Losing weight can be challenging — we understand. The team at Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery takes your health and wellness seriously.

We are proud to offer the Skinny Shot (semaglutide) and Skinny Shot Pro (tirzepatide).

Our patients have lost 10 to 200 lbs with medical weight loss treatment. There are many weight loss clinics in Houston, but let’s talk about how we’re different.

What sets us apart is our deep commitment to your success for a healthier, more confident you:

• One of our providers will evaluate you to ensure you are a good candidate. We’ll educate you on your treatment and how and what to eat to optimize your success.
• Your treatment includes all medications and supplies.
• We schedule check-ins every four weeks for ongoing lifestyle and nutritional counseling. We want you to lose fat but preserve and build muscle.
• Our regimens are cost-effective, with price transparency and no insurance requirements.
• When the weight comes off, we offer effective noninvasive or surgical treatments to manage loose skin and volume loss to help you look and feel your best. Nationally recognized board-certified plastic surgeons lead all treatments.

We offer two medical weight loss treatment options to help patients effectively lose weight and start their journey to a healthier, more confident self:

• Skinny Shot (Semaglutide — referred to as a GLP-1 agonist)
• Skinny Shot Pro (Tirzepatide — referred to as a GLP-1 and GIP agonist)

These “Skinny Shots” can help patients reach their goals by mimicking the effects of naturally occurring GI hormones, and they are part of our comprehensive approach for our patients.

What is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide, a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide), increases insulin levels, which in turn decreases glucose (blood sugar). This drug was first designed as a treatment for diabetic patients. However, it also had profound weight loss properties in patients. This was a huge benefit not only to diabetic patients but also to the population as a whole.

How does Semaglutide Cause Weight Loss?

Semaglutide helps regulate appetite and calorie intake by helping you feel fuller sooner. It slows down how quickly your stomach empties and keeps you feeling fuller for longer. People on Semaglutide experience an overall decrease in appetite and food cravings, which leads to a significant decrease in weight over time as you consume fewer calories per day. The revolutionary part of this treatment is that people don’t feel hungry or like they are “dieting.”

How effective is Semaglutide for Weight Loss?

Semaglutide has proven to be extremely effective in several studies. One of the first studies evaluating the effectiveness of Semaglutide included more than 1,000 patients. These patients were treated for 68 weeks and lost an average of 15% of their body weight (with an average weight loss of 35 pounds).

A second study that included 900+ patients showed that patients, on average, lost 17% of their body weight (an average of 41 pounds) at 68 weeks. It is important to remember that everyone in these studies was counseled on improving dietary habits and increasing physical activity. The results of these studies are truly exciting for our patients.

What is Tirzepatide?

Tirzepatide, used in our Skinny Shot Pro, is a dual-action medication that utilizes both a GLP-1 agonist and a GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). In simple terms, it activates two hormone receptors that regulate metabolism.

What is the Main Difference Between Semaglutide and Tirzepatide?

Patients using tirzepatide have reported fewer side effects (less nausea, diarrhea, constipation) and greater appetite control than those using semaglutide. Patients also tend to lose more weight with the Skinny Shot Pro. Our team will help you decide which is best for your situation.

Get “The Skinny” on the Behind the Double Doors Podcast

On a recent Behind the Double Doors episode: The Houston Plastic Surgery Podcast, Dr. Basu and shares the latest details on this hot new weight loss treatment.

Listen to the episode now:

Are the Skinny Shots safe?

Many medications have come and gone to treat obesity. Side effects were experienced, which led to disappointing results. In Semaglutide clinical trials for the treatment of weight loss, patients experienced few side effects during the 68-week treatment. Over 90% of patients who started treatment completed their 68-week treatment course.

The most common adverse issues were gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and diarrhea. In general, semaglutides are well tolerated.

What is the Skinny Shot treatment process at Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery?

The weight loss journey at Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery is available to all patients. We can begin treatment before surgery, following surgery, or when the primary focus and goal is weight loss and improved health.

During the consultation, we will discuss your overall aesthetic goals and develop a skinny shot treatment plan just for you.

This will include a combination of the following:

• Semaglutide (Skinny Shot) or tirzepatide (Skinny Shot Pro) weekly injections, which can be done at home
• Monthly office visits to track progress and titrate dosing of the medication for appropriate weight loss while minimizing side effects
• Dietary counseling

Am I a candidate for the Skinny Shot or Skinny Shot Pro treatment?

Candidates for Skinny Shot (Semaglutide) or Skinny Shot Pro (tirzepatide) treatment are:

• Patients who are overweight (BMI greater than 25) or obese (BMI greater than 30)
• Patients who want to decrease their weight and improve their overall health
• Patients who are not diabetic or currently on any diabetic medications
• Patients who do not have a history of thyroid cancer
• Patients who do not have any pancreatic issues
• Patients who have realistic expectations and understand that the best results are when GLP-1s are combined with lifestyle changes that include diet and exercise
• Patients who want to improve their overall appearance
• Patients wanting to reach their ideal body weight before plastic surgery such as liposuction or tummy tucks, are great candidates and will improve their overall results

How does Semaglutide Skinny Shot treatment work in combination with plastic surgery?

Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery strives for patients to be at their ideal weight before surgery. This can be challenging as many of us struggle with weight management. This new skinny shot can be used in preparation for your surgery or to improve your overall health.

Surgeries such as tummy tucks, mommy makeovers, and liposuction cannot change visceral (internal) fat. This fat is the most dangerous because it can cause health issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and some cancers.

Losing weight with Semaglutide or Tirzepatide can help decrease the visceral and internal fat. This is an area that we have never been able to treat previously in plastic surgery. The use of the Skinny Shot in combination with surgery is one of the most exciting interventions to become available for patients.

What to expect with our Semaglutide Skinny Shot program:

1. You will begin with an initial consultation. This can be done specifically for weight loss or in combination with your surgical consultation.
2. You will be evaluated and the risks and benefits of the medications will be discussed.
3. Once your treatment plan has been established, you will start on once-weekly injections.
4. The medications have to be titrated (adjusted as we go) to an effective dose.
5. You will have monthly visits at our office to check your progress and adjust your medication dosage.

The goal of including the Skinny Shot treatment with your surgical procedure is to help you achieve your ideal body weight before surgery for the best possible aesthetic result.

It has been shown that patients with a lower BMI undergoing plastic surgery have a lower risk of complications. The total body treatment including semaglutides not only improves your results, it may also make your surgery safer.

Ready to learn more about our Skinny Shot program?

To take the first step toward your ideal body weight with the Semaglutide skinny shot, contact us, call or text our Houston office today at (713) 799-2278.