Before / after Composition — baseline vs day 90 Scan overlay, same landmarks
Composition — baseline vs day 90 Scan comparison · published with consent
Medical Weight Loss
GLP-1 weight loss in Alpharetta, GA
Scale weight, medically managed
Price TBC confirmed in writing at your consult, before anything is bookedIn short
GLP-1 medications — semaglutide and tirzepatide — are prescription treatments, usually a weekly injection, that reduce appetite, increase fullness and slow how quickly the stomach empties. At BodyWorks they are prescribed only where appropriate, after a medical evaluation with the medical director, and supervised weekly with your body composition — not just the scale — tracked by 3D scan. Not every patient qualifies; that is a clinical decision made in the room.
How it actually works
The mechanism, plainly.
After a meal the gut releases a signal called GLP-1 that tells the brain you are full and slows the stomach’s emptying. The medications mimic that signal and keep it active for a week at a time. The effect is that you feel satisfied with smaller portions, think about food less often, and stay fuller for longer — which makes eating less feel like a choice rather than an act of willpower. Semaglutide acts on the GLP-1 receptor; tirzepatide acts on that receptor and a second one, GIP, which also influences how the body processes and stores nutrients.
The medication is not the programme. It makes the programme possible. Doses start low and rise slowly, which is how the digestive side effects are kept manageable, and results build over months rather than weeks. What the scale cannot show — whether the weight coming off is fat or muscle — is why every patient here is measured by 3D scan at baseline and every 30 days, and why protein, strength training and, where indicated, contouring for the skin run alongside it.
What it treats
Specific areas, listed.
What the medication does, and what the programme around it does. The two are not separable here.
- — Appetite and fullness Reduced hunger, more satisfaction from smaller meals, fewer cravings between them.
- — Scale weight, medically managed Weekly supervision; dosing adjusted as your body responds.
- — Body composition, not just weight Fat versus lean mass by 3D scan at baseline and every 30 days, so muscle is protected as weight comes off.
- — The skin Where indicated, contouring during the weight loss rather than after it — the practice’s preferred sequence.
- — Maintenance Continued guidance once you reach your goal, so the result holds.
Before / after
GLP-1 weight loss cases.
Our founder’s own case — 286 to 205 pounds in seven months — is on the <a href="/men/dad-bod-rescue/">Dad Bod Rescue page</a>. Patient cases are health information and are published here only with written authorization, with weeks and composition on each.
Before / after Midsection — before / after Front pair, identical lighting
Midsection — before / after GLP-1 weight loss · case pending
Before / after Profile — before / after Side pair, identical angle
Profile — before / after GLP-1 weight loss · case pending
What to expect
The real table.
What we can state from the treatment itself is stated. What depends on your body is confirmed at the consult, in writing, not guessed here.
| Question | GLP-1 weight loss |
|---|---|
| Session length | A first medical evaluation with the medical director, then brief weekly check-ins — in the suite or by telemedicine. |
| What it feels like | A once-weekly injection with a very fine needle. In the first weeks, and after dose changes, some people notice nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, bloating or mild stomach discomfort; these are usually temporary. |
| Numbing | Not applicable. |
| Downtime | None |
| Number of sessions | Weekly, supervised. Doses start low and increase slowly. |
| When results appear | Changes in appetite within the first few weeks; visible weight change usually within the first one to two months, gradually and with plateaus along the way. |
| How long they last | Results hold with the habits built around them — protein, strength training, sleep — and a maintenance plan once you reach your goal. |
Candidacy
Who it is for — and who it isn't.
This is for you if
- You have tried diet, calorie counting or exercise programmes and still struggle to lose weight.
- Appetite, cravings or emotional eating are the part you cannot control.
- You want a medically supervised approach, measured by composition rather than the scale alone.
- You are prepared for a programme — smaller meals, protein, movement, weekly check-ins — not a prescription on its own.
This isn't for you if
- You are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
- Certain personal or family medical histories, and certain medications, rule the medication out. That screening is the medical director’s, at the consult — not every patient qualifies, and we will say so plainly.
- You are already near your goal and the complaint is a stubborn area rather than weight. That is body contouring, not medication.
- You want the medication without the supervision. It is prescribed and monitored here, or not at all.
Candidacy is a clinical decision made at the consult, under physician direction. The content on this site is for general information and does not constitute medical advice or establish a physician–patient relationship. Candidacy for any treatment is determined during an in-person consultation. Individual results vary.
Price, stated
What it costs.
Price TBC Pricing for GLP-1 weight loss is being finalised ahead of launch. The number is published here the moment the practice confirms it, and you get it in writing at your consult before anything is booked.
Priced by programme — evaluation, medication and weekly supervision — and confirmed in writing at the consult. Medication prices vary with the drug and dose. The 10% first-responder, military and teacher discount excludes weight-loss medications.
The Blueprint Consult is $150, credited toward any package or membership you begin within 60 days. Memberships start at $199 a month and bundle treatment with maintenance. Full pricing & memberships.
Financing
Once the price is confirmed, Cherry, Affirm, CareCredit and in-house plans apply to it the same way they do to every other treatment here.
How it compares
GLP-1 weight loss against diet and exercise alone.
The alternative everyone has already tried. Not a criticism of it — an explanation of what the medication changes and what it does not.
| GLP-1 weight loss | diet and exercise alone | |
|---|---|---|
| What it changes | Appetite, fullness and how fast the stomach empties — the signal, not the willpower. | Intake and expenditure, by effort. |
| What it does not change | It does not choose the food, build the muscle or protect the skin. The programme does. | — |
| Supervision | Weekly, with dosing adjusted; measured by 3D scan every 30 days. | Self-monitored. |
| Muscle | Protected deliberately — protein and strength work are part of the plan, and the scan shows whether it is working. | Often lost alongside the fat without a plan for it. |
| Pace | Gradual by design; doses start low and results build over months. | Varies. |
Who performs it
Under physician direction, every time.
Prescription therapy at BodyWorks is prescribed and supervised by Dr. Andrew Pugliese, board-certified physician and medical director, after an in-person evaluation. Weekly check-ins are run by the clinical team under his direction; Karen Heimbrecht, RN, our clinical director, oversees delivery. Meet the team · Our medical standards.
Questions
About GLP-1 weight loss.
How quickly will I see results?
Many patients notice changes in appetite within the first few weeks — less hunger, satisfaction with smaller portions. Visible weight loss usually begins within the first one to two months, depending on dose adjustments, metabolism and habits. Gradual reduction is recommended because it is easier to maintain, and plateaus are normal; with weekly monitoring the plan is adjusted to keep progress steady.
Semaglutide or tirzepatide — what is the difference?
Both are usually a weekly injection and both reduce appetite, increase fullness and slow digestion. Semaglutide activates the GLP-1 receptor. Tirzepatide activates the GLP-1 receptor and the GIP receptor, which also influences how the body processes and stores nutrients; for some patients that second pathway means greater average weight loss. The right choice depends on your medical history, goals, availability, cost and tolerance, and the medical director makes a personalised recommendation.
How does this relate to the brand-name medications?
Semaglutide and tirzepatide are the active molecules in the brand-name products. What is prescribed here, and where it is sourced from, is explained to you in writing at the consult — we do not make equivalence claims on a web page.
What are the most common side effects?
The most common are digestive: nausea, mild stomach discomfort, constipation, bloating or occasional diarrhoea, especially when first starting or when the dose changes. They are often temporary and ease as the dose is increased gradually. Smaller meals, avoiding greasy or very heavy food, eating slowly, stopping when full and drinking water through the day all help.
Severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting or signs of dehydration should be reported to the office straight away.
Will I need to change my diet?
The medication works best alongside healthy habits, and there is no strict universal diet. Most people find these help: balanced meals with lean protein, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats; smaller portions eaten slowly; fewer highly processed foods, less sugar and no very large meals. Protein and strength training matter for keeping muscle as the weight comes off — which the scan will show.
Is it safe for long-term use?
For many patients the medication is part of a longer-term plan. The medical director evaluates your history, current medications and goals before prescribing, and regular follow-ups monitor progress and address concerns. Used as directed in a supervised programme, it can play a valuable role in sustained results — and once you reach your goal, BodyWorks provides continued guidance to maintain them.
Do I qualify?
Not every patient does, and that is decided by the medical director at an in-person evaluation, never by this page. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, certain personal or family medical histories and certain medications rule it out. The Blueprint Consult is the first step — $150, credited toward the programme when you begin within 60 days.
What does it cost?
The programme — evaluation, medication and weekly supervision — is priced at the consult and confirmed in writing before you start. Medication costs vary with the drug and the dose, and are published on the pricing page as the practice confirms them. Financing runs through Cherry, Affirm or CareCredit.
Medically managed, measured by composition.
The Blueprint Consult: one hour, a full 3D scan, and a written protocol with real prices — credited toward any package or membership you begin within 60 days.