The Skinny on Weight Loss Medications

Diet and exercise can only take some people so far: many of our patients need a bit of a boost along their weight loss journeys. When it comes to losing significant weight and keeping it off, weight loss surgery is still the gold standard. That said, the recent rise in popularity of weight loss prescriptions has patients asking a lot of questions. 

We offer a Medical Weight Loss program that has helped many patients jump-start their weight loss. Weight loss medications are very effective in specific instances, but they aren’t the “silver bullet” many advertisers would have you believe they are.

At Texas Laparoscopic Consultants, we believe that an educated patient is a patient who is confident in their treatment plan. Here are some things you should know about weight loss prescriptions.

How Weight Loss Medications Work

Weight loss prescriptions are taken orally or injected (either at home or by a doctor). Each weight loss medication is slightly different, and they may offer one or a combination of these mechanisms for losing weight:

• Reduce cravings
• Send “fullness” signals to the brain
• Suppress appetite
• Change the way foods taste
• Reduce fat absorption

The Pros and Cons of Weight Loss Prescriptions

Our doctors prescribe a number of FDA-approved weight loss medications, and when used in conjunction with healthy diet and lifestyle habits, these medications do help patients lose weight. We find that medical weight loss is a fantastic way for patients to lose some of their excess weight relatively quickly so that they can more easily engage in physical activities and reduce symptoms of medical conditions like diabetes. Weight loss medications are also an excellent tool for patients who are not candidates for surgery or who are interested in trying non-surgical weight loss options.

Still, weight loss medications aren’t a permanent solution. They only work for as long as you take them, so patients may gain all of their weight back (and sometimes more) when they discontinue their prescriptions. This is commonly the case for our patients who are unable to tolerate the side effects (or the cost) of weight loss prescriptions. Did you know that in the long run, weight loss surgery is also much more cost-effective than prescriptions for weight loss?

For patients who need to significantly reduce their excess body weight and keep that weight off long-term, clinical research as well as our own considerable experience shows that bariatric surgery is still the best option.

Is a Weight Loss Prescription Right for You?

At Texas Laparoscopic Consultants, we offer custom-tailored solutions designed to meet our weight loss patients where they are. For some of our patients, weight loss prescriptions are the way to go. The best way to learn whether weight loss medications are right for you is to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists.

Is your medication on backorder? We are offering Gastric Sleeve for as little as $9/day with financing for self-pay patients. Contact us to learn more!