Is Semaglutide Treatment Painful?

Most patients tolerate their semaglutide treatment injections well. Dr. Sato may offer treatments in oral form for patients who prefer to avoid needles. While the initial stages of the treatment plan may be uncomfortable in terms of experiencing side effects while adjusting to the semaglutide treatment, most patients do level out and become accustomed to their lifestyle changes and can soon appreciate their weight loss.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

In the individual consultation, Dr. Sato will develop a customized semaglutide treatment plan, so the overall number of appointments will depend on the patient’s individual health and weight loss goals. Dr. Sato will recommend a number of sessions to start monitoring your progress on the semaglutide treatments, which can be adjusted depending on the results achieved during your weight loss program.

How Long Until I See Results?

On average, most semaglutide patients see some weight loss beginning as early as the first week of treatment. Once they are several months into their treatment plan, patients can expect to lose around 15-20% of their body weight. Dr. Sato advises maintaining this treatment plan and additional lifestyle changes for long-term results, as discontinuing semaglutide may increase weight gain.

Can I Combine a Semaglutide Treatment with Other Procedures?

Dr. Sato will be happy to review any additional surgical or non-surgical cosmetic procedures in your individual consultation. Many of her Houston-area patients prefer to combine their semaglutide treatment series with Aveli Cellulite Reduction, microneedling, or RF Skin Tightening for an overall rejuvenated look as they progress with their weight loss. Please inform Dr. Sato about your desired procedures so she can safely incorporate them alongside your treatment series.

What Are the Risks Associated with a Semaglutide Treatment?

Although semaglutide is an FDA-approved medication, it does carry side effects and other risks, including but not limited to: Gastroparesis Stomach pain Acid reflux Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Please review your complete medical history with Dr. Sato during your consultation so she may make the appropriate recommendations.

Houston, TX

In Houston

Semaglutide

Introduction to Semaglutide

A person’s weight can cause significant health, lifestyle, and self-esteem issues. While some are capable of losing weight with ease or never having to experience excess weight gain at all, there are many who struggle with being overweight and want to rid themselves of the hindrance it causes. Now, with the advancement of the “wonder drug” semaglutide, more people can finally see results on their long weight loss journeys. Semaglutide treatments are quickly becoming one of Dr. Erika Sato’s most popular and requested treatments in Houston. Read on to learn more about how semaglutide can be incorporated into your lifestyle and help you achieve a slimmer figure.

Achieve Balance

What is a Semaglutide Treatment?

Semaglutide is the generic name for Wegovy or Ozempic, the FDA-approved medication for the regulation of Type II diabetes and weight loss management. Semaglutide imitates the hormone responsible for making the body feel satiated after eating. By decreasing the appetite and stimulating the metabolism, semaglutide can induce the body to lose weight more rapidly than through diet and exercise alone.

Semaglutide is available in injections or oral form for the needle-averse.

A woman with flowing blonde hair stretches with her arms above her head, wearing black sportswear in a minimalist, light-colored setting - Semaglutide in Houston, TX

What Are the Benefits of a Semaglutide Treatment?

Dr. Sato’s patients in the Houston area request semaglutide treatments in addition to ongoing diet and exercise routines to facilitate their weight loss safely. Many of these patients report the following benefits of their semaglutide treatment plan:

Visible weight loss as early as the first week of treatment
Lowered risk of diabetes or other cardiovascular diseases
Boosted metabolism
Reduced appetite, i.e., no longer susceptible to “cravings.”
Clinical support during their weight loss program

Who Are the Best Candidates for a Semaglutide Treatment?

Dr. Sato recommends patients seeking out a semaglutide treatment should share some or all of the following characteristics:

Struggling with excessive weight gain or obesity
Diagnosed with Type II diabetes or other cardiovascular disease
Experiencing high cholesterol
Committed to a healthy lifestyle and seeking stronger results
Maintain realistic expectations for what can be achieved through a treatment program and be willing to make the appropriate lifestyle changes.

Let’s Get Started

What’s the first step?

Please schedule an initial semaglutide treatment consultation with Dr. Erika Sato at our Houston practice. Dr. Sato will review your medical history and weight loss attempts to understand what has or has not been working thus far in your weight loss journey. She will then make recommendations as to the appropriate dosage and form of semaglutide treatment that may work best for your particular needs.

Dr. Sato will also develop a comprehensive, personalized semaglutide treatment series plan to monitor your health as you continue weight loss. You will be able to review before-and-after photos of semaglutide results as well as an overview of the weight loss that may occur week by week so you may understand what is possible with your particular semaglutide treatment series.

Once you and Dr. Sato have agreed on a semaglutide treatment plan, our patient coordinator will schedule your weekly appointments at your convenience. Dr. Sato encourages patients to adhere to these weekly appointments and work closely with our Houston office to maintain progress with their semaglutide treatments.

What to Expect on the Day of a Semaglutide Treatment

If Dr. Sato determines that you are a suitable candidate for the liraglutide treatment plan, your treatment will begin with weekly injections at our Houston office. This is to evaluate your health and well-being at the beginning of your treatment plan and monitor any weight loss that occurs in the first few weeks of the injection series to ensure no other adverse complications occur during your treatment plan.

Each week, Dr. Sato will review your weight loss progress and adjust your dosage depending on the success of each individual treatment. Each administration of semaglutide should take less than thirty minutes per session.

Semaglutide Treatment Recovery

Patients may initially experience some side effects as a result of their semaglutide treatments, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. This is because semaglutide influences the body to slow down digestion, so patients must adjust their eating habits according to their treatment. As you adapt to your liraglutide treatment series, these symptoms will eventually be mitigated or disappear.

How Much Does a Semaglutide Treatment Cost in Houston, TX?

The cost of a Semaglutide Treatment in Houston will depend on several factors, including the dosage prescription, the number of appointments necessary for a full treatment plan, and facility fees. Dr. Sato will be happy to review your estimated costs and breakdown in your initial consultation.

Why Choose Dr. Sato?

A Missouri native, Dr. Erika Sato was drawn to the field of plastic surgery when she was diagnosed with Binder’s Syndrome as a child. Binder’s syndrome is a rare congenital malformation resulting in the undergrowth of the central face and may include elements of the nose and upper jaw. She underwent rhinoplasty surgery as a teenager, utilizing cartilage from her right ear to reconstruct her nose. At just 15 years old, she experienced how life-changing plastic surgery can be and knew that she wanted to be a plastic surgeon so that someday she could impact others’ lives in a similar manner.

Today, Dr. Sato is an internationally recognized and multi-award-winning plastic surgeon. Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), Dr. Sato specializes in cosmetic surgery of the face, breast, and body. She performs the latest treatments in cosmetic surgery as well as nonsurgical rejuvenation. Dr. Erika Sato is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and is an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the Texas Medical Association (TMA), and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS).

Semaglutide FAQ’S

Most patients tolerate their semaglutide treatment injections well. Dr. Sato may offer treatments in oral form for patients who prefer to avoid needles. While the initial stages of the treatment plan may be uncomfortable in terms of experiencing side effects while adjusting to the semaglutide treatment, most patients do level out and become accustomed to their lifestyle changes and can soon appreciate their weight loss.
In the individual consultation, Dr. Sato will develop a customized semaglutide treatment plan, so the overall number of appointments will depend on the patient’s individual health and weight loss goals. Dr. Sato will recommend a number of sessions to start monitoring your progress on the semaglutide treatments, which can be adjusted depending on the results achieved during your weight loss program.
On average, most semaglutide patients see some weight loss beginning as early as the first week of treatment. Once they are several months into their treatment plan, patients can expect to lose around 15-20% of their body weight. Dr. Sato advises maintaining this treatment plan and additional lifestyle changes for long-term results, as discontinuing semaglutide may increase weight gain.
Dr. Sato will be happy to review any additional surgical or non-surgical cosmetic procedures in your individual consultation. Many of her Houston-area patients prefer to combine their semaglutide treatment series with Aveli Cellulite Reduction, microneedling, or RF Skin Tightening for an overall rejuvenated look as they progress with their weight loss. Please inform Dr. Sato about your desired procedures so she can safely incorporate them alongside your treatment series.
Although semaglutide is an FDA-approved medication, it does carry side effects and other risks, including but not limited to:
- Gastroparesis
- Stomach pain
- Acid reflux
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Please review your complete medical history with Dr. Sato during your consultation so she may make the appropriate recommendations.

#dr.erikasato

@dr.erikasato

Schedule a consultation

If you are finally ready to see results with your weight loss plans, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Erika Sato at our Houston practice at (713) 791-0700 or complete our online booking form. A concierge team member will contact you shortly to help you start your liraglutide treatment journey!

Schedule a Consultation