Saxenda is a prescription medical weight-loss medication containing the active ingredient liraglutide and administered through a daily subcutaneous injection. It is primarily used in the treatment of obesity and for chronic weight management in individuals who are overweight. By closely imitating the satiety hormones naturally produced by our body, it regulates the appetite center and makes it considerably easier to limit calorie intake throughout the day. When combined with a healthy diet program and increased physical activity, it is a pharmacological support method that helps patients reach their target healthy weight and reduce the metabolic risks associated with excess weight.

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How Does Saxenda (Liraglutide) Work in Our Body?

Saxenda is a clear solution administered through a daily subcutaneous injection. Its active ingredient, liraglutide, closely resembles glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone naturally secreted by our intestines when we eat and responsible for sending a satiety signal to the brain. This synthetic hormone analogue, introduced into the body through injection, produces its effects through several metabolic pathways.

First, it reaches the appetite control centers in the brain and attempts to increase the feeling of fullness while suppressing the constant desire to eat at the cellular level. In the digestive system, it plays a role in slowing the rate at which the stomach empties. Since food passes from the stomach into the intestines more slowly, it helps prolong the feeling of fullness after meals. It also has effects on blood sugar balance. While stimulating insulin secretion from the pancreas, it helps suppress hormones that raise blood sugar. Since the medication is eliminated from the body relatively quickly, regular daily use is required for its effects to continue throughout the day.

The main body systems with which the medication interacts are:

Brain
Stomach
Intestines
Pancreas
Liver

For Which Patient Groups Is Saxenda Considered Suitable?

These types of treatments are not simple tools that anyone can use randomly for weight loss. They are considered appropriate only for patients who meet specific medical criteria and have been evaluated by a physician. For this medication to be prescribed to adults, the patient’s overall health status must be assessed in detail and certain physical thresholds must be met.

First, the person’s Body Mass Index is expected to fall within the obesity range. If the person is classified as overweight, the presence of additional weight-related health problems is required for the medication to be used. In addition, recent evaluations have raised the possibility of its use under medical supervision in adolescents above certain age and weight limits.

Some of the medical criteria sought include:

High body mass index
Hypertension
Type 2 diabetes
High cholesterol
Sleep apnea

Why Is the Saxenda Dose Increased Gradually and How Is It Administered?

A sudden slowing of stomach emptying and immediate stimulation of brain centers by a synthetic hormone may cause various digestive system reactions, particularly nausea. Treatment is always started at the lowest dose to keep these reactions at manageable levels and allow the body to adapt gradually to the medication. Depending on the body’s tolerance, the dose is increased at weekly intervals.

In the standard administration process, treatment begins with a very low amount during the first week, and this amount is gradually increased over the following weeks until the final target dose is reached. If the patient experiences troublesome side effects during dose escalation, the transition to the next dose may be delayed with the physician’s approval. During the first few months after reaching the target maintenance dose, the patient is expected to lose a specific percentage of their initial body weight. If the expected weight loss does not occur, it may be concluded that the medication is not sufficiently effective for that individual, and a decision may be made to discontinue treatment.

How Much Weight Loss Is Expected While Using Saxenda?

Clinical studies and patient observations indicate that Saxenda contributes to the weight-loss process when supported by diet and exercise. In many cases, patients have been observed to experience a noticeable reduction in their starting weight after several months of regular use. The amount of weight lost may vary greatly depending on the individual’s metabolism, starting weight, adherence to the diet, and level of physical activity.

While some patients lose a moderate amount of weight, greater weight loss may be recorded in certain individuals who completely change their lifestyle and continue treatment for a long period. However, there is a very important detail emphasized by medical professionals. These success rates and weight losses can generally be maintained only while the medication continues to be used and the diet is sustained. The medication should not be expected to create a miracle on its own; achieving lasting benefits is very difficult unless healthy eating habits are established.

Why Is Weight Rapidly Regained After Stopping Saxenda (The Yo-Yo Effect)?

One of the most widely discussed and challenging aspects of medical obesity treatments is that the use of the medication does not create a permanent biological or anatomical change. While the medication is being used, it suppresses appetite by sending satiety signals to the brain. However, once treatment is discontinued, the body may produce a strong rebound response.

Receiving a synthetic hormone from an external source for a prolonged period may cause the body’s natural appetite control mechanisms to become less active. As soon as the injections are stopped, the brain is deprived of the strong signal that suppresses appetite. The slowed activity of the stomach returns to normal, and as a result, patients may experience a much stronger feeling of hunger than before treatment. This condition, known in the literature as “Yo-Yo Syndrome,” creates a basis for regaining the lost weight, often with additional weight, within a short period. It is frequently observed that a large proportion of individuals who discontinue the medication rapidly return to their previous weight if they have not made lifestyle changes permanent.

How Do Muscle Loss and Slowing of Metabolism Develop During Saxenda Use?

Another important process that should not be overlooked in medical treatments that cause rapid weight loss is how the ratio of muscle to fat in the body is affected. In a healthy and natural dieting process, the goal is for most of the lost weight to come from fat stores. However, when appetite-suppressing agents are used, patients may be unable to consume sufficient protein and essential nutrients because their appetite becomes excessively suppressed.

This inadequate nutritional intake may cause the body to break down vital muscle tissue in order to meet its energy needs. Muscle tissue acts like the body’s calorie-burning engine and is one of the primary factors determining metabolic rate. As muscle mass decreases, the number of calories burned at rest also declines. In other words, metabolism slows down. When the medication is discontinued and portion sizes return to their previous levels, the likelihood of consumed food being converted into fat becomes much greater because the metabolism is now operating more slowly.

What Are the Possible Side Effects and Health Risks of Medications Such as Saxenda?

As with every pharmacological treatment, therapies containing liraglutide may cause various side effects in the body. It is quite common for individuals who begin treatment to experience digestive system problems of varying intensity during the body’s adaptation process. The slowing of stomach emptying is the main cause of these problems. In severe cases, increased fluid loss from the body may lead to dehydration and place strain on kidney function.

In addition, although rare, adverse effects on the pancreas and gallbladder may occur. The use of medications in this group is considered risky for individuals with a family history of certain thyroid disorders. Considering all these risk factors, it is essential that the process be conducted under the supervision of a specialist.

Some of the side effects that may occur during the process include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Constipation
Dizziness
Palpitations
Stomach cramps

Why Does Gastric Botox Offer a Reliable Alternative to Saxenda and Similar Medications?

Unlike temporary appetite-suppressing systemic medical methods, gastric Botox creates a natural and effortless feeling of fullness by locally affecting the working speed of the digestive system. Rather than circulating throughout the entire body like systemic chemicals and affecting the brain and other organs, the procedure helps the individual gain control over their eating by directly slowing the contractions of the stomach muscles.

For example, gastric Botox aims to achieve the satiety effect that daily injections attempt to provide through synthetic means by prolonging gastric emptying time in a physical and more natural way. Food consumed after the procedure remains in the stomach for longer, and the duration of satiety signals sent to the appetite center is extended. This local change greatly supports patients in reducing weight-related problems and maintaining the healthy weight they achieve more comfortably without being exposed to systemic medication side effects such as thyroid risks or strain on the pancreas.

The positive effects expected in the body after gastric Botox include:

Prolongation of gastric emptying time
Spontaneous reduction in portion sizes
Noticeable increase in the physical feeling of fullness
Reduction in hunger attacks and cravings
Prevention of systemic side effects affecting the entire body

How Does Gastric Botox Work and For Whom Is It a Suitable Method?

With the development of modern medicine, non-surgical and incision-free options have become much more prominent in the fight against obesity and excess weight. A specialist physician evaluates the suitability of gastric Botox by considering the patient’s body mass index, eating habits, and current health status. This method locally supports the weight-loss process without causing anatomical organ loss or requiring an incision.

Gastric Botox is currently one of the most preferred non-surgical methods. It is performed endoscopically, by entering through the mouth, and injecting botulinum toxin into specific muscle areas of the stomach. This slows the rate of stomach muscle contractions and brings the early sensation of hunger that triggers appetite under control. Since the natural anatomy of the stomach and intestines is preserved, severe vitamin and mineral absorption problems seen in some weight-loss operations or medications do not occur.

Thanks to the procedure, the amount of food the patient can consume is naturally restricted, and long-lasting fullness is achieved with much smaller portions. Patients adapt to new diet programs without having to inject themselves every day, cope with exhausting side effects of strong medications, or engage in a constant battle of willpower.

For patients who are afraid of surgical intervention, do not wish to experience the side effects of daily injection treatments, or have difficulty losing weight through diet, gastric Botox serves as an extremely comfortable solution.

The main advantages of gastric Botox include:

Being an endoscopic procedure that requires no incision or sutures
Complete preservation of the anatomical integrity of the stomach
No impairment of vitamin and mineral absorption
Eliminating the need for daily or weekly medication use
Not causing chemical side effects that affect other organs

How Does the Procedure Progress Before and After Gastric Botox?

Gastric Botox is a highly practical and comfortable procedure that does not interrupt daily life or cause anxiety associated with surgery. The process begins with a detailed preliminary consultation between the physician and patient to determine whether the procedure is suitable for the individual.

On the day of the procedure, the patient is only asked to remain fasting for a certain period, generally 8–10 hours. The procedure is performed in an endoscopy unit under mild sedation. No incision is made in the abdominal area; a flexible tube with a camera at its tip, called an endoscope, is passed through the mouth to reach the stomach. Botulinum toxin is carefully injected into predetermined points of the stomach. This procedure is generally completed within a very short period of 15–20 minutes.

Hospitalization is not required after the procedure. Patients may return home or to work on foot the same day after resting under observation for 1–2 hours following the application. For the first few days after discharge, a short adaptation diet consisting of liquid and soft foods is followed. Since there is no surgical incision, the recovery period is almost nonexistent. With the monitoring and support of specialist dietitians, patients quickly begin adapting to their new smaller portions and healthier lifestyles.

The important stages of the procedure and follow-up process include:

Preliminary evaluation and an 8–10-hour fasting period
A 15–20-minute incision-free endoscopic procedure
Same-day discharge without hospitalization
Short-term adaptation to liquid and soft foods
Monitoring of portion control under the guidance of a specialist dietitian

How Should the Choice Between Gastric Botox and Saxenda Be Made for Healthy Weight Control?

Choosing the right treatment method in the fight against obesity and excess weight is the most important factor determining the success of the process. Medical treatments such as Saxenda are tools that make dieting easier and initially appear attractive because they do not involve surgery. However, these medications may become exhausting for patients in the long term because of the need for regular daily injections, the intense yo-yo syndrome that may occur after discontinuation, muscle loss, and systemic side effects that place strain on the entire body.

If you are tired of constantly losing and regaining weight, do not want to inject a chemical medication into your body every day, and desire a non-surgical, reliable change in your life, considering gastric Botox may be a much more comfortable option. Gastric Botox preserves the natural structure of your stomach while creating earlier satiety through a local mechanism, turning weight control from a constant battle of willpower into a more manageable process. To make the healthiest decision, consulting your specialist physician and determining together which method is most suitable for your body structure, medical history, and lifestyle will be one of the most reliable steps you can take for your health.

Dr. Ahmet Bekin

Op. Dr. Ahmet Bekin was born in Istanbul in 1983. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Kocaeli University in 2006 and completed his specialty training in the Department of General Surgery at Istanbul University Çapa Faculty of Medicine in 2011. After his specialization, he worked in the fields of hernia surgery, reflux surgery, obesity surgery, advanced laparoscopic surgery, and robotic surgery. In addition, he received training in endocrine surgery, oncological surgery, and minimally invasive surgery. He is currently accepting patients from Turkey as well as from countries such as Germany and France at his private clinic located in Istanbul.