Portions Down. Confidence Up.
Constant hunger. Portion sizes that creep up. Energy that crashes mid-day. If that sounds like your current routine, there’s a medical way to quiet appetite signals and make smaller meals feel reasonable again. At Bonakdar Aesthetics in Newport Beach, our physician-led program uses GLP-1 and dual GLP-1/GIP injections to support sustainable weight loss with clear dosing, steady follow-up, and a plan that fits real life in Orange County. Below, you’ll learn what these medications do, who qualifies, how treatment is paced, expected results from clinical trials, safety notes, costs, and how our team keeps you on track.
This is supervised medicine, not a fad. Dr. Monica Bonakdar manages dosing and monitoring, and our team builds a treatment plan that covers nutrition targets, movement you can keep, sleep, and check-ins that prevent drift. The goal is simple: help you lose weight in a way that holds up—without rigid meal plans or gimmicks.
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is one of the body’s natural hormones that helps regulate appetite and blood sugar after meals. Prescription GLP-1 receptor agonists amplify that signal. Most patients eat smaller portions, feel satisfied sooner, and snack less; the medicine also slows stomach emptying and supports blood sugar control, which steadies energy between meals. These are FDA-approved medication options for chronic weight management when combined with a reduced-calorie diet and increased activity.
GLP-1 is a gut-derived hormone that signals satiety to the brain and slows stomach emptying. When used in a supervised program, GLP-1–based therapy helps many adults feel full on less food, reduces between-meal cravings, and supports steadier post-meal glucose. In large class-level studies of GLP-1 weight-management regimens paired with nutrition and activity changes, average body weight reductions reached the low to mid-teens over ~1 year. Individual outcomes vary depending on the dose, titration pace, adherence, and baseline health. Your clinician will tailor a plan and review safety factors, including GI sensitivity and your medical history, before starting.
With GLP-1 Newport Beach patients report fuller meals on less food, fewer late-night cravings, steadier energy, and more predictable mornings. Over months, significant weight loss supports metabolic health: better blood pressure, improved insulin sensitivity, and smaller waist measurements for many patients. Our program anchors the medicine to healthy habits—protein, fiber, hydration, sleep, and simple activity—so the biology we unlock actually shows up on the scale and in how your clothes fit.
Candidacy & Indications
Medical weight loss with GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP is indicated for adults with BMI ≥30, or BMI ≥27 with a weight-related health issue such as high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, or sleep apnea—always paired with diet and exercise changes. We’ll review medical history, current medications, and your goals to decide on a personalized plan. These medications are also used in diabetes management, and any diabetes drugs you take are part of the discussion to avoid low blood sugar.
Important safety notes: Do not use GLP-1 medicines if you or a close relative has had medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2. Avoid during pregnancy, and stop well before trying to conceive due to long drug half-lives. We also screen for prior pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and kidney risks. You’ll learn what to watch for and when to call.
Contraception note for GLP-1/GIP: The dual-agonist can reduce the effectiveness of oral hormonal contraceptives during dose escalations. Use a non-oral or barrier method for 4 weeks after starting and after each increase.
We map out weight loss goals, timelines, and guardrails. Expect a full review of health history, targeted labs when helpful, baseline measures, and a discussion about side-effect prevention. You’ll leave with a written treatment plan: dose ramp-up, nutrition targets that fit your schedule, simple training and recovery guidance, and check-ins that align with your work and family calendar.
We teach GLP-1 injections, storage, and how to handle a missed dose. If you’re sensitive to reflux or nausea, we plan preventive steps around dose increases. You’ll get practical targets for protein, fiber, hydration, and sleep since those inputs help support weight loss and reduce GI effects.
Injections are once weekly in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. The needle is small and quick. We start low and increase in measured steps to keep GI symptoms manageable. If a dose feels rough, we can hold or step back and still make progress. Official dosing schedules typically escalate in 4-week intervals toward a maintenance dose; we personalize that pace. Most patients describe it as a two-minute task they forget about until the next week. (Prefer in-office dosing? We can do that.)
Appetite usually shifts in the first two to four weeks. Visible change often shows by week four to eight, with momentum building after dose stabilization. In the trials cited above, participants maintained steady loss across 68 to 72 weeks with ongoing support. Stopping medication often leads to weight regain, which is why we build long-term structure and discuss the lowest effective maintenance dose when appropriate.
Common effects: nausea, early fullness, burping, constipation or diarrhea, and fatigue during dose increases. Smaller, slower meals, adequate fluid, and protein help. Call us right away for severe abdominal pain, signs of gallbladder issues, dehydration, or allergic reactions.
As patients achieve fat loss, markers tied to cardiovascular disease often improve—blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglycerides, and waist circumference. Many patients report improvements in mental health as eating patterns feel calmer and more in control. The real win is feeling comfortable in daily routines that once felt out of reach: walking hills without stopping, better sleep, and fewer afternoon crashes.
Medication cost depends on dose and supply; program fees cover physician oversight, follow-ups, and access between visits. We’ll outline expected monthly ranges, insurance possibilities, and options to avoid unnecessary expense. We prescribe FDA-approved medication and avoid questionable compounded sources flagged for safety concerns. Your health is not a place to cut corners.
Dr. Bonakdar brings decades of aesthetic and wellness experience to obesity management with a steady, humane approach. Expect clear conversations, pragmatic coaching, and a pace set by your body—not by headlines. Our Newport Beach team will meet you where you are and move step by step toward long-term success.
If steady, physician-guided weight management sounds like the next step, book a consultation at Bonakdar Aesthetics in Newport Beach. We’ll take a full medical look, set a plan you can follow, and stay with you through every adjustment.
In large trials paired with lifestyle changes, weight loss averaged about 15% at 68 weeks; the dual-agonist reached ~20% at 72 weeks at the highest dose. Real-world results vary with dose, adherence, and baseline factors.
Adults with excess weight (BMI ≥30) or BMI ≥27 with issues like high blood pressure may qualify, along with a commitment to healthy lifestyle changes. We confirm candidacy during your personal consultation.
We screen for pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney risks, and medication interactions. Do not use if you or a close relative has had thyroid cancer (MTC) or MEN2, or during pregnancy.
Regain is common after discontinuation. We discuss maintenance early—habits, follow-ups, and the lowest effective dose if continuing makes sense for you.
It can reduce effectiveness during dose escalations; use non-oral or barrier contraception for 4 weeks after starting and after each increase.
Many patients notice earlier fullness within 2–4 weeks as doses increase. We adjust the ramp to balance comfort with progress.
Yes. We teach technique, storage, and what to do if you miss a dose. Prefer in-office dosing? We can schedule that in Newport Beach.
Contact Bonakdar Aesthetics for Cosmetic Dermatology and Skin Care in Newport Beach, Orange County, Palm Desert CA.
Our luxury concierge practice is committed to providing solutions for the aesthetic needs of the Newport Beach, Orange County and Palm Desert community seeking ageless beauty and confidence. Your experience at Bonakdar Aesthetics will be one that nurtures, restores, and revives your self-image.
We are proud to inform you of Bonakdar Aesthetics’ Exclusive Appointment Scheduling Policy. This policy ensures that your appointments are exclusively booked for you alone, thus you will not experience long waits, nor be rushed during your appointment. A booking fee is required at the time you make your consultation or treatment appointment. This fee is fully applied to your appointment or is refundable with cancellations 72 hours prior to your appointment.
20321 Irvine Avenue, Suite #F3, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Mon-Fri: 9am – 5pm
36943 Cook St. #104, Palm Desert, CA 92211
Mon-Fri: 9am - 5pm
This information from Palm Desert & Newport Beach's skin care specialist, Dr. Monica Bonakdar is not a substitute for health care or advice. You must consult with a physician regarding any health questions you may have. *Individual results may vary. Photos and reviews do not guarantee outcomes and no prediction of outcome is implied.
