A Med Spa can offer GLP-1 weight-management programs, but they are a prescribing medical service — not a retail add-on. Each patient needs a patient-specific evaluation and an authorized prescriber (a physician or ARNP/PA within scope), appropriate candidacy criteria and labs, and ongoing monitoring. The rules around compounded semaglutide/tirzepatide have tightened as the FDA shortage was resolved, so sourcing must be handled carefully and lawfully.
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Is offering GLP-1 weight loss prescribing or a standing-order service?
GLP-1 therapy requires a prescriber acting on an individualized evaluation, not a standing order alone. The medical director defines candidacy (for example, BMI thresholds and comorbidity considerations), baseline and follow-up assessment, dose titration, and red-flag/stop criteria.
What should a Med Spa know about compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide?
When a drug is no longer in FDA-declared shortage, routine compounding of that molecule is generally restricted. Med Spas relying on compounded semaglutide/tirzepatide should confirm the legal basis for any compounded product with the prescriber, the pharmacy, and counsel — this is a frequent enforcement area.
What monitoring and safety documentation does a GLP-1 program need?
A defensible program documents indications, counseling on risks and side effects, monitoring cadence, and management of adverse effects — the record should show real clinical follow-up, not just recurring injections.
Owner takeaway
Prescribing authority, telehealth use, and compounding legality are fact-specific and evolving. Confirm your program with the prescriber and counsel; this is general educational information, not legal or medical advice.