Weight Loss Injections vs. Weight Loss Surgery
Making the right choice for you
Navigating weight loss options can be overwhelming. Choosing between weight loss injections and weight loss surgery is a significant decision for your health.
We aim to provide straightforward advice to help you find the best weight loss solution for you. By the end of this article, you'll be better equipped to choose the right path for your weight loss journey.
Understanding Weight Loss Injections
Weight loss injections can be a helpful addition to a healthy and balanced lifestyle. They provide an extra boost to help you reach your weight loss goals when diet and exercise alone are not giving you the results you want. Typically, these injections are self-administered once a week, with dosage adjustments occurring monthly.
Types of weight loss injections
There are various injectable weight loss treatments available, customised to your needs. We currently offer two effective options: Mounjaro and Wegovy. Both provide modern solutions for managing your weight.
Mounjaro
Mounjaro is a convenient injection pen used once a week on your thigh, upper arm, or abdomen. Its active ingredient, tirzepatide, helps reduce hunger and food cravings while keeping you feeling full for longer. This can naturally lead to healthy weight loss.
Wegovy
Wegovy is another weekly injection that contains semaglutide, which mimics a natural hormone in your body. It helps you feel full after meals and reduces food cravings by targeting specific receptors in the brain. This makes it easier to manage your weight by eating less.
Benefits of weight loss injections
Weight loss injections are rapidly growing in popularity thanks to their simplicity, painless handling, and positive results. Customers have to potential to lose up to 20% of their body weight, as well as reduce the risk of heart problems and high blood pressure. Contrary to popular belief, our weight loss injections don’t dissolve fat or shrink your stomach.
Related: Weight Loss Myths Debunked
Things to consider:
Weight
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Weight loss injections are designed for people with a BMI of 30kg/m² or more, or a BMI between 27 kg/m² and 30 kg/m² with weight-related health problems.
Cost
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Weekly weight loss injections require a monthly payment whilst you are on the treatment. At Rowlands, we offer our weight loss treatments at a reasonable price. However, you need to ensure that you can keep up with payments for as long as you think you will be on treatment.
Lifestyle
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The results that you see whilst on weight loss treatment are highly dependent on your lifestyle. If you want to see results quickly, you must maintain a balanced diet and exercise regularly. This is something that can be discussed with your pharmacist. It is also important to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle after your injections to ensure the results are long lasting.
Side Effects
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Like all medication, weight loss injections come with potential side effects. Some of the most common (1 in 10) being low blood sugar, dizziness, stomach pains, and fatigue. Our Pharmacist can talk about the best ways to manage any side effects you experience.
Needles
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Weight loss injectable pens are designed to be easy and painless to use, and your pharmacist will provide you with all the information you need before you begin treatment. However, if you have a severe fear of needles, this may be something you need to consider before your consultation.
Understanding Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery is a form of treatment for people who are severely obese. It is available on the NHS and is designed for people who have tried dieting and exercise with little effect, unless their BMI is over 50, in which case, surgery may be considered without needing to try other weight loss methods first.
Common types of surgery
Gastric Bypass
Gastric bypass is a procedure where your stomach is made smaller by creating a small pouch at the top. This pouch is then connected directly to the small intestine, bypassing a large part of your stomach and the first part of the small intestine.
Because your new stomach pouch is much smaller, you’ll feel full sooner and eat less. Additionally, with food skipping a part of the digestive tract, your body absorbs fewer calories. This combination helps you lose weight and can also improve other health issues related to obesity.
Gastric Band
A Gastric Band is a small, adjustable band placed around the upper part of your stomach. This band creates a small stomach pouch above it, leaving the larger part of your stomach below. The band can be tightened or loosened over time by adding or removing fluid through a small port under your skin. This way, the Gastric Band helps regulate how much food you can comfortably eat, aiding in weight loss.
Gastric Balloon
A Gastric Balloon is a temporary procedure where a soft, deflated balloon is gently inserted into your stomach through your mouth and down your food pipe. Once it’s in place, the balloon is then filled with a sterile saline solution to about the size of a grapefruit.
The balloon takes up space in your stomach, making you feel full more quickly and reducing the amount of food you can comfortably eat. This helps you eat less and, over time, lose weight. The Gastric Balloon is usually removed about six months later through a similar process.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve Gastrectomy, also known as gastric sleeve surgery, is a weight-loss procedure where about 80% of the stomach is surgically removed. The remaining part of the stomach is shaped like a tube, which limits the amount of food you can eat and helps you feel full sooner.
Benefits of weight loss surgery
Weight loss surgery is an effective option for people struggling with extreme weight gain. It provides effective, positive results. Being on the NHS, it is also affordable, but there might be a waiting list.
Things to consider:
Weight
＋
Weight loss surgery is mainly suitable for people who have a BMI of 40 or more, and you must have attempted other weight loss methods before being eligible unless your BMI is over 50.
Recovery
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Weight loss surgery can take many weeks for a full recovery. You usually need to stay in the hospital for one to three days after surgery, and it can take four to six weeks before you can return to your normal activities.
Lifestyle
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Having your stomach surgically altered means that you’ll need to rethink your diet and control your cravings. It’s a good idea to practice mindful eating, which involves eating slowly and chewing carefully. You’ll be given a diet plan and possibly an exercise plan to help you recover and prevent muscle loss.
Side Effects
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Weight loss surgery is a common and safe procedure, however, like all surgeries, there are risks and side effects. This includes pain, acid reflux, infections and nausea.
Comparing your Options
Weight Loss Injections | Weight Loss Surgery | |
Convenience and Accessibility | Weight loss injections are more widely accessible to people looking to lose weight and improve their health. | Weight loss surgery is primarily for people suffering from severe obesity; therefore it is available to a smaller number of people. |
Safety and Risks | Weight injections carry very few risks and an initial consultation with your pharmacist will provide you with all the information to administer your injections safely. | Weight loss surgery is a very safe procedure carried out by experts. Risks are unlikely but never impossible. Your doctor will also help ensure you have a safe and speedy recovery. |
Time Commitment and Recovery | The only time commitment required from you regarding your weight loss injections is your consultation with your pharmacist and monthly check-ins to keep up to date with your progress. | Weight loss surgery requires a bit more planning beforehand. You will need to set aside time for the procedure and recovery, this could mean taking time off work, sorting out childcare, and moving around other appointments. You’ll also need to keep time available for your check-ins to monitor your progress. |
Expected Results | With weight loss injections, you can lose up to 20% of your body weight in 72 weeks*. | By the end of the first year following surgery, you could hope to have lost about 63% of your excess weight and up to 70% after two years. |
Emotional and Psychological Effects | Losing weight can help relieve feelings of depression and anxiety that can come with being overweight. There is no evidence that weight loss injections cause any negative psychological effects. | Like injections, weight loss after surgery can help improve your mental health. However, surgery doesn’t prevent the development of depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. |
Making the Right Choice for You
Consult with a healthcare professional
Before making any decisions, it’s always wise to consult with your pharmacist who will give you a rundown of everything you need to know. They will help you make an educated decision based on your personal situation and lifestyle.
Consider personal health conditions and lifestyle
Everyone is different, which is why you need to take into consideration your lifestyle, other health conditions you may have, and how your weight loss preference may impact your life, both short and long-term.
Staying well informed
We hope this article has provided you with helpful information about the weight loss treatment options available to you. It's important to be well-informed and consider your circumstances before making any decisions.
We encourage you to book a consultation with your local pharmacist. During this visit, you can discuss the weight loss injections that may be right for you and explore the best options to help you achieve your weight loss goals. If your pharmacist thinks surgery might be a better option for you, they'll suggest making an appointment with your GP to further discuss your choices.
This page has been reviewed and approved by our in-house experts.
Approved by: Lucy Corner
GPhC number: 2071515
Last Reviewed: January 2025
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