In the pursuit of a healthier life, many individuals find themselves navigating a complex landscape of weight loss solutions. Rivas Medical Weight Loss emerges as a beacon of personalized, physician-led care, empowering individuals to reclaim their health and confidence. With a focus on individualized treatment plans and unwavering support, Rivas Medical Weight Loss offers a comprehensive approach to weight management.
Personalized, Physician-Led Care
At Rivas Medical Weight Loss, the understanding that every person’s weight loss journey is unique is paramount. The clinic distinguishes itself by providing exceptional personalized care, with medical providers invested not only in weight loss but in the client's life as a whole.
The journey begins with an in-office appointment, followed by weekly visits with a medical provider. These regular check-ins allow for consistent support and accountability, fostering a strong doctor-patient relationship. Many patients appreciate the kind, understanding, friendly, and professional staff, including names like Max, Michelle, Amy, and Danni, who contribute to a positive and encouraging environment.
The Rivas Approach: Combining Medication, Guidance, and Lifestyle Changes
Rivas Medical Weight Loss employs a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to weight management, integrating three key components:
- Prescription Medications: Rivas Medical Weight Loss utilizes prescription medications designed to suppress appetite, increase metabolism, or inhibit the absorption of fat in the body. These medications, including phentermine, semaglutide, and tirzepatide, are used under the close supervision of a healthcare professional and tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual.
- Expertise and Guidance of a Medical Professional: Overseen by healthcare professionals with a deep understanding of the complexities of weight management, Rivas Medical Weight Loss provides ongoing monitoring of health and progress, adjusting treatment plans as necessary. This professional guidance ensures safety and effectiveness throughout the weight loss journey.
- Lifestyle Changes: Recognizing that medication and professional support are important, the cornerstone of medical weight loss is the adoption of healthier lifestyle habits. This includes changes in diet, physical activity, and behavior. The medication and support provided make it easier for individuals to make and maintain these necessary lifestyle changes.
This holistic approach recognizes the challenges of losing weight and provides the tools and support necessary to overcome them.
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Medications Offered at Rivas Medical Weight Loss
Rivas Medical Weight Loss offers a range of medications to support weight loss, including:
Phentermine
Led by Dr. Rivas, one of the leading phentermine doctors in Maryland, the clinic combines phentermine medication with nutritional guidance and ongoing care to help clients achieve sustainable results. Dr. Rivas and his team are committed to delivering one-on-one support to ensure optimal outcomes. Many clients have experienced safe, effective weight loss within just a few months under supervision, thanks to phentermine prescriptions and customized care plans.
Phentermine has been FDA approved and used safely since 1959. It is not addictive and does not have serious or long-term side effects. On phentermine, a lot of the weight loss happens toward the beginning of treatment, with many people experiencing a loss of 7-10 pounds in the first two weeks.
Who is a good fit for phentermine treatment?
This treatment is a particularly good fit for individuals who are budget-sensitive, have never been on stimulant medication before (no ADHD medication, etc.), and/or need super fast results.
Who is not a good fit for phentermine treatment?
You cannot be treated with phentermine if you:
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- Are already on another stimulant medication (like ADHD medications)
- Have a history of stroke, heart attack, heart disease, or uncontrolled high blood pressure (unless cleared by a cardiologist)
- Have chronic kidney disease (unless cleared by a nephrologist)
- Are nursing, pregnant, or trying to get pregnant
Individuals with other medical conditions not listed above can still use phentermine.
Common side effects of phentermine:
- Lots of energy
- Dry mouth
- Insomnia
- Constipation
- Moments of feeling hot and sweaty
- Irritability
Semaglutide and Tirzepatide
Semaglutide and tirzepatide are GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications often used in weight loss and diabetes management. These medications work by mimicking the effects of the natural hormone GLP-1, which tells the brain that you’re full after eating and helps to lower blood sugar levels by stimulating the pancreas to produce insulin.
On semaglutide or tirzepatide, Rivas Medical Weight Loss generally expects 1-3 pounds lost a week. Many patients are losing 10 pounds a month. Once you reach the full dose at 9-16 weeks, it is typically a steady 1-3 pounds of weight loss a week. With semaglutide, although some people see results right away, you may not start losing weight until 6-8 weeks of treatment or at around the 1mg dose. This is because the dose of the medication needs to be slowly increased to the full dose over the first 9-16 weeks.
Who is a good fit for semaglutide treatment?
This treatment is a particularly good fit for individuals who are looking for a long-term solution, have taken phentermine or another stimulant medication (like ADHD meds) before, and/or need to lose more than 10-15 lbs.
Who is not a good fit for semaglutide treatment?
You cannot be treated with semaglutide if you have:
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- Medullary Thyroid cancer
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia
Understanding GLP-1 Medications
GLP-1 medications essentially act like a “supercharged” version of the natural hormone GLP-1. They stay in your body longer and in higher amounts than the natural GLP-1 your body produces. This leads to feeling fuller for longer and having lower blood sugar levels, both of which can help with weight loss.
It’s important to remember that while GLP-1 medications can be very helpful, they work best as part of a broader weight loss plan that includes diet changes and regular physical activity.
Addressing Concerns About Compounded Semaglutide
Due to the drug shortage of branded semaglutide, namely Wegovy and Ozempic, the Drug Shortages Staff (DSS), a branch of the FDA, allows compounding pharmacies to make a compounded version of the drug as long as they meet the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act. This is done in order to help meet the demand.
Rivas Medical Weight Loss sources its in-office semaglutide directly from an FDA-inspected facility and adheres strictly to guidelines and regulations from the FDA and other governing bodies. They obtain their compounded GLP-1s from Federally licensed 503B pharmacies. These compounded medications comply with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act’s requirements. Rivas Medical Weight Loss assures its patients that they do not use the salt forms of semaglutide-such as semaglutide sodium and semaglutide acetate-which have been flagged as potential concerns by the FDA.
Additional Services Offered
In addition to prescription medications, Rivas Medical Weight Loss offers other services to support weight loss and overall wellness:
B12 Injections
Rivas Medical Weight Loss offers B12 injections, which bypass the gut completely and go directly into muscle tissue, ensuring 100% absorption of the nutrients. Anyone 18 years of age or older is eligible for B12 Injections. While most patients who try the injections feel great benefits from them, the following people are particularly likely to feel the positive effects of B12: vegans, vegetarians, patients whose primary source of protein is chicken, patients who have undergone gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery, and patients taking diabetes medication, acid reflux medication, or antibiotics. The most common side effect is a slightly sore arm.
Lipo-Extreme Shot
The Lipo-Extreme is a B12 injection with four lipotropic ingredients and four B Vitamins: Methionine, Inositol, Choline, Carnitine, Hydroxocobalamin (B12), Pyridoxine (B6), Riboavin (B2), and Thiamine (B1). Ingredients are NON-GMO and vegan. Lipotropic is a medical term for a substance that affects fat burning in the body.
Telehealth Services
Rivas Medical Weight Loss offers telehealth services for patients who live in Maryland or Virginia and are interested in treatment with semaglutide and tirzepatide. Patients have a monthly video appointment with a medical provider, and the medication is shipped to their house. However, phentermine is not prescribed over telehealth.
Payment and Insurance
Rivas Medical Weight Loss does not process any insurance because most insurance companies refuse to cover medical weight loss. However, they are happy to provide invoices for reimbursement if your insurance does. Some patients are able to get reimbursed for the visit.
Rivas Medical Weight Loss accepts cash, credit cards, debit cards, flexible spending account (FSA) cards, health spending account (HSA) cards, and care credit in all of their offices. They do not accept checks. Payment is due in full at the time of the visit. Patients can get $20 off when they refer a friend.
Success Stories and Testimonials
Numerous clients have shared their positive experiences with Rivas Medical Weight Loss, attesting to the effectiveness of the program and the support they received:
- One client shared, "Rivas Medical Weight Loss has been an absolute godsend for me and my health. I’ve lost over 100 lbs under the care of Ili Wathen and her amazing team!"
- Another client exclaimed, "I have reached my goal weight 115 lbs. The staff is wonderful. They’re very kind and very understanding and very friendly and professional. I love Max, Michelle, Amy, Danni, and all the providers. They are great.!"
- A long-term client shared, "Exceptional personalized care. The staff is unbelievable, and I am a long-term client for two years. I have lost 70 lbs and have been keeping it off with maintenance and their guidance. I could not have done it without them."
- Another satisfied client reported, "I have lost about 85 plus lbs. Huge success on this program with Tirzepatide. Can’t say enough great things about them. So far so amazing. In 7 weeks I lost 20 pounds, my goal is to only lose 76 pounds so things are moving along perfectly. The service is the best, from the receptionist to the doctors. They go through each option with you to see which would be the best fit for you. I'm so grateful I discovered Rivas."
These testimonials highlight the transformative impact of Rivas Medical Weight Loss on the lives of its clients.