If one word has dominated appearance medicine discourse in 2023, it’s Ozempic.
Available in New Zealand under the brand name Saxenda®, this powerful, prescription weight-management medication has been subject to much scrutiny here and overseas, namely for its apparent off-label use amongst A-listers and influencers, and the extent to which it is seen to be upholding cultural and societal ideals that equate beauty with thinness.
But there is no question that when prescribed correctly, this medication has been not only life-changing for individuals, but life-saving. Over the coming years, it is also poised to take immense pressure off Aotearoa’s overloaded public health system, saving even more Kiwis’ lives in the process.
That doesn’t make it any less controversial. So FashioNZ sat down with Dr Ellen Selkon from Clinic42, the only appearance medicine clinic in Auckland to offer Saxenda® for the answers everyone’s been wanting to know since (probably) Oscar season.
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Much of the negative press around weight-management drugs like Saxenda® has come about because of the way it’s been misused overseas – evidently by celebrities and influencers for whom the medication is clearly not indicated.
What requirements does a patient have to meet for this treatment to be offered to them at Clinic42?
At Clinic42 we follow the recommended guidelines in order to prescribe Saxenda® for a patient. We do a thorough consultation, discuss all available options with the patient including lifestyle changes. If Saxenda® is an option then they must comply with a BMI above 30 (obese) or above 27 (overweight) with at least one weight related comorbidity such as high sugar or diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or sleep apnoea.
What does a typical course of treatment look like, and how much does it cost?…
To read the full article on the FNZ website follow the link below.
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