How Medical Weight Loss Actually Works
We all know – dieting is hard. At Primary Center, we work to create an easy-to-follow plan with the help of FDA-approved innovations in weight loss.
If you’ve tried dieting, cutting calories, or exercising consistently without lasting results, you’re not alone. Many patients come to Primary Center after doing everything “right” and still feeling stuck. That’s because weight loss isn’t just about effort; it’s about how your body responds.
At Primary Center, our approach goes beyond what you might expect from a typical weight loss clinic. A true medical weight loss program focuses on how your metabolism, hormones, and appetite signals work together. We begin with a comprehensive evaluation to identify what may be slowing your progress, then build a plan tailored specifically to you.
Treatments such as Semaglutide or Ozempic can help regulate hunger and improve how your body processes food. With over 30 years of combined medical experience, our team closely monitors your progress and makes data-informed adjustments along the way so your plan continues to work as your body changes.
Trust the medical team at Primary Center for healthy weight loss
- Safe & healthy
- Lasting results
- Customized to you
- FDA-approved science
Which Weight Loss Option Is Right For You?
Choosing the right approach shouldn’t feel like guesswork. At Primary Center, patients in Baltimore, MD, receive guidance based on real clinical insight—not trial and error.
Your plan is built around your health history, weight patterns, lifestyle, and how your body responds during the early stages of treatment. For some, appetite-regulating medications provide the structure needed to stay consistent. For others, improving energy levels or combining treatments with aesthetic services can enhance results.
Many patients also choose to pair their results with confidence-boosting treatments like laser hair removal, creating a more complete transformation that aligns with their goals.
This level of personalization is what separates a structured medical weight-loss program from the one-size-fits-all approach often seen at a standard weight-loss clinic. Instead of following a rigid plan, your program evolves with you, helping you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Why Medical Weight Loss Works When Diets Fail
Traditional diets rely on willpower. Medical weight loss relies on understanding how your body works and using that knowledge to your advantage.
As you lose weight through dieting alone, your body often slows your metabolism and increases hunger signals. This makes it harder to maintain progress and easier to regain weight. A professionally guided medical weight loss program addresses these challenges by supporting your body’s natural processes rather than working against them.
At Primary Center, we focus on sustainable, realistic progress for patients in Baltimore, MD. With consistent follow-up and expert oversight, your plan is adjusted as needed to help you move past plateaus and continue seeing results. Instead of temporary changes, you gain a structured path designed for long-term success.
Schedule your consultation with Primary Center today and get a personalized plan designed to help you achieve real, sustainable results.
Medical weight loss solutions
Primary Center creates customized packages for weight loss that may include any of the following treatments:
Nutritional & Exercise Planning
Get healthy with a physician-designed eating and activity plan that works with your busy lifestyle and dietary needs.
FDA-Approved Medications
Benefit from advances in medicine with safe, effective prescriptions designed for shedding pounds.
- Phentermine: Our medically supervised weight loss prescription that assist in appetite suppressant used for the short-term treatment of obesity.
HCG Weight Loss Solution
Shed pounds with our medical weight loss program that incorporates natural hormone injections in combination with a low-calorie diet.
B-12 Injections
Boost your energy and immune system with regular B-12 injections.
VelaShape Laser Lipo
Slim down even stubborn areas of resistant fat with localized body slimming that’s 100% non-invasive and painless.
BioFlex Body Contouring
Double-up on body contouring with BioFlex body contouring that gently slims in conjunction with other therapies.
FAQ about HCG, Phentermine, and B-12
How is progress monitored during the program?
Your provider tracks changes in weight, appetite patterns, and overall response to treatment. Regular check-ins allow for timely adjustments, helping you maintain steady and safe progress.
Are medications the only option in a medical weight loss program?
No. While medications can be effective, your plan may also include nutritional guidance, lifestyle adjustments, and supportive treatments depending on your needs.
What happens after I reach my goal weight?
Your provider will help transition you into a maintenance phase, focusing on long-term habits and continued monitoring to help you sustain your results.
Can this program work if I’ve struggled with weight loss for years?
Yes. Many patients who have experienced long-term challenges benefit from a medically guided approach that addresses underlying factors beyond diet and exercise.
HCG
What is HCG?
HVG is Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. This is a hormone that is significant to metabolic functioning for both men and women.
Who is a candidate for HCG?
Any patient that want to lose 10lbs or more and doesn’t have a history of cancer, is pregnant or nursing. A complete history and medical exam will be performed for overall health management prior to beginning the program.
How much weight can I lose on the initial “Weight Loss” Phase?
Most patients experience a loss of 1-2 pounds per day, individual results will vary and this is contingent on how closely the patient follows the program. There are individuals that can lose up to 3lbs per day.
How does HCG work on abnormal body fat?
HCG can increase the body’s ability to burn “abnormal fat” that is stored n many areas of the body including hips, abdomen, upper arms and thighs.
Is it healthy to lose 1-2 lbs per day with HCG?
Yes. It is very important to follow Primary Center’s strict protocol which allows the body to burn fat without it affecting your lean muscle mass. Some HCG cases show a healing effect on diabetes, high blood pressure and gout.
Why does the Primary Center “Weight Loss Phase” require a low-calorie diet of 500 calories?
HCG can stimulate the brain to release fat from our fat storage locations such as the hips, stomach, thighs, etc. to use as energy. Even though your intake is 500 calories a day, the brain is continually releasing the stored fat in your body, this results in your brain to act as thought you are actually taking in more than 500 calories. This release of stored fat is what allows the body to metabolize the fat quickly.
Phentermine
What is Phentermine?
Phentermine is a prescription appetite suppressant used for the short-term treatment of obesity. It suppresses appetite and boost energy so that to promote weight loss when used alongside behavioral changes such as eating a healthier diet and exercising regularly.
Who can take Phentermine?
Phentermine is a prescription weight loss medication for patients with a BMI ≥30, or a BMI ≥27 in the presence of other weight-related conditions (like type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol). It is NOT recommended for people with current or past heart problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, addiction, agitation, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma or MAOI use. Given that this a prescription medication, you can only buy phentermine after a doctor has examined you and decided that this medication is a safe and appropriate choice for you.
How does Phentermine help me lose weight?
Phentermine helps you lose weight by activating the central nervous system and stimulating the release of certain neurotransmitters like dopamine, epinephrine (adrenalin) and norepinephrine (noradrenalin). As a result, the pills increase energy levels & alertness, reduce appetite and minimize cravings.
What should I eat while taking phentermine?
While taking phentermine, aim for a balanced diet that provides fuels your body with healthy foods. Unless your doctor specifically tells you otherwise, aim for at least 1200 calories per day if you’re a woman, or 1500 calories per day if you’re a man. Calories should come mainly from lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. Minimize or avoid sugar, refined carbs (e.g. white bread, rice, or pasta), and caloric drinks.
B-12
What is B12?
B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin found in a variety of foods like shellfish, red meat, poultry, and dairy products. It helps maintain healthy nerves and red blood cells and is also needed to make DNA. Vitamin B12 is bound to protein in food and released by the activity of hydrochloric acid and gastric protease in the stomach. A vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia, fatigue, weakness, neurological changes (including numbness and tingling in the hands and feet), difficulty maintaining balance, depression, and confusion, among other conditions.
How Do B12 Injections Work for Weight Loss?
Vitamin B12 plays a major role in several of our essential bodily functions. It helps the body convert fats and proteins into energy and aids in the breakdown of carbohydrates. Vitamin B12 shots do not directly lead to weight loss; however, by balancing hormones, it helps to improve energy levels, reducing depression and helping patients to get up and moving.
How Do I Know If I Have a Vitamin Deficiency?
A B12 deficiency can lead to several ailments, most notably megaloblastic anemia, which is caused by a low red blood cell count. The most common symptom of megaloblastic anemia is fatigue. This form of anemia, along with other related health issues, can be easily treated with B12 injections for weight loss. Other symptoms of a vitamin deficiency may include: weakness, shortness of breath, a smooth tongue, gas, constipation, diarrhea, a loss of appetite, vision loss, memory loss, depression, and behavioral changes.
How Much Weight Can I Lose with B12 Injections?
B12 injections for weight loss are more common than you think. Patients can expect a gradual transformation of their body when combining the injections with a regimented diet and exercise plan. Of course, results vary from patient to patient. It is important not to try to self-diagnose a vitamin deficiency.
How often should B-12 injections be given?
Injections can be done daily or weekly for several weeks. Then, once B-12 levels are normal, injections are given just once a month. If the cause of the deficiency can be fixed, the injections can be stopped.
Semaglutide/Ozempic
What is Semaglutide or Ozempic?
Ozempic is the brand name for the medication Semaglutide.
Semaglutide is a weekly injection medication for people with Type 2 diabetes and/or morbid obesity. The FDA initially approved a dose of 0.25 – 1 mg per week but approved a dose of up to 2mg in 2022. Ozempic works to:
1. Lower blood glucose by helping the pancreas produce insulin.
2. Slow bowel motility and gastric emptying to give a full sensation.
3. Stimulates the brain’s appetite center to turn off hunger signals and desire to eat.
Does Ozempic (Semaglutide) help with weight loss?
Research demonstrates that physician-supervised once weekly doses of Semaglutide range from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg, combined with lifestyle changes, including a low-fat, low sugar diet and exercise (walking) will result in significant weight loss. In a recent study 2021, those who took the medication Semaglutide and made lifestyle changes lost 15% of their body weight compared to only 3% in those patients who only changed their lifestyle.
Why choose Semaglutide for weight loss?
Excessive weight (obesity) is the largest negative condition for overall health, reduces confidence and the overall quality of life. Many overweight and obese patients say that it’s extremely challenging to lose weight naturally, even while following a strict diet and exercise regiment.
Semaglutide injections assist the patient to achieve successful, sustainable weight loss, offering a chance to feel both confident and healthy without surgery or unsustainable fad diets.
Who is a good candidate for Semaglutide?
Ideal candidates for treatment with Semaglutide are overweight or obese adults with one or more weight related medical conditions seeking to lose weight to achieve their health and weight goals quickly, safely and sustainably.
What else should I know about weight loss injections?
If you have a family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2), or diabetic ketoacidosis, you should not seek treatment with Semaglutide. Additionally, if you have poorly controlled diabetes, high triglycerides, neuropathy, or pancreatitis, you should avoid drinking alcohol while on Semaglutide.
Patients taking certain medications such as, corticosteroids, anticonvulsants, insulin, ciprofloxacin, among others, should consult your prescribing doctor whether Semaglutide is the best treatment option. Some medications interact with Semaglutide, potentially diminishing the effects of either one or increasing the side effects.
Should Semaglutide be used to treat regular-weight patients?
Regular-weight patients without diabetes may lose weight on Semaglutide, but the medication’s risks may outweigh its benefits. GLP-1 medications have not been studied in this population, and increased side effects are more likely to occur.
When will you see Semaglutide weight loss results?
Semaglutide’s success is due to its combined effects on the brain and stomach, suppressing appetite and slowing how fast the stomach empties, signaling the brain the sensation of fullness. That said, it still requires patience.
Loss of 12.4% of body weight is expected over the course of several months on average, compared to potential years of work to do so naturally. Typically, after 12 weeks of a therapeutic dose, 5% or more of body weight should be lost.
How long do Semaglutide results last?
Results of Semaglutide injections depend on the individual lifestyle. If patients maintain their results with a healthy lifestyle, results can last forever, even after injections have ceased, though there is no guarantee. The goal is allowing patients to reach a drastically lower weight, providing them the greater opportunity to continue the journey to their weight and health goals naturally.
How many times can you do Semaglutide injections, and how many are needed for outrageous results?
Semaglutide is given once weekly for generally 68 weeks. Depending on individual response and habits, you may need much less and in other cases you may need more. Dosage will be increased or lowered as needed and personalized for your weight loss journey. Working with your provider will determine how many treatments you will require for optimal results.
Is Ozempic FDA-approved for weight loss?
Ozempic, the brand name medication, is approved for treating Type 2 diabetes. However, the active ingredient Semaglutide is approved for weight loss under Wegovy. Ozempic and Wegovy both contain the same active ingredient, Semaglutide.
The only difference between Ozempic and Wegovy is that Wegovy contains a high dose of Semaglutide (2.4 mg) and was specifically developed for treating those with very high body weight.
In his experience supervising hundreds of patients of all ages, Dr. Terrance L. Baker reports that Ozempic, Wegovy and generic Semaglutide are equally effective.
The FDA approved version of Semaglutide for weight loss is sold under the brand name Wegovy, which is more costly and may or may not be covered by most insurance. Ozempic is frequently prescribed for its off-label purpose.
Hair loss with weight loss?
Hair loss can occur during rapid weight loss on any weight loss plan, including Ozempic and Wegovy. People taking Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy report hair loss as they lose weight. Hair loss is not likely due to these medications. Drastic weight loss can trigger temporary hair loss in some patients. Weight loss is a physical stress to the body. Any stress can divert the body’s essential resources from hair growth. Hair will then go into a resting phase.
There are 3 phases to hair loss:
- Angen hair loss occurs when the hair is growing. This phase can last for years.
- Catagen hair is a transitional phase in which hair stops growing and separates from the focal point, lasting about two weeks.
- Telogen is the resting phrase before the hair falls out, lasting 2-3 months.
Sudden weight loss, planned or unplanned, causes more hair to enter the telogen simultaneously. During this transition, new hairs do not enter anagen. As a result, excess hair is about to be shed without new hairs growing to replace it.
Ozempic Butt?
Taking medications like Ozempic and Wegovy can result in rapid weight loss. This can cause saggy skin and a deflated appearance in curvy body areas.
Ozempic Butt is characterized by sagging skin due to reduced skin elasticity on the butt and is a reported side effect of rapid weight loss using Semaglutide. Regular exercise, skin tightening surgery, and nonsurgical techniques using radio frequency treatments can reduce this effect.
However, it is important to know that this is not a direct effect of the medication but rather the rapid weight loss over a short period.
Not everyone will experience Ozempic Butt. It depends on several factors: lifestyle, age, the severity of obesity, duration of this condition and general health. Regardless of the medication, skin elasticity decreases with age.
Ozempic Intestinal blockage?
On September 28, 2023, the FDA added new potentially serious side effects of ileus, gastroparesis, or intestinal blockage. Signs and symptoms can include abdominal pain, constipation, vomiting. Intestinal blockage is rare but possible. A knowledgeable, experienced healthcare provider must medically supervise all Semaglutide medication patients.
Block Box Warnings?
The FDA has imbued several healthcare boxed warnings, also called blocks of warnings.
- Potential to cause thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer.
- Kidney failure
- Gallbladder disease (can occur with any significant weight loss program)
- Vision Changes
- Hypoglycemia
- Allergic reactions
- Suicidal behavior
- Gastroparesis
Medication Shortage?
Semaglutide containing medications are all prescription medications.
To ensure safety, all prescriptions should be administered under a healthcare provider’s supervision. Beware of buying medication online or from unknown third parties.
Guaranteed Results?
No. Not everyone experiences weight loss when taking these medications. Some patients may reach a point where their results decline, or they gain weight as their bodies adjust to the dose. This medication is designed for long-term use. Lifestyle changes must occur to maintain weight loss.
What do you do if you have any questions or concerns about the off-label use of Ozempic?
- Talk to your healthcare provider. It is essential to let your provider know if you have any mental health or eating disorders so your healthcare provider can create a plan that is safe and tailored to you. A well-suited plan that is based on making the best decisions regarding your health and mental well-being.
- Immediately alert your healthcare provider about any chest pain, abdominal pain, vomiting, rash, hives, shortness of breath that occurs when you are taking any Semaglutide containing medication. If your doctor is not available, call 911 or go immediately to the Emergency Room for an evaluation.
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide is a prescription medicine used to help manage blood sugar and support weight loss. It works by copying two natural hormones in your body that help control appetite and how your body handles sugar after you eat.
In simple terms, tirzepatide:
- Helps your body release insulin when blood sugar is high
- Tells your brain you’re full sooner, so you eat less
- Slows down how fast food leaves your stomach, helping you feel satisfied longer
Because of these effects, many people taking tirzepatide see lower blood sugar levels and gradual weight loss over time. It’s usually given as a once-weekly injection under the skin.
Common side effects are mostly stomach-related and can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or decreased appetite, especially when first starting the medication. These symptoms often improve as your body adjusts.
Tirzepatide is typically used along with healthy eating and regular physical activity, and it should only be taken under the guidance of a healthcare provider.