What Are Weight Loss Injections?
Weight loss injections — most commonly semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) — are GLP-1 receptor agonist medications that work by mimicking a natural gut hormone to suppress appetite, slow gastric emptying, and regulate blood sugar levels. The result is a significantly reduced sense of hunger, smaller portion sizes, and progressive, sustained fat loss. At Panache, Dr. Ankit Gupta offers medically supervised weight loss injection programmes tailored to your body composition, weight loss goals, and overall health profile. This is not a shortcut — it is a clinically proven medical intervention that, when combined with the right lifestyle adjustments, produces real, lasting results.
Semaglutide was originally developed for Type 2 diabetes management. Its powerful weight loss effects led to dedicated weight-loss formulations (Wegovy) now approved by the FDA and widely used across the world.
How Do They Work?
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone naturally released by your gut after eating. It signals to your brain that you are full, slows the rate at which food leaves your stomach, and reduces the release of glucagon (the hormone that raises blood sugar). Semaglutide is a synthetic version of this hormone that stays active in your body for a full week — meaning its appetite-suppressing effects are continuous, not just after meals.
- Signals the brain's satiety centre — you feel full faster and stay full longer
- Slows gastric emptying — food stays in your stomach longer, extending the feeling of fullness
- Reduces food cravings — particularly for high-calorie, high-fat foods
- Stabilises blood sugar — reduces energy crashes and hunger spikes
- Promotes fat loss (not muscle loss) when combined with adequate protein intake
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Weight loss injections are appropriate for adults who are struggling to lose weight through diet and exercise alone, and who meet certain health criteria. Dr. Ankit assesses each patient thoroughly before prescribing.
- BMI of 27 or above with at least one weight-related health condition (hypertension, insulin resistance, joint pain, etc.)
- BMI of 30 or above regardless of other conditions
- Patients who have tried diet and exercise but plateaued
- Those looking to lose a targeted amount of weight before a surgical procedure (liposuction, tummy tuck, etc.)
- Patients with insulin resistance or pre-diabetes who want metabolic correction alongside fat loss
Not suitable for patients who are pregnant, have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2 syndrome, or have had pancreatitis. A full medical history is taken before any prescription is issued.
The Panache Weight Loss Programme
We do not simply hand you an injection and send you home. Dr. Ankit runs a structured, supervised programme that combines the medication with nutritional guidance and regular check-ins to maximise your results and ensure your safety.
A full medical history, weight and BMI assessment, and discussion of your goals and lifestyle. Blood tests may be ordered to check liver function, thyroid, and metabolic markers.
You begin on a low starting dose (0.25 mg weekly) to allow your body to adjust and minimise side effects. The injection is administered subcutaneously (under the skin) once a week — at the clinic or, in some cases, at home after a proper demonstration.
Every 4 weeks, the dose is gradually increased — 0.5 mg, then 1 mg, up to the target dose that gives you the best balance of appetite suppression and tolerability. Most patients reach their effective dose by week 8–12.
You meet with Dr. Ankit monthly to review your progress, adjust the dose if needed, address any side effects, and refine your nutrition plan. Weight, measurements, and body composition are tracked.
Once your target weight is reached, Dr. Ankit guides you through a planned tapering and transition phase — establishing the dietary habits and lifestyle adjustments that will sustain your results long after the medication is stopped.
What Results Can You Expect?
Clinical trials show that patients on semaglutide lose an average of 10–15% of their body weight over 68 weeks. Individual results depend on starting weight, dose reached, and lifestyle factors, but most patients notice a meaningful reduction in hunger within the first 2–4 weeks.
- Noticeable reduction in appetite and cravings within 2–4 weeks
- 1–2 kg weight loss per month is typical at therapeutic doses
- 10–15% body weight reduction over a 12–18 month programme
- Improved blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and energy in many patients
- Reduction in visceral (abdominal) fat — the most metabolically harmful type
Results are significantly better when combined with a high-protein diet and regular physical activity. Dr. Ankit provides personalised dietary guidance as part of every programme.
Side Effects & Safety
GLP-1 medications are well-studied and have a strong safety profile when prescribed and supervised correctly. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal and typically improve as your body adjusts to the medication.
- Nausea — the most common side effect, usually mild and limited to the first few weeks
- Reduced appetite — expected and desirable, but ensure you're still meeting nutritional needs
- Mild constipation or loose stools — usually temporary
- Fatigue in the first week after each dose increase — resolves as the body adapts
- Rare: injection site reactions (mild redness or bruising)
Serious side effects are rare. Pancreatitis and gallbladder issues have been reported in a small number of patients. Dr. Ankit monitors all patients throughout the programme and is available between consultations if any concerns arise.
Cost
Pricing includes the consultation, medication prescription, and follow-up check-ins. The cost varies based on the dose required and the duration of your programme. Medication is dispensed from our clinic to ensure quality and authenticity — we do not recommend purchasing semaglutide from unverified online sources. Transparent pricing is provided at your initial consultation.
