Weight Loss That Lasts, from the Surgeon Who Treats Obesity Both Ways
Physician directed medication with careful titration, dietitian support, and body composition tracking. Prescribed and managed personally by Dr. Sofiane El Djouzi, dual board-certified in Surgery and Obesity Medicine, in person or by video. Not a subscription website.
Why a bariatric surgeon for your medication?
Anyone with a prescription pad can start you on a GLP-1. Very few physicians have spent an entire career studying obesity itself: what drives it, why it resists willpower, and which treatment fits which patient. Dr. Sofiane El Djouzi has. For more than fifteen years, as a bariatric surgeon formerly in the academic world and currently in private practice serving Darien and Bolingbrook, he has treated obesity from every angle, in the endoscopy suite, in the operating room and in the exam room.
A telehealth company can mail you a pen. It cannot do any of the rest.
Most adults who struggle with weight qualify for medical treatment
You typically qualify with a body mass index of thirty or higher, or twenty seven or higher alongside a condition such as high blood pressure, prediabetes, or sleep apnea. And the bar for meaningful change is lower than most people think: clinicians consider even a five percent weight loss significant for blood pressure and blood sugar.
Not sure where you fall? Three questions tell you if you qualify for medical weight loss.
What to expect, month by month
Every package follows the same clinical arc. Here is what your first year looks like inside our comprehensive program, from the first consultation with Dr. El Djouzi to long-term maintenance.
Month one
Your consultation with Dr. El Djouzi, baseline body composition scan, prescription written, and coaching begins.
Months two and three
Dose titration under physician supervision, dietitian follow-ups, and weekly check-ins that keep you moving.
Month six
Where most patients see their strongest results, with your dose settled and your habits carrying their share.
Month twelve
Maintenance, protecting what you have lost, and if it is ever needed, the surgical conversation with the same physician.
In clinical trials, patients taking semaglutide (Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Zepbound) lost a meaningful share of body weight over roughly a year.1 Individual results vary.
1. Wilding et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2021; Jastreboff et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2022.
Six FDA approved medications. One physician who knows them all.
GLP-1 injections get the headlines, but the FDA has approved six medications for long-term weight management. A telehealth menu sells you one. Dr. El Djouzi prescribes from the full toolbox and matches the medication to your body, your labs, your history, and your budget.
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
A weekly GLP-1 injection that helps you feel full sooner. In clinical trials, patients lost around fifteen percent of body weight on average.
Tirzepatide (Zepbound)
A weekly injection that activates two hunger related hormones. In clinical trials, many patients lost more than twenty percent of body weight.
Liraglutide (Saxenda)
A daily GLP-1 injection, sometimes the right fit when weekly dosing is not. Trial results average around eight percent of body weight.
Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)
A combination pill that reduces hunger and cravings. In trials, patients lost around eight to ten percent of body weight.
Naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave)
A combination pill that quiets cravings and food noise. Trial results average around five to seven percent of body weight.
Orlistat
A pill that blocks some dietary fat from being absorbed. Results are modest, and it fits selected patients and budgets.
Every medication above has real side effects, and managing them early is the difference between quitting in month two and succeeding in month six. That is physician work, and it is included in every package.
Results are averages from published clinical trials and vary by individual.
What the program includes
Medication is one tool. Lasting results come from pairing it with nutrition, movement, sleep, and accountability, which is why every package surrounds the prescription with the care below.
Comprehensive consultations & follow-ups with Dr. El Djouzi
Detailed dietitian consultations & follow-ups
Prescription and titration management
Blood metabolic panel & body imaging
Body composition scan tracking
Supervised nutrition & fitness
Biweekly virtual support group
Weekly accountability check-in calls
Recipe & meal-planning library
The Surgeon-Led Weight Loss Program
Prescribed and managed by a dual board certified bariatric surgeon. The same physician who operates on obesity treats it medically.
Most patients reach their strongest results between month six and month twelve. We ask for a three-month commitment to start; the six-month plan is where the results live.
Choose your package
Book your first visit
Start your protocol
Enrollment
3-Month Prepay
6-Month Prepay
Our commitment guarantee
Complete every scheduled visit and follow your prescribed protocol for your first ninety days. If you have not lost weight, your fourth month of the program is free.
What complete means: attendance at all scheduled physician and dietitian visits, medication taken as prescribed, and check-ins completed.
Your insurance coverage guide for weight loss medication
Insurance rules for GLP-1 medications change constantly, and the difference between a covered prescription and a full-price one is often a single well-asked question. Every enrollment includes our plain-language guide so you can have that conversation with your insurer with confidence.
Delivered to your inbox the moment you enroll. Have a question about your plan before then? Call or text (773) 365-1300 and we will walk you through your options.
Our Nutrition Coaching Packages
Built for patients whose body mass index is below the medication threshold, or who prefer to start without medication. Same expert team, same accountability, no prescription. Coaching runs month to month from the start, and we recommend a three-month course to build habits that hold.
Enrollment Package
Maintenance Package
Regained weight after bariatric surgery? Medication can treat it, not only another operation.
Regain after a sleeve, bypass, lap band, or others is common, and it has physiologic causes: the stomach adapts, hunger hormones recover, and old patterns return. None of that is a failure of willpower, and none of it means your only option is a second surgery. For many patients, weight loss medication after bariatric surgery restores the results without an operation.
The right first step is a consultation. Dr. El Djouzi personally reviews your medical history, your bariatric surgery details, your operative records (if provided) and your anatomy through imaging and endoscopy, something no online weight loss service offers, and then you decide together: medication first, a revision if your anatomy warrants it, or both over time, all from the same physician in the same office.
Frequently asked questions
Is the medication included?
No. Your program fee covers the medical care: prescribing, dose management, monitoring, and guidance. The medication itself is purchased directly from the pharmacy, and many insurance plans cover part or all of it.
Do you take insurance?
Our program is self-pay, and patients with PPO plans often find their plan covers part or all of the medication itself. If you have questions about your specific coverage, call or text (773) 365-1300 and we will walk you through your options.
What if I don’t qualify for medication?
Our Nutrition Coaching Packages give you the same expert dietitian support and weekly accountability without a prescription. And if your situation changes, a consultation with Dr. El Djouzi moves you to the medical program anytime.
What if I’ve had bariatric surgery?
Start with a consultation. Dr. El Djouzi personally reviews your operative records and anatomy, and for many patients medication is the first step, not another operation. If a surgical revision ever makes sense, that pathway is in the same office with the same physician.
Do I need to come in person?
You can start virtually. Every new patient completes one short scan and vitals visit at our Darien office before the first dose adjustment, and follow-ups can be by Zoom or in person.
Will I see Dr. El Djouzi himself?
Yes. Your consultation is with Dr. El Djouzi personally. On the Concierge plan, every visit is with him, never a rotation.
Can I cancel?
We ask every new patient for a three-month commitment, because that is how long the medication takes to show its real effect. After month three your membership continues month to month, and you can cancel anytime.
Ready to Start Medical Weight Loss the Right Way?
Three questions tell you if you qualify. Choose your package, and meet Dr. El Djouzi within days, virtual or in person.