Weight Loss Injections: An Aesthetic Doctor's Personal Journey

Over the last few years weight loss injections have become increasingly popular. Now, it seems every other celebrity and many members of the public are using one of these injections. Originally licensed to treat diabetics, these injections are now readily available online to aid weight loss in people with a BMI of 27+ and certain health conditions. Hundreds of companies are advertising these online and on social media, alongside numerous aesthetic practitioners who are also offering them.

This is my experience, as a patient and as an aesthetics doctor.

I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in 2024 by an Endocrinologist after I did a home hormone profile blood test. This showed a raised testosterone level, which, coupled with my symptoms, suggested PCOS. Having struggled with my weight for many years and trying every fad diet, gym programme, patch and pill, I was relieved to finally have a potential explanation. My consultant suggested that losing weight may also reduce my testosterone levels, a win-win in my eyes! As the weight loss injections were not yet available on the NHS, nor recognised as a treatment option for PCOS, like many others, I decided to opt for private online weight loss treatment. I was nearing my 40th birthday and my BMI was likely to hit this milestone before me, so something had to change!

In early March 2024 I spent several days looking at weight loss injection options and decided that Mounjaro was best suited for me. Finding a reputable online pharmacy was surprisingly challenging. Many were very keen to simply take my money and send a pen out in the post, promoting price over a complete package. I was not looking for a ‘quick fix’ and needed a holistic approach to weight loss. Eventually, I chose a company that provided coaching, education, clinical advice as needed, as well as the injections. It took several days between ordering the medication online to receiving this in the post, quite a few emails and requests for various photos, but we got there. On the 26th March 2024, I used my first injection, and a year later, on the 26th March 2025, I was 7 stone lighter. My body fat reduced from 48.0% to 25.8%. My metabolic age went from 46 down to 40. I went from a size 18/20 to 12. My visceral fat reduced from 19 to 5, my fatty liver resolved and as my confidence soared, my mental health dramatically improved.

I was fortunate enough not to experience too many side effects during my weight loss journey. My BMI steadily reduced to 27, and then I was given the option of stopping the medication or reducing the dose over time. I chose the latter as, having not felt hunger for 9 months, I needed a slower transition back to normal eating. This was much harder than I had expected. After 9 months of no ‘food noise’ and minimal appetite, now my body was back to sending hunger signals. I had to retrain my brain to have breakfast, lunch and dinner, and that takes time. Fortunately, the company that supplied the injections also provided some useful advice to transition back to a life without injections.

Side effects that I did notice with the injections were the (fortunately only occasional) sulphur burps, ‘Mounjaro bum’, telogen effluvium- hair loss due to rapid weight loss and an outbreak of stretch marks. Before my weight loss, my consultant counted just 2 stretch marks whilst screening for Cushings as part of the medical work up, now I have about 100 faint lines. But I also have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and so have fragile skin already- now I look more like a zebra, which fits I suppose!

There is a darker side to weight loss injections and this was highlighted by the MHRA at the ACE Conference in London in March 2025. There were reports of people being sold counterfeit pens and of people being sold reconstituted medication in unlabelled insulin syringes. No consultation, no prescription, no idea of what actual dose is being injected, let alone even what medication at times. Whilst on the medication, I joined a Facebook group for others in my position out of curiosity. I was horrified to see the amount of incorrect advice regarding various intermediate doses, bizarre injection intervals and even more bizarre injection site recommendations.

A friend of mine recently tried Mounjaro, via a different provider due to price, having seen my results. After 2 doses of 2.5mg (the lowest available dose), she had to stop due to side effects. She called me with nausea, vomiting, dizziness and feeling dreadful. She called me because there was no clinical support contact available from the company she had purchased from.

As the saying in aesthetics goes, cheap botox is never good, and good botox is never cheap. The same applies to weight loss injections. 

Another side effect that I wasn't prepared for was family and friends making comments on my weight. I was used to having unsolicited advice on how to lose weight, but with insulin resistance, diet and exercise just don't cut it. When I celebrated my 40th birthday, a lot of friends and family hadn’t seen me for several months, and the majority naturally made comments and asked how I had lost the weight. Weight loss injections have a definite stigma at the moment as a quick fix, with diet and exercise being seen as the best way to lose weight still. I decided to be honest, to a degree, and tell them that I was diagnosed with PCOS and we had decided to treat this. Part of the treatment is addressing the possible insulin resistance, and this was the result. The reaction was a mixture of congratulations, slightly sheepish looks, and mumbled apologies. In my opinion, it is never acceptable to comment on someone’s weight gain or loss unless you know the whole story or it is volunteered to you. 

My advice;

• Choose a reputable provider, even if that means paying more money.
• Choose a provider that offers a package of coaching, injections and clinical support for side effects and concerns.
• Be truthful when completing the screening questionnaires.
• Make sure you keep your treating clinicians up to date. During my treatment, I was also diagnosed with ADHD and started medication for this. Because of the Mounjaro, the ADHD nurse included additional daily blood sugar monitoring, twice weekly weights and started the medication ‘low and slow’ compared to the usual titration regime.
• Ensure that the relevant checks are carried out before a prescription is offered. This should include a thorough medical history, ID photos and full body photographs. 
• Ensure relevant clinical follow-up is available to check you are on the right dose. I was advised to log my weight every 2-3 days via an app., and regular photos were requested too.
• If you don’t plan to tell anyone about your treatment, make sure you add it to your medical ID on your phone if this is an option.
• Be prepared to answer questions about your weight loss, what you say is up to you, of course, but people are people and ‘foot in mouth’ still happens!
• Trust your gut… if something feels wrong, it probably is!