Wegovy and Ozempic work. What determines long-term outcomes is the clinical framework around them — labs, body composition tracking, provider check-ins, and a plan for when you’re done.
A $75 deposit secures your appointment and applies toward your first visit.Semaglutide is a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist — a class of medication that works by mimicking a hormone your body naturally produces after eating. It reduces appetite, slows gastric emptying so you feel full longer, and improves insulin sensitivity. It is available in two FDA-approved formulations: Wegovy for chronic weight management, and Ozempic for type 2 diabetes management.
Clinical trials have demonstrated consistent, significant weight loss in appropriate candidates — with the STEP-1 trial showing approximately 15% average body weight reduction over 68 weeks at the highest dose. For patients with metabolic resistance, hormonal contributors, or significant weight-related health conditions, it can produce outcomes that diet and exercise alone rarely achieve.
Individual results vary. Clinical data reflects trial populations; your outcomes depend on adherence, metabolic baseline, and program compliance.
Both are FDA-approved GLP-1 medications with strong clinical records. Tirzepatide adds a GIP receptor mechanism and has shown higher average weight loss in head-to-head data. Semaglutide has a longer track record, broader insurance coverage in many plans, and may be the right first-line choice based on your history, tolerability profile, and cost considerations. Dr. Long will review both options at your consultation and help you choose based on your specific situation — not based on which medication is being promoted.
Learn about tirzepatide →Comprehensive metabolic panel, thyroid, insulin, hormones, and inflammatory markers. We identify and treat what’s driving your weight resistance.
We track fat mass vs. lean muscle mass throughout — not just scale weight. Semaglutide can cause muscle loss if not managed. We manage it.
Regular follow-up appointments with Dr. Long. Your protocol adjusts based on how you’re actually responding, not a standard titration schedule.
Nutritional and movement guidance specifically designed to preserve lean mass during weight loss — so you’re losing fat, not strength.
Tapering, maintenance, and long-term metabolic health planning start early — not as an afterthought when you’ve already reached your goal.
medAge was founded by Dr. Laura Ellis, MD. Dr. Long holds board certification in family and primary care. This is a clinical practice, not a wellness brand.
Your initial appointment covers medical history, goals, and a comprehensive lab panel. We identify metabolic contributors and establish your InBody baseline. Medication candidacy and starting dose are determined at this visit.
Starting at the lowest dose. Most patients experience reduced appetite within the first week. We provide guidance on timing, food choices, and hydration to minimize the GI side effects common during dose escalation.
Dose adjusted upward based on your response and tolerance. InBody check-ins confirm fat loss while monitoring lean muscle. Protocol adjustments are made based on what the data actually shows.
Continued monthly check-ins, lab monitoring, and body composition tracking. We begin building the nutritional and movement habits that make results durable when you eventually taper.
A structured tapering protocol and long-term metabolic maintenance plan. The goal is a body that holds its results — not a patient who needs to be on medication indefinitely.
Program pricing is discussed at your consultation. Medication cost varies based on dose, insurance coverage, and pharmacy. We review all costs in full at your initial visit.
Dr. Long is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with advanced training in functional and longevity medicine. She approaches metabolic health from a whole-body perspective — meaning she isn’t prescribing semaglutide in isolation. She’s looking at the full hormonal, metabolic, and lifestyle picture and building a program around what will actually work for you long-term.
Wegovy is FDA-approved for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher with at least one weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is approved specifically for type 2 diabetes management. It is not appropriate for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, or for women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Candidacy is determined at your consultation after a thorough medical history review and lab work.
Both are FDA-approved GLP-1 medications. Tirzepatide adds a second mechanism — GIP receptor activation — which has shown higher average weight loss in clinical trials, including in patients who had limited response to semaglutide alone. Semaglutide has a longer track record, is often better covered by insurance, and may be the appropriate first-line choice based on your history, cost considerations, and tolerability profile. Dr. Long reviews both options at your consultation and helps you choose based on your specific situation. There is no universal answer — the right medication depends on who you are.
Many programs provide the prescription and little else. What’s missing is typically: comprehensive labs before you start, body composition monitoring to distinguish fat loss from muscle loss, regular provider check-ins that actually adjust your protocol, and a plan for what comes after you reach your goal. When patients come to us after other programs, the most common concern isn’t that the medication didn’t work — it’s that they regained weight after stopping, lost muscle alongside fat, or had no guidance when they hit a plateau. Our program is built around preventing those outcomes.
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal — nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and reduced appetite. These are most pronounced during dose escalation and typically diminish as your body adjusts. We use a slow titration schedule to minimize this, and we provide specific guidance on food timing, meal composition, and hydration. Serious side effects are rare but are discussed in full at your consultation. Because you have ongoing access to Dr. Long throughout the program, any concerns are addressed promptly.
Coverage for Wegovy (the weight management formulation) varies significantly by plan. Some commercial plans cover it; many do not or require prior authorization. Ozempic often has broader coverage for patients with type 2 diabetes. Manufacturer savings programs are available for eligible patients. We discuss cost and coverage options in detail at your consultation — including whether tirzepatide may be a better-covered alternative for your specific plan.
Possibly — and it’s worth a conversation. Tolerability issues with semaglutide are often a function of how quickly the dose was escalated and what guidance (if any) was provided around food timing and hydration. Our slow titration approach addresses many of the nausea and GI complaints patients experienced on other programs. If you truly cannot tolerate semaglutide, tirzepatide has a different tolerability profile and may be a better fit. Bring your history to your consultation and we’ll assess it together.
New patient consultations at medAge require a $75 deposit to reserve your appointment time. This deposit is applied in full toward your first visit — it’s not an additional fee. It ensures that the time Dr. Long sets aside for your evaluation is protected for patients who are serious about starting. If you need to reschedule, we ask for 48 hours’ notice.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Long to review your history, your goals, and whether semaglutide is the right program for you.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) is a prescription medication requiring evaluation by a qualified healthcare provider. Individual results vary. medAge Customized Medicine & Aesthetics offers physician-supervised medical weight loss through Foundation by Dr. Live Long at Biltmore Park, Asheville, NC. ©2026 medAge.