10 Questions to Ask Before Starting a GLP-1 Program at a Med Spa

Who Is Prescribing?

Start with who is prescribing. A legitimate program has a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant conducting the intake and reviewing labs. Any clinic that prescribes without a qualified medical professional reviewing your history is operating outside standard-of-care guidelines.

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What Labs Are Required?

Ask what baseline labs are drawn, how often they are repeated, and what would cause the clinic to stop treatment. A minimum intake panel should include a metabolic panel, thyroid function, and HbA1c. Clinics that skip this step are taking shortcuts that affect your safety, not just your results.

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What Is the Muscle Preservation Protocol?

Ask about protein targets and resistance training guidance. Muscle preservation is the most commonly neglected part of GLP-1 programs. Patients who lose weight without adequate protein and resistance training lose proportionally more muscle than fat, which rebounds weight and slows metabolism long-term.

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What Happens When You Reach Your Goal?

Finally, ask about the exit plan. A program with no maintenance strategy after you reach your goal is incomplete. Weight loss on GLP-1 medications is real and clinically meaningful, but results are not permanent without ongoing use or structured lifestyle maintenance — and any clinic that presents GLP-1 as a one-time fix is misrepresenting the evidence.