What to Expect From Our Medical Weight Loss Program
Your first visit starts with a full review of your medical history, family history, and any diets or weight loss programs you've tried before, along with why they didn't stick. For patients who are medically complex or higher risk, Dr. Nuckolls runs pre-treatment labs to confirm GLP-1 dosing is safe for you.
From there, you'll get a personalized nutrition and exercise plan. You'll learn how to read a nutrition label, count macros, and build the protein and water intake that helps preserve muscle while you lose fat. Every appointment includes a weigh-in on our InBody body composition scale, so you and Dr. Nuckolls can track fat loss and muscle mass together, not just the number on the scale.
You'll also leave your first visit with a take-home nutrition education packet, so the guidance you get in the office doesn't stop when you walk out the door.
Ongoing care follows a set rhythm: medically complex patients get labs at 3 months, then every 6 months after that, and everyone returns monthly for their next month of medication, a check-in on diet and exercise, and a re-weigh on the InBody scale.
GLP-1 Weight Loss, Physician-Supervised
What sets this program apart is the level of oversight. Monthly weigh-ins on a body composition scale and this much nutrition counseling aren't standard at most GLP-1 clinics in the area. As a medical doctor with a background in internal medicine, Dr. Nuckolls monitors your progress the way a physician would, not the way a quick-turnaround weight loss clinic does.
If you experience nausea, a common early side effect of GLP-1 treatment, Dr. Nuckolls offers Zofran to help manage it.
Is Medical Weight Loss Right for You?
This program is built for patients who want to lose weight the safe way and keep it off, not those looking for a rapid 20+ pound drop. Dr. Nuckolls' goal is 1 to 2 pounds a week, or roughly 4 to 8 pounds a month, totaling 10 to 20% of body weight over 6 to 12 months. Losing weight too quickly can cost you muscle, so the plan is designed to help you lose fat while maintaining or building lean muscle.
Patients with thyroid cancer, or a family history of thyroid cancer, are not candidates for GLP-1 treatment. If you have questions about whether you qualify, your free evaluation is the place to ask them.
Why Johnson City Patients Choose Highland Aesthetics
Dr. Dawn Nuckolls is a medical doctor, not a nurse practitioner or aesthetician, which is uncommon among medical weight loss providers serving Johnson City, Piney Flats, Bristol, Kingsport, and Jonesborough. She's also a former personal trainer and endurance athlete who has completed half marathons, full marathons, and an Ironman, so she brings both the medical and the practical side of sustainable weight loss.
Book an appointment for a free evaluation and we can come up with a treatment plan for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Most patients lose 1 to 2 pounds a week, or 4 to 8 pounds a month, with a goal of 10 to 20% total body weight loss over 6 to 12 months. This pace is intentional, designed to help you lose fat while preserving muscle rather than losing weight too quickly.
The most common side effects are nausea, fatigue, and changes in bowel habits like diarrhea or constipation. Dr. Nuckolls offers Zofran to help manage nausea, especially in the first few weeks of treatment.
Yes, if you're medically complex or considered higher risk. Every new patient starts with a free evaluation and a full review of medical history, and pre-treatment labs are ordered when needed to confirm GLP-1 is safe for you.
This program is designed for patients who are ready to lose weight gradually and keep it off, not those looking for a fast 20+ pound drop. Dr. Nuckolls also does not treat patients with thyroid cancer or a strong family history of thyroid cancer, since GLP-1 medications aren't appropriate for that group. Your free evaluation is where you'll find out if you qualify.
