Tirzepatide weight loss in Florida involves a dual GLP-1/GIP weekly injection plan prescribed and monitored by Kelly Wolfe, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC — owner-led care from our Miami Beach office or HIPAA-compliant telehealth statewide.
Tirzepatide weight loss in Florida is built around three things most clinics skip: careful dose titration, hands-on side-effect management, and InBody-tracked body composition data so you know you're losing fat — not muscle. Tirzepatide is the most effective FDA-approved injectable for chronic weight management currently available, with SURMOUNT-1 patients losing an average of 20.9% of body weight at the highest dose.
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OWNER · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI-TRAINED · FL APRN #11005134
Approved as Zepbound® (weight management) and Mounjaro® (type 2 diabetes). Compounded tirzepatide also available.
Dual GLP-1 / GIP receptor agonist — reduces appetite, slows gastric emptying, improves insulin sensitivity.
Subcutaneous injection, once weekly, self-administered after the first dose visit.
Up to ~20.9% body weight loss at 72 weeks at the 15 mg dose (SURMOUNT-1).
Required baseline labs, then a customized 3-month starter plan, then $400/month for refills with weekly check-ins. Confirmed in writing at consultation.
In-person at our Miami Beach office or HIPAA-compliant telehealth statewide.
Tirzepatide is a once-weekly injectable medication that combines GIP and GLP-1 receptor activation to produce significant, sustained weight loss in adults with obesity or weight-related health conditions. In Florida, it is prescription-only and requires a licensed provider to evaluate eligibility, write the prescription, and manage dose titration.
Tirzepatide is the first medication of its kind — a dual incretin receptor agonist that activates two hormone pathways the body uses to regulate appetite, satiety, blood sugar, and energy storage. Eli Lilly markets it under two brand names: Mounjaro® for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound® for chronic weight management. The active ingredient is identical in both. Compounded tirzepatide, prepared by licensed 503A and 503B pharmacies, is a third option many Florida patients pursue for affordability.
Our practice prescribes tirzepatide as part of a medically supervised weight loss program — not a transactional prescription. That distinction matters. Tirzepatide works because the medication does most of the appetite work, but it works well because someone is watching your titration, adjusting your dose, and helping you keep muscle while you lose fat. That is what we do.
Tirzepatide activates two gut hormone receptors — GLP-1 and GIP — simultaneously. The result is reduced appetite, slower stomach emptying, increased meal satisfaction, lower blood glucose, and improved insulin sensitivity. Patients eat less because they're less hungry, not because of willpower.
Single-agonist GLP-1 medications (semaglutide, Wegovy®, Ozempic®) activate one pathway. Tirzepatide adds GIP — glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide — which works on a separate hunger-regulating circuit in the hypothalamus and amplifies the GLP-1 effect on insulin sensitivity. In head-to-head trials this dual mechanism produced meaningfully greater weight loss than GLP-1 monotherapy.
What patients experience clinically:
The medication does the chemistry. Our job is making sure your nutrition keeps up, your protein stays high, your muscle stays on, and the GI side effects of titration stay manageable.
In the SURMOUNT-1 clinical trial, adults with obesity who took tirzepatide for 72 weeks lost an average of 15.0% of body weight at the 5 mg dose, 19.5% at 10 mg, and 20.9% at 15 mg, compared with 3.1% on placebo. More than half of patients on the highest dose lost at least 20% of their starting weight.
SURMOUNT-1 was the pivotal 72-week, placebo-controlled trial that earned tirzepatide its FDA approval for chronic weight management in 2023. Participants were adults with obesity (BMI ≥30) or overweight (BMI ≥27) with at least one weight-related condition. Mean baseline weight was approximately 231 lb (105 kg).
AVG. WEIGHT LOSS · 5 MG DOSE · 72 WEEKS
AVG. WEIGHT LOSS · 10 MG DOSE · 72 WEEKS
AVG. WEIGHT LOSS · 15 MG DOSE · 72 WEEKS
Most Florida patients feel reduced appetite within the first week, see visible weight loss starting around weeks 4–8, and reach roughly half of their total expected weight loss by month 6. The full effect develops over 12–18 months.
Week 1–2
Quieter appetite within days. Mild nausea common as you titrate to 2.5 mg.
Month 1
First visible weight loss (typically 5–10 lb). Move to 5 mg dose at week 4.
Month 3
7–13% body-weight loss typical. Re-check InBody. Dose now usually 7.5–10 mg.
Month 6
Roughly half of total expected loss. Effective dose usually established.
Month 12–18
Peak effect reached. Transition to maintenance dosing or continued titration.
These numbers are averages from controlled trials. Individual results vary significantly based on starting BMI, adherence, protein intake, resistance training, sleep quality, hormone status, and whether the patient stays at the highest tolerated dose long enough to capture full effect.
Tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro® for diabetes and Zepbound® for weight loss) is a dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist. Semaglutide (sold as Ozempic® for diabetes and Wegovy® for weight loss) is a single GLP-1 agonist. Tirzepatide produced greater average weight loss in head-to-head trials. Brand differences are about FDA-approved indication and dosing, not active ingredient.
This is the question most Florida patients ask first, and the brand names create real confusion. Here is the full picture in one table.
| Tirzepatide (Zepbound® / Mounjaro®) | Semaglutide (Wegovy® / Ozempic®) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Dual GIP + GLP-1 receptor agonist | Single GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Brand for weight loss | Zepbound® | Wegovy® |
| Brand for diabetes | Mounjaro® | Ozempic® |
| FDA approval (weight loss) | November 2023 | June 2021 |
| Avg. weight loss in trials | ~20.9% at 72 weeks (15 mg) | ~14.9% at 68 weeks (2.4 mg) |
| Frequency | Weekly subcutaneous injection | Weekly subcutaneous injection |
| Dose range | 2.5 mg → 15 mg | 0.25 mg → 2.4 mg |
| Side effect profile | Slightly higher early GI side effects, fewer plateaus | Slower titration, generally tolerable |
| Real-world track record | Newer (2022–present) | Longer (2017–present) |
| Best starting candidate | Higher BMI, plateau on semaglutide, dual diabetes + weight loss | Milder weight loss goals, GI sensitivity |
The takeaway: tirzepatide is currently the more powerful tool. Semaglutide is older, well-understood, and right for many patients. The choice depends on starting BMI, comorbidities, side-effect history, insurance coverage, and personal goals — not internet hype. Read the full semaglutide weight loss in Florida page for the other side of this decision.
FDA-labeled tirzepatide titration starts at 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, then increases to 5 mg for 4 weeks. From there it steps to 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg, with at least 4 weeks at each dose level before the next increase. The lowest effective dose is the right dose.
| Weeks | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | 2.5 mg weekly | Starter dose. Not therapeutic — purpose is tolerance. |
| 5–8 | 5 mg weekly | First therapeutic dose. Many patients see meaningful early loss here. |
| 9–12 | 7.5 mg weekly | Common effective dose for moderate weight loss goals. |
| 13–16 | 10 mg weekly | Common maintenance plateau for many Florida patients. |
| 17–20 | 12.5 mg weekly | For patients still actively losing and tolerating well. |
| 21+ | 15 mg weekly | Maximum labeled dose. Used when greater weight loss is the goal. |
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal: nausea (about 28% of patients), diarrhea (21%), constipation (17%), and indigestion (10%). These are typically mild to moderate, occur most during dose escalation, and resolve as the body adapts. Most are manageable with simple adjustments to meal timing, hydration, and pace of titration.
What separates a good program from a transactional prescription is what happens when side effects show up. Here is the clinical reasoning we apply on every patient call:
Rare but serious effects include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease (especially with rapid weight loss), hypoglycemia (mainly in patients also on insulin or sulfonylureas), and acute kidney injury from severe dehydration. Severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, or signs of dehydration should prompt an immediate call to our office.
Tirzepatide is FDA-approved for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with at least one weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, or cardiovascular disease.
If you are currently taking an anticoagulant (warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Pradaxa, Plavix, or similar) and are considering tirzepatide, do not discontinue your anticoagulant on your own. Always consult your prescribing physician before discontinuing any anticoagulant. Tirzepatide is generally compatible with anticoagulation, but any change to anticoagulant therapy belongs to the physician managing it.
Our Florida tirzepatide program begins with required baseline labs and a customized 3-month starter plan tailored to your labs and clinical picture. From there, monthly refills are $400/month and include weekly check-ins, monthly dose adjustments as needed, and ongoing nutrition and program guidance.
Our tirzepatide program starts with required baseline labs and a customized 3-month starter plan. From there, monthly refills include weekly check-ins, dose adjustments as needed, and ongoing nutrition and program guidance. Every patient receives a written quote at consultation before any medication is dispensed.
Baseline lab panel is required before any GLP-1 prescription. Lab costs are billed separately.
A customized 3-month program tailored to your labs, starting BMI, dose tolerance, and goals.
Includes weekly check-ins, monthly dose adjustments as needed, and nutrition / program guidance.
Most commercial insurance plans in Florida do not cover tirzepatide for weight loss without prior authorization, and many plans exclude weight-loss medication entirely. The compounded tirzepatide path through our program is cash-pay. Exact starter-program cost is confirmed in writing at consultation and depends on dose tier and clinical picture.
Patients who benefit most often combine tirzepatide with hormone optimization (especially if thyroid, insulin resistance, or estrogen/testosterone imbalance is part of the picture) and peptide therapy for muscle preservation during weight loss. Patients managing complex underlying health concerns may benefit from our concierge medicine membership for year-round, integrated care.
Our physical office is in Miami Beach, but Kelly serves tirzepatide weight loss patients statewide via HIPAA-compliant telehealth. Initial labs are completed at a partner draw site near you. Medication ships to your door. In-person visits at the Miami Beach office are available at any point.
Florida is a long state. We built the program to remove that as a barrier — most patients never need to drive to Miami Beach. Your initial consult, follow-ups, and dose adjustments happen by secure video. Labs are drawn locally. Medication ships from a licensed pharmacy. The structure is identical whether you live in South Beach or Pensacola.
If you visit the Miami Beach office, we’re at 1000 5th Street, Suite 414 in the South of Fifth district. The parking garage attached to the building is $4/hour, and street parking around the building is free during business hours (one designated area is pay-to-park — signage is clear). Approximately 8 minutes from Brickell, 10 from Mid-Beach, 19 from Bal Harbour.
Compounded tirzepatide is the active ingredient tirzepatide prepared by a licensed compounding pharmacy under USP standards. Branded Zepbound® is the FDA-approved finished product manufactured by Eli Lilly. Both contain the same active molecule. Differences are in cost, dose flexibility, and the regulatory category of the finished preparation.
Branded Zepbound® has the FDA-approval lineage — it was the drug studied in SURMOUNT-1, the formulation tested in clinical trials, and the product backed by manufacturer pharmacovigilance. List price is approximately $1,059/month without insurance; Eli Lilly’s LillyDirect® self-pay program brings lower doses to roughly $499/month for self-pay patients.
Compounded tirzepatide is prepared one prescription at a time at a 503A or 503B pharmacy. The active ingredient is sourced from FDA-registered API facilities; the finished product is not FDA-approved as a finished drug. The benefit is cost (often half or less than branded) and dose flexibility for off-label intermediate doses. The trade-off is regulatory: compounded preparations are not FDA-reviewed for the finished formulation.
We prescribe through partner pharmacies with strong safety records and a transparent supply chain, prepare the tirzepatide as a sodium-free sterile preparation, and label each vial clearly. We will not prescribe through pharmacies we do not know, will not write a prescription for product purchased from a non-medical source, and will not work with patients sourcing “research peptides” online. This matters for your safety. Source matters as much as molecule.
In the SURMOUNT-4 trial, patients who stopped tirzepatide after 36 weeks regained approximately 14% of their lost weight over the following year, while patients who continued the medication lost an additional 5.5%. Tirzepatide treats obesity as a chronic condition. Stopping usually means regaining unless the underlying drivers have been addressed.
This is the most important honest conversation we have with every Florida tirzepatide patient. The medication is not a 12-week event. Obesity is a chronic, relapsing condition — meaning the underlying biology that drove your weight up does not change because you took tirzepatide for a year. When you stop, the appetite signals come back. The food noise comes back. The metabolic adaptation that protected your higher body weight reasserts itself.
Most patients have three real options:
Tirzepatide is most powerful as part of a longer plan, not a finish line.
Same-week consultations available. South of Fifth, Miami Beach.
Kelly is the owner of South Florida Face and Body. A board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner trained at the University of Miami, she holds advanced degrees in nursing, biochemistry, and biology, with graduate research focused on metabolism and the role of leptin and appetite-suppressing hormones. She practices at the intersection of functional medicine and aesthetic injection — meaning the conversations in her treatment room often go beyond the syringe to consider sleep, hormones, metabolism, and inflammation as part of how your skin and face actually present.
Licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the State of Florida (APRN #11005134), Kelly brings more than three decades of experience in health, fitness, and clinical practice. She has performed aesthetic injections in South Florida for over a decade and has trained alongside the dermatology and plastic surgery community that built Miami’s aesthetic reputation.
She is the one who answers your text message. She is the one who calls the day after your injection.
From your first consultation through every follow-up, you’ll work directly with Kelly — one injector, one set of hands, one consistent plan.
Advanced practice registered nursing with a focus on family health and primary care.
Research focused on metabolism and the role of leptin and appetite-suppressing hormones.
Research with a strong foundation in human physiology, cellular biology, and biochemistry.
National certification in family practice and primary care.
Authorized to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications in the State of Florida.
Advanced training in root-cause diagnostics, hormone optimization, metabolic health, and integrative wellness.
Over 30 years helping clients achieve sustainable health and wellness transformations.
"Kelly is amazing! She's incredibly knowledgeable and progressive when it comes to facial aesthetics. My Botox and filler results are natural, refreshed, and exactly what I was hoping for — never overdone."
"Kelly is the best! She truly listens to what her clients want and delivers exactly what you picture. My results are always natural and beautiful. I couldn't recommend her more!"
"I was on holiday in Miami and got the details for Kelly. Best Botox I have had. She advised my husband who had very sore facial skin with a new routine and has cleared up the problem. Would certainly recommend."
The most common questions from Florida patients considering tirzepatide. If yours isn't here, Kelly is happy to answer directly.
In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, adults with obesity who took tirzepatide for 72 weeks lost an average of 15.0% of body weight at the 5 mg dose, 19.5% at 10 mg, and 20.9% at 15 mg, compared with about 3.1% on placebo. More than half of patients on the highest dose lost at least 20% of their starting weight.
Real-world results in our Florida patients vary based on starting BMI, adherence, nutrition support, resistance training, and whether the patient reaches and stays at their highest tolerated dose. Most patients begin noticing appetite changes within the first 1–2 weeks and visible weight loss by weeks 4–8.
At South Florida Face and Body, the tirzepatide weight loss program begins with required baseline labs (billed separately) and a customized 3-month starter plan tailored to your labs, starting BMI, and clinical picture. After the starter program, monthly refills are $400/month and include weekly check-ins, monthly dose adjustments as needed, and ongoing nutrition and program guidance.
Exact starter-program cost is confirmed in writing at consultation. Labs are required before any GLP-1 prescription can be written — this is a non-negotiable safety step.
Tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist. Semaglutide is a single GLP-1 receptor agonist. The dual mechanism produced greater average weight loss in head-to-head trials — about 20.9% at 72 weeks for tirzepatide 15 mg versus about 14.9% for semaglutide 2.4 mg at 68 weeks. Tirzepatide also tends to produce stronger appetite suppression and meaningful improvements in A1C.
Semaglutide has a longer real-world track record and is often the right starting point for patients with milder weight goals or GI sensitivity. See our semaglutide page for the full comparison.
The FDA-labeled titration schedule starts at 2.5 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, then increases to 5 mg for 4 weeks. From there the dose can step up to 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and finally 15 mg, with at least 4 weeks at each level before increasing.
Many Florida patients reach their effective dose at 7.5 mg or 10 mg and remain there. The lowest effective dose is the right dose — we do not push the schedule unless your weight loss has stalled and tolerance is good.
Most Florida patients report a quieter appetite within the first week of starting tirzepatide. Visible weight loss usually begins by weeks 4–8 once a therapeutic dose (5 mg or higher) is reached. The SURMOUNT trials reached peak effect around week 60–72.
Tirzepatide is a long-game medication — expect months, not weeks, for full results. The patients who get the best outcomes are the ones who stay on a therapeutic dose for at least 12 months.
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal: nausea (about 28%), diarrhea (21%), constipation (17%), and indigestion (10%). These are usually mild to moderate, peak during dose escalation, and resolve as the body adapts.
Most are manageable with smaller meals, hydration (especially important in the Florida heat), lower-fat foods during titration, and a slower titration pace when needed. Serious side effects are rare but include pancreatitis, gallbladder issues, hypoglycemia (mainly with insulin or sulfonylureas), and acute kidney injury from severe dehydration. Severe abdominal pain or persistent vomiting warrants an immediate call to our office.
FDA criteria for adults: a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with at least one weight-related comorbidity such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, or cardiovascular disease.
You are not a candidate if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 syndrome, active pancreatitis, severe gastroparesis, type 1 diabetes, or pregnancy. Patients taking anticoagulants must consult their prescribing physician before any decision to discontinue or modify anticoagulant therapy.
Tirzepatide is injected subcutaneously into one of three sites: the abdomen (at least 2 inches from the navel), the front or outer thigh, or the back of the upper arm. Rotate sites each week to reduce skin irritation. The abdomen is generally the most consistent absorption site.
Kelly walks each Florida patient through proper self-injection technique at the first dose visit. Most patients are comfortable self-injecting within 30 seconds of practice — the needle is very fine and the injection is shallow.
Most commercial insurance plans in Florida do not cover tirzepatide for weight loss without a prior authorization, and many plans exclude weight-loss medication entirely. Mounjaro® is generally covered only for type 2 diabetes.
Many patients pursue compounded tirzepatide as a more affordable cash-pay alternative through our program. Eli Lilly also offers LillyDirect®, a direct-pay program for branded Zepbound® that bypasses pharmacy markups and is available to patients without insurance coverage for the medication.
In the SURMOUNT-4 trial, patients who stopped tirzepatide after 36 weeks regained approximately 14% of their lost weight over the following year, while patients who continued lost an additional 5.5%. Tirzepatide treats obesity the way blood-pressure medication treats hypertension — stopping usually means regaining unless the underlying drivers have been substantively addressed during treatment.
Many Florida patients transition to a maintenance dose (often 5 mg or 7.5 mg) rather than stopping abruptly. We discuss the off-ramp plan from the beginning, not at the end.
Compounded tirzepatide is prepared by licensed 503A or 503B pharmacies under USP standards when sourced through a legitimate medical provider. Safety depends entirely on the pharmacy and the prescribing relationship.
We partner exclusively with licensed, inspected compounding pharmacies and prescribe tirzepatide as a sodium-free sterile preparation in a clearly labeled vial. Patients should avoid any product sold without a prescription, sold internationally, or sold as a “research peptide” — those are unregulated and the safety profile is unknown.
Yes. Kelly serves tirzepatide weight loss patients in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Southwest Florida (Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota) via HIPAA-compliant telehealth. Initial labs are completed at a partner draw site near you. Prescriptions ship to your door.
In-person visits at our Miami Beach office are available at any point for patients who prefer them or for specific assessments (e.g., baseline InBody).
1000 5th Street, Suite 414, Miami Beach, FL 33139 — in the South of Fifth (SoFi) district at the southern tip of Miami Beach. Phone: (786) 529-1860. Hours: Monday–Friday 10am–6pm, Saturday 10am–2pm.
Parking: The parking garage attached to the building is $4/hour. Street parking around the building is free during business hours, except for one designated pay-to-park area — signage is clear. We’re approximately 8 minutes from Brickell, 10 from Mid-Beach, and 19 from Bal Harbour.
Trademark notice. Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Rybelsus® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Zepbound®, Mounjaro®, and LillyDirect® are registered trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company. InBody® is a registered trademark of InBody Co., Ltd. Eliquis® is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company. Xarelto® is a registered trademark of Bayer Aktiengesellschaft. Plavix® is a registered trademark of Sanofi-Aventis. Pradaxa® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim. All other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.
No affiliation. South Florida Face and Body is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or otherwise associated with Novo Nordisk A/S, Eli Lilly and Company, InBody Co., Ltd., or any other manufacturer of the medications or products referenced on this page. Use of these trademarks is solely for accurate identification of FDA-approved medications and for the educational benefit of our patients. References to brand-name medications do not imply that we dispense, distribute, or recommend any specific manufacturer’s product over compounded alternatives. Treatment decisions, including the choice between branded and compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide, are made between the patient and Kelly Wolfe, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, based on individual clinical factors.
Medical disclaimer. The content on this page is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Clinical statistics cited (including STEP-1, SURMOUNT-1, SURMOUNT-4, and SURMOUNT-5 trial data) reflect published clinical trial averages and do not guarantee individual results. GLP-1 receptor agonists are prescription medications that require medical evaluation, ongoing supervision, and are not appropriate for every patient. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication — including semaglutide, tirzepatide, and any anticoagulant or other prescription drug you may currently take. If you experience a medical emergency, call 911.
Compounded medications notice. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are prepared by state-licensed 503A or FDA-registered 503B pharmacies and are not the same product as FDA-approved Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound®, or Mounjaro®. Compounded medications are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, efficacy, or quality prior to dispensing. The FDA has not approved compounded semaglutide or compounded tirzepatide. Patients in our Florida program receive a clear explanation of the differences between branded and compounded formulations at consultation and choose accordingly.
