Semaglutide is available at PURE Plastic Surgery in Miami

September 10, 2023

If you’ve ever gained unwanted weight, you understand that it is much easier to gain it, than it is to lose the extra pounds. The longer the body stays a certain weight the more likely is it to remember that size and fight to stay in a certain weight range. I know first-hand how that feels and while I was counseling my patients on their need to stay at recommended Body Mass Index (BMI) levels, I was getting out of shape. With great success and no side effects, I chose diet, exercise and the use of semaglutide.

How does semaglutide help as a weight loss option?

Originally prescribed for patients with diabetes, semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and occupies the receptor in the brain that regulates your appetite and helps you eat less. It is now approved for those without diabetes who are suffering from obesity as it can slow down the stomach’s process allowing patients to feel fuller for longer, curbing snacking and overeating.

Benefits include losing weight. In one study, the average adult lost about 35lbs after 68 weeks. Risks can include nausea, diarrhea, muscle aches and fatigue. Another benefit is some patients opt to take semaglutide instead of undergoing bariatric surgery. It may be an option you can discuss with your doctor.

Semaglutide for PURE patients seeking to lose weight prior to surgery

At PURE, we have patients who want to lose weight for various reasons, not just to reduce their BMI for surgery. We are able to help those who are surgical patients, potential surgical patients and those who are not yet a part of the PURE family.

For patients seeking semaglutide to help lose weight prior to surgery, they are following the BMI guidelines at PURE that require certain BMI numbers to qualify for surgery.

We tell our patients that weight is a significant factor in plastic surgery qualifications and results, especially with the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedure. Many plastic surgeons do not focus so much on the actual weight as they do the BMI where weight is a factor along with height and often ethnicity. BMI estimates your weight relative to your height and in adults, it can range from underweight to severe obesity. According to the medical community, these are the ranges for BMI in adults.

Medical BMI ranges

Under 18.5 – underweight

Between 18.5 and 24.9 – healthy

Between 25-29.9 – overweight

Between 30-39.9 – obesity

40 plus – severely obese

BMI is a tool that board-certified surgeons use to help determine a patient’s ability to safely experience cosmetic surgery procedures. At PURE, BBL patients cannot have a BMI over 30 for Dr. Earle.

Most plastic surgeons have BMI requirements for safety reasons and to ensure the best chances to achieve the desired results. In some cases, patients may be told that their BMI is too high or too low for a BBL. This leads them to consider whether they need to gain or lose weight to qualify for surgery.

Significant excess fat can cause complications with surgery performed under general anesthesia. While there are risks to every plastic surgery procedure, surgeons will take every precaution to ensure the safest experience possible. If you find your BMI is too high for the elected surgery, it is important to consult with your general practitioner to work through the healthiest way to approach weight loss prior to BBL surgery.

This is the first time we are offering a weight loss solution for our patients at PURE. We believe it’s a safe option, and Dr. Earle tried it for himself, losing a significant amount of weight and improving his personal body image. We recommend this over more invasive weight loss procedures such as bariatric surgery (e.g. gastric sleeve or gastric bypass.)