Frequently Asked Questions

All medications are prescribed to you individually and prepared by licensed U.S. 503A compounding pharmacies — a heavily regulated category of pharmacy held to strict federal sterile-compounding standards and overseen by state boards of pharmacy. Every medication is compounded sterile and quality tested, including endotoxin and potency testing, and arrives ready to use. You will never be asked to reconstitute or mix anything yourself.

The brand-name GLP-1 medications — such as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound — are FDA-approved. Compounded medications are a different category: no compounded drug is FDA-approved as a finished product, because compounding exists to prepare medications individually for a specific patient under a provider’s prescription. What matters is that compounded GLP-1s contain the same active ingredients and are prepared by licensed 503A pharmacies under strict sterile-compounding and quality-testing standards. I’m always happy to walk through the difference during your consultation.

Everything happens from home. You book online, complete a health intake, and meet with me by secure video to review your history, goals, and labs. If treatment is appropriate, your prescription is sent to the pharmacy and your medication ships directly to your door, along with clear instructions for getting started.

Directly. As my patient, you have ongoing access to me — your nurse practitioner — by phone or secure message between visits. No call centers, no gatekeepers: when you have a question about your treatment, you reach the person who actually prescribes and manages your care.

I’m licensed to care for patients located in California and New York. You’ll need to be physically in one of those states at the time of your telehealth visits.

The Shape Theory is a cash-pay practice, which keeps pricing transparent and care decisions between you and me — not an insurance company. You’ll always know the full cost before committing, with no surprise bills.

Your program fee covers your medical care from start to finish: the initial consultation, your personalized treatment plan, follow-up visits, dose adjustments, and direct access to me between visits for questions. Medication is priced with each order, and shipping is a flat $30 per individual order — the price you see is the price you pay, with no membership traps or surprise fees.

Our core programs are built around GLP-1 therapies, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, alongside a curated menu of peptide therapies supporting recovery, energy, and healthy aging. Every plan is individualized after your consultation. For full details on offered therapies, visit our GLP-1 and peptide pages.

Yes — oral and sublingual options exist, and we can discuss whether one fits your situation. That said, injectable GLP-1s have historically shown stronger, more consistent results, which is why they remain the foundation of most treatment plans. If needles are a concern, bring it up at your consultation; there’s almost always a path that works for you.

GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide are self-administered once weekly using a very small needle — most patients are surprised how quick and painless it becomes. I’ll walk you through your first injection so you feel completely confident, and your medication arrives ready to use.

Candidacy depends on your health history, current medications, labs, and goals — that’s exactly what your initial consultation determines. If your medical history warrants extra caution with GLP-1 use, I’ll let you know: that may mean closer follow-up, more frequent labs, or asking you to get approval from your specialist physician before we begin. My priority is treating you safely, not just quickly.

It’s individualized, but most patients should expect a longer-term partnership rather than a quick course — meaningful, sustainable results typically unfold over 6 to 12 months or more. Weight and metabolic health are chronic concerns, and the plan evolves with you: dose adjustments along the way, and a maintenance or tapering strategy once you reach your goals.

It’s an honest and important question. Studies show that stopping a GLP-1 abruptly, without a maintenance plan, often leads to regaining a significant portion of the weight — because the medication was managing appetite and metabolic signals that return when it’s gone. That’s exactly why treatment here isn’t just a prescription: we build the habits, nutrition, and muscle-protecting foundation during treatment, and when you’re ready, we taper thoughtfully with a maintenance strategy rather than stopping cold. Long-term success is the goal, not just a number at month six.

Any significant weight loss — from medication, diet, or surgery — includes some lean mass along with fat. The goal is protecting muscle while losing fat, and that’s a core focus of how I structure treatment: adequate protein intake, resistance training guidance, and pacing weight loss appropriately. This is body recomposition, not just a smaller number on the scale.

The most common are digestive — nausea, constipation, or reduced appetite — along with occasional headaches, especially during dose increases. These are usually manageable with the right titration pace and simple strategies we’ll review together. You’ll always have direct access to me between visits if something doesn’t feel right.

Refills are tied to your follow-up schedule — a quick check-in visit lets me confirm your progress and dosing before each new order, and your medication ships directly to you. Message me through the patient portal when you’re running low, and we’ll make sure there’s no gap in treatment.

Compounded medications are prepared specifically for you and by pharmacy regulations cannot be returned or resold, so medication costs aren’t refundable once an order is placed. That said, your satisfaction matters to me — if something isn’t working, reach out and we’ll adjust your plan together.

Yes. Visits happen over secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms, and your health information is never shared or sold. Discretion is part of the care.