Your first visit to a weight loss clinic can feel overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to be. At Miami Lakes Med Spa in Miami Lakes, FL, we’ve built a simple, supportive path for patients starting GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy with medications like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide.

This guide walks you through the full patient journey: what happens at your first appointment, how weekly injections work, what labs you may need, and how we adjust your dose over time. Whether you’re driving in from Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, or Doral, you’ll know exactly what to expect before you walk through the door.

Our lead provider, Dr. Sabrina Gonzalez, DNP, APRN, and our medical director, Dr. John Serpa, MD, oversee every step. The goal is simple — safe, steady progress with real support along the way.

What Happens at Your First Visit Weight Loss Clinic Appointment

Your first appointment is a free, no-pressure consultation. Plan for about 30-45 minutes. Here’s what we cover:

• Health history review: current medications, past conditions, family history, and any prior weight loss attempts.
• Goals conversation: what you want to achieve, your timeline, and what has (or hasn’t) worked before.
• Baseline measurements: weight, BMI, blood pressure, and body measurements.
• Medication overview: we explain the difference between Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro), including how each works.
• Cost and plan review: transparent weekly pricing with no surprises.

Think of this visit as a mapping session. We learn about you. You learn about the options. Together, we decide if GLP-1 therapy is a good fit.

Many patients come in feeling unsure about what to say or worried they won’t qualify. The truth is, our team has seen it all — patients who have tried every diet, patients coming off a plateau, and patients starting from scratch. There’s no judgment here. We ask questions because the answers help us build a plan that actually works for your body and your life.

By the end of that first visit, you’ll have a clear picture of your options, a realistic timeline, and a starting point you feel good about. That clarity alone makes a big difference.

Do You Need Labs Before Starting GLP-1 Therapy?

Sometimes, yes. Basic labs help us confirm you’re a safe candidate for metabolic optimization with a GLP-1 medication. If you’ve had recent bloodwork (usually within the last 6-12 months), we can often use those results.

Common labs include:

• Comprehensive metabolic panel (kidney and liver function)
• Thyroid function (TSH)
• A1C or fasting glucose
• Lipid panel

These tests give Dr. Sabrina Gonzalez a clear picture of your baseline health. They also help us rule out any conditions where GLP-1 medications aren’t safe — like a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, which is a boxed warning on FDA labeling for both Semaglutide and Tirzepatide.

If labs are needed, we’ll guide you on how to get them done quickly and affordably. In many cases, you can visit a local lab the same week and have results back within a few days. We’ll tell you exactly what to ask for so there’s no confusion at the lab.

Some patients worry that labs will delay their start date by weeks. That’s rarely the case. If your results come back clean — and most do — we can often get you started on your first injection at your very next visit. The lab step is there for your safety, not to slow you down.

Weekly Injections: What to Expect Each Visit

Here’s the honest answer to weekly injections what to expect: the visits are quick, easy, and low-stress. Most patients are in and out in 10-15 minutes.

At each weekly visit:

• We check in on how you’re feeling — energy, appetite, side effects, sleep.
• We record your weight and note any changes.
• Your provider gives you your GLP-1 shot in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm using a tiny subcutaneous needle. Most patients say it feels like a small pinch.
• You receive a complimentary lipo shot (a blend of B vitamins and fat-metabolizing nutrients) at every visit.
• You’re back to your day — no downtime.

The first few weeks focus on getting your body used to the medication. Mild nausea, fullness, or constipation can happen. These usually ease as your body adjusts. If side effects are strong, tell your provider — we can slow the dose increase to keep you comfortable.

A lot of patients are nervous about needles before their first shot. After that first visit, almost everyone says it was much easier than they expected. The needle is very small — much smaller than a typical blood draw needle — and the injection takes just a few seconds. We’ve had patients who were terrified of needles come back week after week without any hesitation.

Showing up consistently is one of the biggest factors in your results. The medication works best when it stays at a steady level in your system. Missing visits or stopping and starting can reduce how well it controls your appetite. We make the visits as easy as possible so that consistency feels manageable, not like a burden.

Dose Adjustments and the GLP-1 Patient Journey

The GLP-1 patient journey isn’t a straight line — it’s a careful titration. That’s a fancy word for slowly raising the dose so your body adapts smoothly.

Per manufacturer guidance for Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, most patients start at the lowest dose for about four weeks. From there, we step up gradually based on how you’re responding. A typical path looks like this:

• Weeks 1-4: starting dose — your body gets used to the medication.
• Weeks 5-8: first dose increase if tolerated well.
• Ongoing: your provider adjusts every few weeks based on weight trends, appetite control, and side effects.

Not everyone needs the highest dose. Some patients see great results at a mid-range dose. Others need more time on each step. Dr. Sabrina Gonzalez tailors the plan to you — not a one-size-fits-all schedule.

Check-ins every 2-4 weeks help us catch anything early and keep you on track. We track your weight, measurements, and how you feel overall. This is the part patients often say makes the biggest difference — real accountability with a real provider.

It’s also worth knowing that dose adjustments go both ways. If you’re doing really well and tolerating things easily, we may move you up faster. If you hit a rough patch with side effects, we slow down and hold the current dose until you’re comfortable again. There’s no pressure to rush. The goal is lasting results, not a sprint to the highest possible dose.

Pricing, Financing, and Ongoing Care at Miami Lakes Med Spa

We recently updated our pricing model to make care simpler. Instead of a monthly subscription, we now use pay-per-visit weekly pricing:

• Semaglutide: $75 per week
• Tirzepatide 2.5-7.5 mg: $95 per week
• Tirzepatide 10-12.5 mg: $125 per week
• Tirzepatide 15 mg: $150 per week

Every visit includes a complimentary lipo shot. There are no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no surprise charges. You pay for the visit you had.

If you’d like to spread payments out, we offer financing through Cherry, CareCredit, and Klarna. Consultations are always 100% free, so there’s no cost to explore your options.

We hear a lot of patients say they assumed medical weight loss would be out of reach financially. In reality, at $75 per week for Semaglutide, many patients find it comparable to — or less than — what they were already spending on meal plans, gym memberships, or supplements that weren’t working. And because you only pay for each visit you attend, there’s no risk of paying for months of care you didn’t use.

Our team is happy to walk you through financing options during your free consultation. We want the financial side to feel just as manageable as the medical side.

Starting medical weight management is a real commitment — and you shouldn’t have to do it alone. At Miami Lakes Med Spa in Miami Lakes, FL, our team led by Dr. Sabrina Gonzalez, DNP, APRN, and medical director Dr. John Serpa, MD, walks with you from your first visit through every dose adjustment. We proudly serve patients from Miami Lakes, Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, and Doral.

Ready to take the first step? Call 305-418-0392 or book your free consultation online. We’ll answer your questions, review your history, and help you decide if GLP-1 therapy is right for you.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Individual results may vary. Always consult with a qualified provider before starting any weight loss medication. Last reviewed: 2026.