Medical weight loss
in Brickell, Miami.
Physician-supervised weight loss in Brickell — built on real science. This is an educational guide to how GLP-1 weight-loss injections like semaglutide and tirzepatide actually work, what the clinical trials show, who qualifies, the side effects, and the real limits. When it's medically appropriate, we build a personalized, monitored plan. Start with a consultation.
Physician-supervised📍 1501 South Miami Avenue #201, Brickell🔬 18 cited sources · NEJM & FDA🗓️ Reviewed 2026
A medical program — not a "skinny shot"
If you found us searching for the "skinny shot" in Miami, here's what it actually is. Medical weight loss is a physician-supervised program: a real evaluation and labs, a personalized plan, nutrition and activity coaching, and — when it's medically appropriate — a GLP-1 medication, with ongoing monitoring and dose adjustment. The medication is a powerful tool, not the whole plan.2,16
And the tools are genuinely new. GLP-1 medicines like semaglutide and the dual-hormone tirzepatide quiet appetite, slow digestion so you feel full longer, and steady the hormones that manage blood sugar — producing the largest weight loss of any medications short of bariatric surgery.1,3,12 Semaglutide has even been shown to cut cardiovascular events.10 But they're prescription drugs with real criteria and real risks, the weight tends to return if you simply stop, and they work best alongside lifestyle change.8,16 We'll walk you through all of it.
The program, and the biology
A good medical weight-loss plan treats obesity as the chronic medical condition it is — with evaluation, monitoring and support around the medication, not just a prescription.2
Evaluate
A medical history, labs and a careful look at your goals and risks — including who shouldn't take these medications.7
Personalize
A plan matched to you: the right medication and dose when appropriate, plus nutrition and activity that protect muscle.16,17
Monitor
Regular check-ins to titrate the dose, manage side effects, track progress and adjust — that's the "supervised" part.5
How GLP-1 medicines work
GLP-1 is a hormone your gut naturally releases after eating. These medicines mimic it — and tirzepatide adds a second hormone, GIP. Together they act in three places: the brain (less appetite and "food noise"), the stomach (slower emptying, so you feel full longer), and the pancreas (more insulin when you eat, less glucagon — steadier blood sugar).7,15
The numbers, from the actual trials
Here's average body-weight loss from the pivotal studies, next to older medications and surgery for context. These are trial averages with diet and exercise; your result will be your own.1,3,12
Head-to-head. In the first direct comparison (SURMOUNT-5), tirzepatide produced more weight loss than semaglutide over 72 weeks — 20.2% vs 13.7%.4 Both are highly effective; tirzepatide's dual-hormone action edged ahead. Which one fits you depends on your health, tolerance and goals — that's a clinical decision.
Semaglutide vs. tirzepatide
Two leading GLP-1 medications. They overlap a lot, with a few real differences. Tap one to learn more — this is education, not a recommendation; the right choice is made with a clinician.13
Semaglutide
The first of the modern GLP-1 medications for weight. In a separate trial (SELECT) it also lowered the risk of cardiovascular events in people with heart disease — evidence this is about health, not just appearance.1,10
Are you a candidate?
GLP-1 medications have specific FDA criteria, and they aren't right for everyone. Check the general guide below — then a medical evaluation makes the real decision.6
Roughly, where do you fall?
This meets the FDA criteria for chronic weight management with a GLP-1 medication — pending a full medical evaluation and your history.
Why supervision matters
These are prescription medications with real contraindications and side effects. A clinician reviews your history, screens for things like a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, starts you low, and adjusts safely.5,7
What the consultation looks like
A conversation about your goals and history, a focused exam and any needed labs, a real discussion of options (including whether medication is even the right step), and — if appropriate — a personalized plan with follow-up. Book a consultation to start.
Slow and steady — by design
The dose is increased gradually to limit nausea, and weight comes off over many months, not weeks. Patience is part of the plan.2,5
The real risks
GLP-1 medications are generally well tolerated under supervision, but they're not risk-free. Here's what to actually expect, and the serious warnings that decide who shouldn't take them.5
Common & usually temporary
Mostly gastrointestinal: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, burping and reflux. They're most noticeable as the dose increases and usually ease with time — which is exactly why the dose is raised slowly.5 Fatigue and some hair shedding can occur.
Serious — and who shouldn't take them
There's an FDA boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors (from animal studies); they're contraindicated with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2. Rare but serious risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease and dehydration-related kidney injury. They're not for use in pregnancy.5,7 Share your full history first.
The fine print
The science is real and the results can be life-changing. Knowing the catches up front is part of how you actually succeed.
It isn't magic — lifestyle still matters
Every pivotal trial paired the medication with reduced-calorie eating and more activity. The drug makes those changes possible by quieting appetite; it doesn't replace them.16
Stopping usually brings weight back
A year after stopping semaglutide, people regained about two-thirds of what they'd lost; tirzepatide showed similar regain.8,9 Obesity is chronic — maintaining results means an ongoing plan, not a finish line.
Protect your muscle
Some of the weight lost is lean muscle (in trials, roughly one part muscle to three parts fat).3 Adequate protein and resistance training 2–4×/week help keep what you lose as fat, not strength.17,18
Cost, access & "compounded" versions
Insurance often won't cover medication for weight loss, so cost is real and ongoing. Be cautious with cheap "compounded" GLP-1s sold online — the FDA-approved products have known quality and dosing. We'll talk through legitimate options at your visit.7
Real science, real supervision
If you're considering GLP-1 weight loss, the right first move is a medical evaluation — to see if it fits you, and to do it safely. That's what we offer in Brickell.
Miami Skin Spa · Brickell · 1501 South Miami Avenue #201, Miami, FL 33129 · 305-557-1615
Caring for skin & shape
Rapid weight loss can leave softer skin on the face ("Ozempic face") and body, and shift your contours. Because we're a full medical aesthetics practice, we can support the whole journey — not just the scale.
Facial volume
Lost cheek and temple volume can be restored with a collagen-building biostimulator or filler, for a refreshed — not gaunt — look.
Loose skin & tightening
For mild-to-moderate laxity, Morpheus8 Body and our skin tightening options firm the skin — within realistic limits.
Tone & contour
To rebuild muscle and refine shape, EmSculpt NEO and body contouring can complement your results.
Supervised medicine, start to finish
We treat weight as a medical matter — careful evaluation, appropriate prescribing, real monitoring — and as a weight loss clinic inside a full Brickell medical aesthetics practice, we have the tools to support your skin and shape as the weight comes off.
Explore related services
Frequently asked questions
We offer physician-supervised medical weight loss in Brickell, and GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide may be prescribed when medically appropriate after an evaluation. The first step is a consultation to confirm it's a safe, suitable option for you.6
Tirzepatide may also be an option as part of a supervised plan at our Brickell clinic when it's medically appropriate for you. Which medication (if any) makes sense is decided together with a clinician based on your health, history and goals.13
It depends on your plan and which medication is used, and insurance often does not cover medication prescribed for weight loss — so it's typically an ongoing out-of-pocket cost. We'll give you clear, itemized pricing at your consultation, with no surprises.
A conversation about your goals and medical history, a focused exam and any needed labs, a real discussion of your options (including whether medication is the right step at all), and — if appropriate — a personalized, monitored plan with follow-up visits.2
Yes. For mild-to-moderate laxity, Morpheus8 Body and our skin-tightening treatments firm the skin, and biostimulators can restore lost facial volume. Significant excess skin, though, is best addressed by a surgical consult — we'll tell you which applies to you.
Sources & further reading
Peer-reviewed clinical trials (NEJM, Diabetes Obesity & Metabolism, Nature Medicine), FDA-based prescribing information and reputable clinical summaries on GLP-1 medications for weight management. Every efficacy figure on this page is traceable to a cited trial. Links open in a new tab.
- Wilding JPH, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1). N Engl J Med 2021;384:989–1002 — mean −14.9% body weight at 68 weeks vs −2.4% placebo; 86.4% achieved ≥5% loss; adjunct to lifestyle. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
- STEP 1 trial summary (BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with a weight-related condition; titration 0.25→2.4 mg by week 16; GI events most common). American College of Cardiology. https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Clinical-Trials/2021/02/18/19/23/STEP-1
- Jastreboff AM, et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity (SURMOUNT-1). N Engl J Med 2022 — mean weight loss 15.0% (5 mg), 19.5% (10 mg) and 20.9% (15 mg) vs 3.1% placebo at 72 weeks; ~3× more fat than lean mass lost; dual GIP/GLP-1. Eli Lilly / NEJM. https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lillys-surmount-1-results-published-new-england-journal-medicine
- SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head (N Engl J Med 2025) — tirzepatide 20.2% vs semaglutide 13.7% mean weight loss at 72 weeks; first direct comparison of the two agents. Applied Clinical Trials. https://www.appliedclinicaltrialsonline.com/view/tirzepatide-weight-loss-semaglutide-surmount-trial
- Tirzepatide (Zepbound) prescribing guide — FDA approval basis (SURMOUNT-1/-2); common adverse reactions (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation); Boxed Warning for thyroid C-cell tumors; contraindicated with personal/family history of MTC or MEN 2; warnings for pancreatitis, gallbladder disease and acute kidney injury. MedCentral. https://www.medcentral.com/drugs/guide/tirzepatide
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) monograph — indicated for adults with BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with at least one weight-related comorbidity, as an adjunct to reduced-calorie diet and increased activity; not for use with other GLP-1 products; not studied in prior pancreatitis. MedCentral. https://www.medcentral.com/drugs/monograph/187794-321071/zepbound
- Who should not take weight-loss injections — personal/family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or MEN 2 is an absolute contraindication; avoid in pregnancy; FDA boxed warning; mechanism includes slowed gastric emptying. Fella Health. https://www.fellahealth.com/guide/who-shouldnt-take-weight-loss-injections
- Wilding JPH, et al. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: the STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes Obes Metab 2022 — one year after stopping, participants regained ~two-thirds of lost weight (net −5.6% from baseline); obesity is chronic and ongoing treatment is usually required. https://dom-pubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dom.14725
- Weight maintenance after GLP-1 RA withdrawal — STEP 1 extension (regained ~two-thirds) and SURMOUNT-4 (≈14% of lost weight regained after stopping tirzepatide). MedCentral. https://www.medcentral.com/endocrinology/obesity/weight-maintenance-after-glp-1-ra-withdrawal-exposes-critical-research-gaps
- Lincoff AM, et al. Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes (SELECT). N Engl J Med 2023;389:2221–2232 — 20% relative reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (HR 0.80), a 1.5% absolute reduction (8.0%→6.5%), in adults with CVD and overweight/obesity without diabetes. Reported via TCTMD. https://www.tctmd.com/news/full-select-results-affirm-cv-risk-reduction-semaglutide-nondiabetics
- SELECT prespecified analysis — semaglutide weight loss (−10.2%) sustained for up to 4 years, across sexes, races and regions. Nat Med 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11271387/
- Semaglutide for the treatment of obesity — review of mechanism (GLP-1 receptor agonist), ~15% weight loss at 68 weeks, and context vs older anti-obesity medications (≈5–8%). 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1050173821001584
- Tirzepatide — dual GIP + GLP-1 mechanism; SURMOUNT-1 (20.9% at 15 mg); SURMOUNT-5 (20.2% vs semaglutide 13.7%); ~5-day half-life; Zepbound also FDA-approved for obstructive sleep apnea (2024). GLP3 Planner. https://glp3planner.com/resources/what-is-tirzepatide
- International trial finds semaglutide reduced cardiovascular events by 20% in adults with overweight/obesity without diabetes — first pharmacologic obesity treatment shown to reduce cardiovascular risk. Cleveland Clinic Newsroom, 2023. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2023/11/11/international-clinical-trial-finds-that-semaglutide-reduced-cardiovascular-events-by-20-in-adults-with-overweight-or-obesity-who-dont-have-diabetes
- Who can't take weight-loss injections — FDA eligibility (BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with a weight-related comorbidity); mechanism (enhances meal-related insulin, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying); titration to reduce GI effects; contraindications. Baddie Health. https://www.baddie.health/guide/who-cant-take-weight-loss-injections
- Trial finds semaglutide with lifestyle intervention reduces body weight by nearly 15% — lifestyle (diet and exercise) remains the cornerstone of weight management. AJMC. https://www.ajmc.com/view/trial-finds-semaglutide-with-lifestyle-intervention-reduces-body-weight-by-nearly-15-
- Semaglutide weight regain — STEP 1 extension data; muscle-loss mitigation with resistance training (2–4×/week) and adequate protein; gradual taper with support. BodySpec. https://www.bodyspec.com/blog/post/semaglutide_weight_gain_causes_risks_and_prevention_strategies
- Physiology of weight regain after GLP-1 withdrawal — metabolic adaptation, reduced resting metabolic rate, loss of lean body mass and appetite-hormone dysregulation; resistance training and nutrition help. 2022. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360069304_Weight_regain_and_cardiometabolic_effects_after_withdrawal_of_semaglutide_The_STEP_1_trial_extension