Weight Loss

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Lafayette, LA

Medical Weight Loss utilizes Tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist that has demonstrated the greatest average weight loss among leading FDA-approved injectable medications for weight management. Treatment can help patients achieve significant, sustainable weight loss while improving metabolic health and obesity-related conditions, with emerging research also evaluating broader effects on inflammation and neurocognitive health.

Weight Loss Consultation

About the Treatment

Medical Weight Loss at Refyne Medical Aesthetics and Wellness begins with a comprehensive medical evaluation and individualized consultation. We take the time to review your medical history, current medications, previous weight-loss treatments, health conditions, weight history, lifestyle, and individual goals. Baseline measurements include weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and abdominal circumference, allowing us to evaluate progress beyond the number on the scale. Abdominal circumference is particularly important because central and visceral adiposity is closely associated with cardiometabolic risk.

An important part of the initial consultation is education. Patients learn how tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, works to regulate appetite, satiety, glucose metabolism, and other metabolic pathways. We also discuss how the benefits of treatment may extend beyond weight reduction, particularly for patients with metabolic conditions such as prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity-related obstructive sleep apnea, and metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease. GLP-1–based therapies are also being studied and used in patients with conditions such as PCOS, where evidence supports improvements in weight and insulin resistance.

We also review emerging research surrounding the broader systemic effects of incretin-based therapies, including their potential influence on inflammatory pathways and neurocognitive health. These areas continue to be investigated and are distinguished from the medication’s established FDA-approved indications so patients receive a balanced understanding of both established and emerging benefits.

A Comprehensive, Individualized Approach

Medical weight loss at Refyne Medical Aesthetics and Wellness is medical management, not simply a prescription for a weight-loss medication. Our provider, Dr. Brooklyn Buras, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner whose graduate education and clinical training are rooted in primary care. This background allows us to consider weight within the context of the whole patient—including existing medical conditions, medications, laboratory abnormalities, hormonal health, and metabolic risk factors—when developing an individualized treatment plan.

A detailed medication reconciliation is an important component of every evaluation. Patients using insulin or certain other glucose-lowering medications are not automatically excluded from tirzepatide therapy; however, they require additional consideration and monitoring. Tirzepatide used with insulin or an insulin secretagogue can increase the risk of hypoglycemia, and adjustment of existing diabetes medication may sometimes be necessary.

Comprehensive Laboratory Evaluation & Monitoring

Baseline laboratory testing is performed in our clinic and may include kidney and liver function, blood counts, hemoglobin A1c and glucose markers, lipid profile, thyroid function, vitamin B12, vitamin D, pancreatic enzymes when clinically appropriate, hormone levels when indicated, and additional testing based on the patient’s individual medical history. Laboratory findings are evaluated alongside the patient’s medications, symptoms, metabolic health, body composition, and treatment goals rather than focusing solely on weight or BMI.

Individualized Tirzepatide Therapy

After the medical evaluation, education, and laboratory assessment are completed, appropriate patients may be prescribed Tirzepatide. Each prescription is individualized to the patient, with dosing selected and adjusted according to treatment response, tolerability, medical history, and clinical needs.

When a compounded formulation is prescribed because it is clinically appropriate for the individual patient, the prescription is prepared by a Louisiana-licensed compounding pharmacy whose regulations are through the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, which ensures that medication preparations maintain certain standards of safety and sterility.

Medication Pick-Up & Injection Education

Once the patient’s prescription is ready, they return to Refyne Medical Aesthetics and Wellness for a dedicated medication pick-up and education visit. Medication is dispensed and prepared in accordance with applicable pharmacy, prescribing, and medication-handling requirements. The patient’s individualized dose are provided in pre-filled syringes, reducing the need for the patient to calculate or draw up their own dose.

During the initial medication visit, patients receive one-on-one injection education and are taught how and where to administer their subcutaneous injection safely. The first injection can be reviewed with the provider so the patient feels comfortable with the process before continuing treatment at home. Patients then administer their prescribed medication according to their individualized dosing schedule.

Monthly Follow-Up & Ongoing Weight Management

Patients return to Refyne Medical Aesthetics and Wellness approximately once each month for ongoing medical weight-management visits. At each follow-up, we reassess weight, BMI, body composition, abdominal circumference, medication response, side effects, appetite and satiety, and overall progress. Relevant laboratory results and changes in the patient’s health or medications are also reviewed.

The next prescription is determined according to the patient’s response rather than automatically increasing the dose each month. Some patients may benefit from remaining at a lower effective dose, while others may appropriately progress through treatment. This allows dosing to remain individualized to the patient’s response, tolerability, goals, and medical needs.

Laboratory monitoring continues throughout treatment when clinically indicated. Because meaningful weight loss can affect glucose control, blood pressure, medication requirements, nutritional status, and other aspects of health, ongoing medical oversight allows the treatment plan to evolve as the patient’s health changes.

More Than a Number on the Scale

The goal of Refyne’s Medical Aesthetics and Wellness’ Weight Loss program is not simply to prescribe medication or achieve a particular number on the scale. It is to provide a comprehensive, medically supervised approach to weight and metabolic health that combines detailed assessment, laboratory evaluation, patient education, individualized medication management, body-composition monitoring, and consistent monthly follow-up.

By following patients throughout the process, we can focus not only on how much weight is being lost, but how the patient’s body composition, abdominal adiposity, metabolic markers, and overall health are changing along the way. Treatment is continually tailored to the individual so that medical weight management remains both personalized and clinically guided.

What Does Medical Weight Loss Address?

How Tirzepatide Works

Tirzepatide is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist that works on several pathways involved in appetite, satiety, and glucose metabolism. One of its effects is to slow gastric emptying, meaning food moves from the stomach into the small intestine more slowly. This can help patients feel satisfied with smaller portions and remain full longer after eating. Tirzepatide also acts on appetite-regulating pathways in the brain, helping decrease hunger and food intake. Patients often describe feeling less preoccupied with food, experiencing fewer cravings, or simply not feeling the same desire to eat as frequently.

Because appetite may decrease substantially, treatment at Refyne Medical Aesthetics and Wellness is not intended to mean simply “eat as little as possible.” We educate patients on maintaining adequate nutrition, hydration, protein intake, and healthy eating patterns while losing weight so that the focus remains on improving health and body composition—not just lowering the number on the scale.

Weight Loss & Visceral Adiposity

Tirzepatide produces generalized weight loss rather than targeted fat loss. An especially important component of treatment is the reduction of excess abdominal and visceral adiposity. Visceral fat surrounds the internal abdominal organs and is metabolically active; excess visceral adiposity is associated with insulin resistance and increased cardiometabolic risk. This is one reason we measure abdominal circumference and body-fat percentage, in addition to weight and BMI, throughout treatment.

Glucose & Metabolic Health

Tirzepatide was originally developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and improves glucose regulation through its GIP and GLP-1 activity. It enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, improves insulin sensitivity, and helps regulate glucagon and blood glucose. These metabolic effects make treatment particularly relevant for appropriately selected patients with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, and other manifestations of metabolic dysfunction.

PCOS & Reproductive Health

For women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity and insulin resistance can contribute to metabolic and reproductive dysfunction. Incretin-based medications can improve weight and insulin resistance, which may in turn improve aspects of PCOS and reproductive health in some women. Research on GLP-1–based therapies has reported improved spontaneous pregnancy rates in women with obesity and PCOS; however, tirzepatide itself does not yet have adequate PCOS-specific clinical evidence to market it as a fertility treatment.

Liver Health & MASH

The metabolic benefits of tirzepatide also extend to the liver. In a randomized phase 2 trial involving patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and moderate-to-severe fibrosis, MASH resolution without worsening fibrosis occurred in 44% to 62% of tirzepatide-treated participants, depending on dose, compared with 10% receiving placebo. These findings demonstrate an important potential role for tirzepatide in metabolic liver disease.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Tirzepatide has also demonstrated benefits in obesity-related obstructive sleep apnea. In 2024, the FDA approved Tirzepatide for adults with obesity and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea after clinical trials demonstrated significant reductions in apnea and hypopnea events.

Inflammation, Brain Health & Emerging Research

Research increasingly suggests that the effects of incretin-based therapies may extend beyond weight and glucose regulation. Researchers are investigating their influence on systemic inflammatory pathways, cardiovascular and renal health, and neurocognitive and neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia.

There is also active research into the relationship between GLP-1/GIP signaling, obesity-related cancers, and cancer outcomes, with emerging research suggesting that tirzepatide may help slow the progression of certain obesity-associated breast cancers. GLP-1–based therapies and tirzepatide are also being actively studied for their potential effects on prostate cancer biology and progression.

More Than Weight Loss

The goal of medical weight management at Refyne Medical Aesthetics and Wellness extends beyond achieving a lower number on the scale. Tirzepatide affects appetite, satiety, glucose regulation, insulin sensitivity, body weight and metabolic health, while weight reduction itself can positively influence numerous obesity-related conditions. By monitoring weight, BMI, body-fat percentage, abdominal circumference, laboratory values, medications, and overall health, we can evaluate how each patient is responding and individualize treatment over time.

Who Is a Candidate?

Candidates are generally adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with at least one weight-related condition, who are ready to take part in monthly medical follow-up. Tirzepatide is not appropriate if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). It is also not appropriate if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding. A history of pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, severe gastrointestinal disease, or diabetic eye disease needs careful evaluation. Tirzepatide can make oral birth control less effective, especially when starting or increasing the dose.

The Weight Loss Consultation

Your first visit covers your weight history, medical conditions, medications, prior weight-loss efforts, lifestyle, and goals. Your provider takes baseline measurements of weight, BMI, body fat, and waist, draws labs in clinic, and explains how tirzepatide works. Once your labs are reviewed, your provider confirms whether treatment is safe and appropriate and sets your starting dose.

What to Expect During Treatment

You inject tirzepatide under the skin of your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm with a small needle. Pre-filled syringes make each dose simple. The injection takes seconds and is usually well tolerated. You’ll return to Refyne about once a month for measurements, a side-effect review, and your next prescription.

Recovery and Aftercare

There is no downtime. Side effects are most common when you start or increase a dose. They include nausea, reduced appetite, constipation, diarrhea, and indigestion, and often ease over time. Eating smaller meals, stopping when full, limiting greasy foods, staying hydrated, and prioritizing protein help. Contact us right away for severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, or signs of dehydration.

Results

Many patients notice less appetite within the first few weeks, with steady weight loss over the following months. In clinical trials, average weight loss at the highest doses was about 15% to 21% of body weight over about 72 weeks. Individual results vary. Results depend on dose, adherence, nutrition, activity, sleep, and your medical conditions. Weight is often regained if treatment stops without a maintenance plan, so long-term management is discussed from the start.

Why Choose Refyne for Medical Weight Loss?

Refyne’s program is led by a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a primary care background, who treats weight as part of your whole health. Care includes comprehensive in-clinic labs, a careful medication review, body composition and waist tracking, one-on-one injection training, pre-filled syringes, and monthly visits with dosing based on your response rather than a fixed schedule.

FAQ

What is tirzepatide?

Tirzepatide is a weekly injectable medication that activates GIP and GLP-1 receptors to reduce appetite and improve blood sugar control.

Am I a candidate?

Adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition, may be candidates after a medical evaluation.

How often do I inject?

Once a week, at home, using pre-filled syringes.

Does the injection hurt?

Most patients feel only a quick pinch.

How much weight will I lose?

Results vary. Trial participants lost about 15% to 21% of body weight on average at the highest doses.

What are the side effects?

Nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and reduced appetite are common, especially early on. Rare risks include pancreatitis and gallbladder problems.

Do I need to change my diet?

Yes. Adequate protein, hydration, and nutrition help protect muscle and support healthy weight loss.

What happens if I stop?

Weight may return without a maintenance plan. Your provider will help you plan for long-term success.