At Central CosMedic, Dr Danielle Waxman offers doctor-led weight loss consultations and, where appropriate, prescription weight loss medicines for patients across Havelock North, Hastings, Napier and the wider Hawke’s Bay.
Many people have tried hard to lose weight through diet and exercise without lasting success. Medical weight loss looks at the bigger picture, including your health, your history and the factors that make weight hard to shift. This page explains what a consultation involves, how weight loss injections work and what to expect.
Medical weight loss is weight management supported and monitored by a doctor. It starts with understanding why weight has been difficult to manage, which can include hormones, medications, sleep, stress and other health conditions, as well as eating and activity.
For some people, a weight loss prescription can be a helpful part of the plan. These medicines work alongside changes to eating and activity, not instead of them, and they are only prescribed when a doctor considers them safe and suitable for you.
The weight loss injections most often prescribed in New Zealand are given once a week with a small pen, just under the skin. They work by copying the action of natural hormones that help control appetite and blood sugar. Most people find they feel full sooner, feel less hungry between meals and think about food less.
The dose is started low and increased gradually over several weeks. This gives your body time to adjust and helps to keep side effects to a minimum. Dr Waxman will show you how to use the pen before you start.
Weight loss medicines are usually considered for adults who:
They are not suitable for everyone. Dr Waxman will check your health history carefully before recommending any medicine.
A weight loss prescription is only offered after a consultation, and only when it is a sensible option for you.
Dr Waxman takes a full health history, including any medications you take, your weight history and what you have tried before.
She checks your weight, blood pressure and BMI, and may suggest blood tests to look for anything that could be affecting your weight or your suitability for treatment.
You will hear the potential benefits, risks and side effects in plain terms, along with the full costs, including the medicine itself, before you decide anything.
If you go ahead, you agree a plan together, including your starting dose, practical advice on eating and activity, and regular follow-up appointments to review your progress.
Your first consultation usually takes around 30 minutes. It is a chance to talk openly about your weight and health without judgement. If a weight loss prescription is suitable, Dr Waxman will explain how and when to take it and what to look out for.
Weight loss is usually gradual, and results vary from person to person. Regular follow-up appointments let Dr Waxman check your progress, adjust your dose and help manage any side effects. If the medicine is stopped, some or all of the weight may return, so long-term habits around eating and activity remain important.
Common side effects include nausea, reduced appetite, indigestion, diarrhoea and constipation. These are usually mild and tend to ease as your body adjusts, which is one reason the dose is increased slowly.
Less commonly, more serious side effects can occur, such as inflammation of the pancreas or gallbladder problems. These medicines are not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for people with certain medical conditions or a personal or family history of some types of thyroid cancer. Your health history is reviewed before anything is recommended, and Dr Waxman will talk through the risks and potential benefits so you can make an informed decision. If you have severe stomach pain, persistent vomiting or any concerns during treatment, contact the clinic or seek medical advice.
