When you first hear about weight loss injections, it can sound almost too good to be true. But while they don’t work like magic, they can offer impressive results for real. That’s exactly why treatments like Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications have become so popular these days.
As a cosmetic surgeon, here’s how I see things: Semaglutide can be a powerful medication for weight loss, and yes, it’s FDA approved, which of course matters. But like any medical treatment, it comes with real benefits, real considerations, and a few things you should understand before getting started.
Here at True Contour Medical, we often see patients who have lost significant weight with semaglutide, and want to optimize their results. We help them “complete” their body sculpting journey.
Let’s break it all down and talk honestly about the pros and cons of Ozempic and how it works. Here we’ll share important information you need to know before deciding if it’s right for you.
What is Semaglutide (Ozempic)?
Let’s first clear up an important detail: Ozempic is the brand name. Semaglutide is the actual medication behind it, a hormone-based treatment that’s now widely used for medical weight loss.
Semaglutide was originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, but physicians quickly noticed something interesting: Patients were losing weight as a side effect. When people started dropping one to two pounds per week consistently, the potential became obvious. That’s how semaglutide became the first widely popular peptide used for weight loss.
Now let’s talk briefly about the science behind it.
Semaglutide is based on GLP-1, a hormone your body already produces to help regulate blood sugar and appetite. What makes it so effective is that it works on multiple systems at once. It acts on the gut, the pancreas, and the brain. It helps you feel full sooner, slows down digestion, and quiets the hunger signals that drive overeating.
In a few words, semaglutide helps you eat less without feeling like you’re constantly fighting hunger.
It’s FDA approved and, as we explained in our post about peptides for weight loss, it’s considered safe when used under proper medical supervision. Side effects can happen, and understanding how to manage them is just as important as the medication itself.
Pros of Semaglutide & Ozempic
Ozempic first became popular because it addresses weight loss at its core. It doesn’t just target calories, it works on metabolism, hunger, and blood sugar regulation all at once. That’s what makes semaglutide a more well-rounded approach compared to many traditional weight loss methods.
These are Ozempic’s three major benefits for weight loss:
- It improves digestion by slowing how quickly food moves through the stomach, helping you feel full longer.
- It reduces appetite, making it easier to eat less without constantly feeling deprived.
- Helps regulate blood sugar levels, which plays a major role in weight gain and fat storage.
With all of this, Ozempic knew that they were onto something big from the very beginning. A medication that can help people lose weight effectively, challenging time frames ever seen before in medicine. With patients being able to lose, and up to 20% body fat after a year, that’s really ground breaking.
But there’s another important benefit: cardiovascular health. Ongoing research shows that GLP-1 medications like semaglutide can help reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
They’ve also been associated with improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which is especially important for patients who struggle with metabolic health.
Beyond the physical benefits, there’s another advantage that I think matters just as much: Semaglutide can help people build better habits. When patients start seeing real changes in the mirror, it can be incredibly motivating. Feeling lighter, moving more easily, and recognizing yourself again can create a powerful psychological shift. Many patients become more active, manage stress better, and make healthier food choices simply because they want to protect the results they worked hard to achieve.
I’ve seen patients tell me they barely recognized themselves after the weight came off. And they meant that in the best way possible.
Magic? Never. Losing weight, even with the help of semaglutide, has its risks and challenges. And once patients achieve their goals, they have to work hard and eat healthy to maintain their weight.
Cons of Semagludite
Peptides need to be properly prescribed and closely monitored, and Semaglutide is no exception. That means evaluating whether Ozempic is appropriate for you and knowing exactly what to watch for along the way.
All medications come with potential side effects, and every body responds differently. Some are common and manageable, others are rare but important to recognize early.
Here are the main Ozempic side effects and risks to be aware of:
- Nausea or diarrhea: Not the most pleasant part, but these side effects usually show up early in a GLP-1 treatment. Staying hydrated is important to avoid dizziness and weakness. Very dark urine is a warning sign and a reason to call your doctor.
- Constipation: Very common, especially in people who already struggle with it. Digestion can slow significantly. This should be managed proactively with fluids, fiber, movement, and sometimes medical guidance.
- Acid Reflux or Throat Tightness: Some people experience heartburn or a sensation that food is getting stuck when swallowing. This can feel alarming, but it’s usually due to slower digestion and pressure on the upper GI tract. Smaller bites and slower eating often help.
- Hair Thinning: Can be concerning, but it’s almost always temporary. It’s usually related to rapid weight loss, stress, low protein intake, or vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Checking nutrition levels helps address this.
- Gallbladder Issues: Rapid weight loss can increase the risk of gallstones. Warning signs include upper right abdominal pain after meals or nausea that doesn’t improve.
- Pancreatitis: Extremely rare, but the most important to recognize. Symptoms include severe, persistent, burning pain that radiates to the back. This requires immediate medical evaluation.
- Vision Changes or Rare Sight Loss: This is also rare, but there have been reports about it. Blurred vision, dark spots, or sudden vision loss in one eye require immediate medical attention.
- Excessive Muscle Loss: If protein intake and resistance training are neglected, patients may lose lean muscle along with fat. Muscle protects metabolism, bones, and body shape. This is preventable, but important to take seriously.
- Sagging skin: Rapid weight loss can reduce fat and collagen in the face, neck, hands, and body, leaving skin unsupported and loose. This isn’t caused by the medication itself, but by losing weight too quickly.
All of these are reasons why semaglutide should always be prescribed and monitored by a physician. Weight loss peptides over the counter? Let’s just say that’s never a good idea, and you could even be creating a new health problem for yourself.
Next, let’s talk about what we can do to help, especially with sagging skin after semaglutide.
Body Contouring Alternatives
One of the realities of rapid weight loss with semaglutide is that some patients are left with loose or sagging skin. The extra weight comes off, but the skin doesn’t always have enough time to retract.
Ideally, weight loss should happen gradually. But we understand why many people turn to Ozempic or other GLP-1 medications. They want real help reaching a healthier weight without waiting years to see results, and the medication helps get them to their goal.
Sometimes, once the weight is gone, there’s an unexpected surprise: sagging skin. Well, know that loose skin is not a failure of the medication, it’s a normal response to rapid fat loss.
The good news is that something can be done about it.
At True Contour Medical, we regularly see patients who’ve done the hard work and, having achieved their weight goal, they’re ready for body sculpting. Depending on the area treated and the degree of skin laxity, we offer two effective skin tightening options: Sofwave and Renuvion.
Sofwave is a non-invasive treatment with no downtime. It works especially well for areas like the face, neck, and jawline by stimulating collagen and improving skin firmness.
For larger areas such as the abdomen, arms, or thighs, Renuvion provides more powerful tightening. It uses helium plasma and radiofrequency energy to contract tissue with minimal invasiveness and controlled precision.
You put in the effort, so let us bring the expertise and the technology. You don’t have to figure this out alone, as you are already in the right place True Contour Medical, the best body contouring clinic in Scottsdale, AZ.
Why Choose True Contour Medical?
In cosmetic medicine, experience matters. We’ve spent over 20 years performing body contouring procedures, working with skin tightening technologies long before semaglutide became a trend. That background allows us to help patients who’ve lost significant weight and now want to refine and complete their results.
Just as important, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Every body is different. Before recommending any treatment, we take the time to evaluate each patient carefully, explain what’s realistic, and walk through what will and won’t work.
That initial consultation is also a time for patients to ask questions, understand the recommended steps, and review recovery timelines, so they can make a fully informed decision.
So if you’re seeing dramatic results from a semaglutide weight loss journey, or you’re approaching your goal and thinking about what comes next, we’re here to help. Schedule a consultation and let’s talk about how to take care of the final mile of your weight loss journey.