Peptides are the easiest thing in medicine to buy and one of the harder things to do correctly.
A reporter asked me this month what long-term peptide care looks like. I said: “We put them on a protocol. They visit monthly, get bloodwork done every 3 to 6 months and we titrate their medication as we go, over a period of years. As the patient stabilizes on his therapy, our relationship continues long term.”
Nothing in that sentence is available from a website.
Start with the workup, not the peptide.
“The first visit for peptide therapy consists of establishing the patient’s indication and treatment goals, obtaining a comprehensive medical and medication history, and screening for medication allergies and potential contraindications.
“Patients are referred for comprehensive baseline laboratory testing prior to initiating therapy. Baseline laboratory evaluations include assessment of liver and kidney function through a CMP. Additional testing, including a hormonal panel, may be obtained when clinically indicated.
“Establishing these baseline values allows the provider to appropriately evaluate the patient’s overall health, identify potential concerns before treatment, and provide a reference point for ongoing monitoring throughout peptide therapy.”
The protocol is built around you, not around the peptide.
“Each peptide may target specific cellular pathways and mechanisms that can help optimize the body’s natural response related to restoration, recovery, performance, and prevention. Peptide therapy should be individualized based on each patient’s specific needs, goals, and clinical presentation.
“Protocols are developed according to the desired therapeutic outcome and may involve a single peptide or a combination of peptides. Each peptide protocol should be tailored to the individual, and patients may respond differently to the same peptide.”
Some courses run for years. Some stop at eight weeks.
“Some therapies, such as NAD+ and weight loss therapies, including the GLP-1 medications, may be used as a longer-term protocol with ongoing monitoring and follow-up appointments. In comparison, our shorter recovery-focused protocols, such as KLOW and GLOW, are typically structured as four- to eight-week treatment courses.
“These protocols are followed by an appropriate break and may be cycled on and off every two to four months, depending on the patient’s response, treatment goals, and clinical evaluation.
“Once a patient has achieved their desired treatment goal, the provider evaluates whether therapy should be discontinued or whether the patient may benefit from continued treatment at a lower maintenance dose.”
Knowing when to stop is part of the treatment. An online seller has no reason to ever tell you that.
On the vials people order themselves.
“Products may be counterfeit, contaminated, improperly stored, or contain an inaccurate concentration or dose. These issues can result in inadequate treatment or potentially serious complications. For injectable products, contamination or poor sterile conditions can lead to injection site reactions and serious infections.
“If the concentration listed on a product is incorrect, or the patient is unfamiliar with proper dosing and administration, there is an increased risk of receiving too much or too little medication.”
If you are already injecting something you bought online, bring the bottle to your appointment. No lecture. I just need to see it.
The full protocol, including the first visit and the follow-up schedule, is on the Southwest Plastic Surgery site.
Call (915) 590-7900, text 1-866-814-0038, or book online at agulloplasticsurgery.com. #StayBeautiful