Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Tirzepatide is a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist. The dual mechanism of tirzepatide produces greater average weight loss in clinical trials, approximately 22% body weight versus 15% for semaglutide. Your provider will determine which is appropriate based on your metabolic profile.

GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic incretin hormones, suppressing appetite, slowing gastric emptying, and improving insulin sensitivity. They work at the hormonal level, not through stimulants. This is why the weight loss is more substantial and sustained than most prior pharmacological approaches.

Weight loss from GLP-1 medications can result in facial volume loss, which occurs with any significant weight loss. At VIO, clients on these medications benefit from integrated aesthetic planning. Your provider monitors facial volume and can address changes proactively. This is one of the clearest expressions of VIO’s combined aesthetic and wellness model.

Yes, these are prescription medications requiring clinical oversight: baseline labs, ongoing monitoring, dose escalation calibrated to your response, and integration with your broader wellness picture.

GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, mimic hormones that regulate appetite, gastric emptying, and blood sugar. They reduce hunger signals, increase satiety, and support the metabolic conditions that make fat loss sustainable. These are not stimulants or appetite suppressants in the traditional sense, they address the hormonal architecture of hunger and metabolism.

Because candidacy and safety depend on your metabolic baseline. VIO performs comprehensive labs, electrolytes, thyroid panel, and kidney and liver function studies, to confirm you are an appropriate candidate and to establish the baseline we monitor throughout your protocol.

The duration is individualized. Your provider will build a protocol based on your goals, your response to treatment, and your broader health picture. There is no universal endpoint, the right answer is determined in ongoing consultation with your provider.

No specific restrictions are required. A healthy diet and consistent physical activity will substantially improve your outcomes and overall metabolic health, but they are not mandatory requirements for the protocol.

Injections are typically administered once weekly on a consistent day, with dosage increasing gradually over time based on tolerance and response. Your provider will establish the specific schedule and progression during your consultation.

Serious side effects are uncommon. The most frequent side effect is mild to moderate nausea, particularly at the beginning of treatment or following a dose increase. Dosage adjustments can effectively minimize this in most clients.

Most clients begin noticing effects within the first week of treatment. Meaningful, visible weight loss typically becomes apparent within the first two to four weeks, with progress continuing throughout the protocol.