and – for some patients – specific nutritional guidance that complements the work of the medication. How to use the injectable pen will be fully demonstrated during the consultation.
What else should I know?
The medication itself may cause mild discomfort and nausea (but this is rare) both of which will quickly dissipate.
This treatment should not be undertaken by anyone with allergies to this specific drug (GLP–1), or who is undergoing cancer treatment.
There are some other specific medical conditions that preclude undertaking this therapy; a full consultation with the TLC team will determine this prior to treatment.
The initial consultation, prescription, blood tests, and also the first 6 months of monitoring is all included at £995. After the first 6 months patients will need a paid prescription for their medication and will also require a follow-up appt every 6-12 months to continue the treatment which is also chargeable.
Side effects – nausea is by far the most common, others include vomiting and diarrhea/constipation/
There are some other specific medical conditions that preclude undertaking this therapy; a full consultation with the TLC team will determine this prior to treatment.
The initial blood test and first 6 months of monitoring will reveal the important health markers which may be involved as a factor in your weight loss journey. The blood test may also reveal that this particular treatment might be unsuitable for a very small number of patients.
What are the key benefits?
Because this therapy is centered on an evidence-based, patient-specific approach to reducing weight (and the health risks associated with obesity) it’s far more likely to provide lasting results than standard diets.
Does it hurt?
The pain is negligible; the treatment involves tiny needles and most patients find injecting themselves very easy to manage.
When does it start to work?
Reduction in appetite varies from person to person and we sometimes need to adjust the dose to suit you. However, this usually occurs within the first two weeks of commencing therapy, with noticeable weight reduction appearing as early as the first month. Alongside a reduced appetite (including cravings), we typically see significant overall weight loss within three to four months. In some cases, depending on the type of drug used, patients have shown an average weight loss of nearly 6kg within 30 weeks of starting treatment in controlled trials.
What can go wrong?
Common side effects include nausea and (less frequently) constipation or diarrhoea, all of which can usually be managed by simply adjusting the timing and level of the dose, and often settle naturally as the treatment progresses. There is a very small minority of patients for whom this treatment doesn’t work – for anyone that doesn’t experience a significant weight reduction within three months, we advise discontinuation of the treatment.
