Care for what fast weight loss does to muscle, hair and skin
GLP-1 medications take weight off quickly, and three side effects tend to follow in a predictable order: lost muscle, shedding hair, and loose skin or a hollow face. Companion Care plans for each one before it arrives, whether your medication comes from us or from somewhere else.
Three problems, in the order they arrive
None of these is a reason to stop a medication that is working. They are reasons to plan ahead, because each one is easier to manage early than to fix later.
Muscle
When appetite drops quickly, protein usually drops with it, and some of the weight that comes off is muscle. A monthly InBody scan shows whether you are losing fat or muscle, and a protein and strength plan keeps it on the right side. We call this the Muscle Check, and it is included for patients on our GLP-1 program.
Hair
Shedding often starts three to four months into fast weight loss. It is usually a temporary pattern called telogen effluvium, and low protein or low iron make it worse. Lindsay checks those first, then talks through options such as a PRP scalp series if the shedding is not settling.
Skin and face
Losing a lot of weight can leave the face looking hollow and the skin looser than before. Sculptra rebuilds volume gradually, and RF microneedling and Agnes RF tighten and firm.
Lost weight with an app? We handle what the app cannot
Online services can write a prescription. They cannot scan your body composition, look at your scalp or treat your skin. Companion Care is open to anyone on a GLP-1, and you do not have to move your prescription to us to use it.
How it starts
A free consultation with Lindsay
Where you are in your weight loss, what medication and dose you are on, and what has changed so far.
A baseline InBody scan
Muscle, body fat and water balance, measured the same way each month after that.
A plan with dates on it
Monthly Muscle Checks to start, with a reminder to look at hair around month three and at skin as you near your goal.
Answers before you book
Do I have to get my GLP-1 medication from you?
No. Companion Care is for anyone losing weight on a GLP-1, whether the prescription comes from us, your own doctor or an online service. We look after the side effects, and your prescription stays where it is.
Will my hair grow back?
Shedding after fast weight loss is usually temporary and often settles on its own once weight and nutrition stabilize. Nobody can promise regrowth, and Lindsay will tell you plainly whether a treatment is worth it in your case.
When should I start?
Ideally in the first month, so there is a baseline scan to compare against. If you are further along, start where you are: the plan picks up at whichever stage you have reached.
Do I have to do every stage?
No. Each stage is offered when it becomes relevant, and you choose what you want. Plenty of people only need the Muscle Check.
How much does it cost?
The monthly Muscle Check is included for patients on our GLP-1 program. If your medication comes from somewhere else, the front desk will quote it, along with any treatment series, before you commit. Your first consultation is free.
Who treats me?
Lindsay Short, NP-BC, a board-certified nurse practitioner, sees you at every stage at our Mission Viejo clinic.
Start with a baseline
Your first consultation is free and includes an InBody scan, so every later check has something to compare against.