Beyond the Scales
After the Christmas and New Year festivities, many of us find ourselves carrying a few extra kilos. While the temptation for a quick fix is strong, it is important to consider your overall health, body and skin before beginning any weight loss journey in 2026.
Taking a balanced approach that considers your age, general health and realistic goals is a smart place to start.
Start With a Personalised Plan
Whether you consult your local GP, a clinical nutritionist or a naturopath, working with a professional can help you understand your starting point and define a realistic, sustainable goal.
This personalised approach not only supports effective weight loss but also helps maintain long-term health and wellbeing.
The Rise of GLP-1 Medications
The increasing use of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy is reshaping how practitioners approach weight loss support.
These medications are influencing how skin clinics, naturopaths and clinical nutritionists support their clients throughout the process, particularly when it comes to maintaining skin health and nutrient balance.
Supporting the Body Before Weight Loss
Kylie Dowling, a Northern Beaches clinical nutritionist, recommends restoring digestive resilience and nutrient adequacy before beginning a weight loss programme, whether natural or supported by GLP-1 medications.
This approach helps the body respond more effectively, especially to GLP-1 therapy, supporting sustainable weight loss and improved metabolic health rather than simply reducing appetite.
Nutrient Support During GLP-1 Therapy
Anka Maksimovic, a nurse and university-qualified naturopath, highlights that intravenous vitamin infusions can provide gentle, restorative support for both women and men using semaglutide during their weight loss journey.
As semaglutide slows gastric emptying and often reduces overall food intake, individuals may unintentionally fall short in key nutrients such as iron, vitamin D, magnesium, B vitamins and hydration. This can present as fatigue, low energy, dry or flaky skin, and slower recovery.
Intravenous delivery bypasses the digestive system, making nutrients immediately available to the cells. This can help stabilise energy, support detoxification pathways during fat mobilisation, and reduce the depleted feeling that sometimes accompanies rapid appetite changes.
From a naturopathic perspective, IV therapy is best viewed as a supportive complement rather than a replacement for quality nutrition, targeted supplementation and proper monitoring.
A Whole-Person Approach to Care
Research indicates that GLP-1 therapies can alter nutrient intake and absorption patterns. Pairing baseline blood testing with diet optimisation and personalised IV infusions can support cellular energy, skin health and overall resilience.
These infusions may include combinations such as magnesium, B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, amino acids, glutathione and hydration support. All treatments should be tailored to the individual.
Working with a qualified clinician ensures key nutrient levels such as iron, vitamin D and electrolytes are monitored, allowing IV therapy to safely support a personalised, whole-person health plan.
Skin Changes Beyond Weight Loss
From an aesthetic perspective, the effects of weight loss often extend beyond the scales. Changes may include slower healing, impaired skin barrier function, increased fragility and shifts in body composition.
This has led to terms such as “Ozempic face” and “Ozempic body”, describing visible changes in skin and tissue. It is also important to remember that targeted fat loss in specific areas is not possible.
The Role of In-Clinic Treatments
In-clinic treatments can play an important role in supporting the skin during weight loss. Starting firming treatments early and continuing them throughout the journey can significantly reduce skin laxity.
This allows the skin to adjust gradually rather than becoming loose or crepey. Waiting until weight loss is complete often makes these concerns more difficult to address, requiring more time, greater cost and producing less predictable results.
Combining professional treatments with consistent home care gives the skin the best chance to remain firm, resilient and supported as the body changes.
A Supported Path to Confidence
Whether weight loss is achieved naturally or supported by GLP-1 medications, the process can involve longer healing times, changes in skin integrity and shifts in body composition.
With careful planning and guidance from a team of professionals, the journey can deliver more than physical results. It can support renewed confidence, improved health and a more balanced approach to long-term wellbeing.
