Weight Loss, Done Differently, The Self London Approach to GLP-1 Therapy and Structural Integrity
There is more than one way to lose weight. But not all of them protect your face, your muscle, or your long-term health.
At Self London, we offer a different approach. Our medically-led GLP-1 programme is designed not just to initiate weight loss safely, but to preserve what matters along the way: structure, strength, and a sense of self.
This is weight loss for those who think ahead.
It is not unusual to feel conflicted when weight loss becomes visible. For many patients, there is pride in achieving metabolic change, but concern about the aesthetic trade-offs. Fat loss is rarely localised. As the number on the scale drops, the soft tissues of the midface, jawline, and neck often do too. In others, posture shifts or gluteal tone declines, particularly in those who already have lower baseline muscle mass. Skin may appear lax or fatigued. Strength and facial integrity can subtly diminish.
These are not cosmetic concerns. They are structural consequences. And they are entirely predictable. The problem is not the medication. The problem is how poorly we prepare for its real-world effects.
Self London’s GLP-1 programme exists to bridge this gap between clinical prescribing and structural preservation. We prescribe semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) not in isolation, but within a protocol that considers your anatomy, your goals, and your future. Led by our in-house GP, Dr Charlotte, and supported by our aesthetics and laser team, this programme offers structured, intelligent care that recognises both the medical and aesthetic realities of weight loss.
You will not be handed a prescription and left to self-manage. You will be assessed in full, followed closely, and guided through a staged plan that may include initial dose titration, therapeutic maintenance, off-label microdosing, and where appropriate, regenerative aesthetic support to preserve what matters most. Because successful weight loss should never come at the cost of strength, softness, or self-recognition.
Rethinking GLP-1: clinical tool, not cultural trend
GLP-1 receptor agonists were not created for aesthetic use. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, they work by mimicking glucagon-like peptide 1, a gut hormone that regulates satiety, gastric emptying, and glucose homeostasis. When used appropriately in patients with overweight or obesity, they can significantly reduce appetite and facilitate meaningful fat loss.
At Self London, we offer GLP-1 prescribing as a medical service. Patients are selected based on clinical history, BMI, and risk profile. Those with a history of eating disorders, active metabolic disease, or contraindications are not eligible. All patients must be 18 or older and willing to engage in long-term review. We do not prescribe for aesthetic goals alone, nor do we offer online consultations or one-off appointments. This is an in-clinic, medically-led programme, designed for those who want results grounded in evidence, with accountability and support.
The medications we use, semaglutide and tirzepatide, are both injectable treatments administered weekly. Dose titration is carried out over several months, with side effect management and clinical review at each stage. We do not accelerate dosing unless medically justified. In our experience, patients benefit more from consistency, education, and integrated lifestyle advice than from escalation alone.
Once target weight loss has been achieved, we may recommend a maintenance strategy. This can include full-dose continuation or, in selected patients, a deliberate transition to microdosing: using lower-than-standard doses or increasing the interval between injections.
Microdosing is an off-label strategy, and all patients are fully consented. It is not suitable for those who have not stabilised, or who rely solely on pharmacological appetite suppression. But in appropriate cases, it can reduce medication burden and support long-term balance without rebound weight gain.
The success of this phase relies on more than the injection. It depends on whether patients have established sustainable patterns of movement, sleep, nutrition, and stress regulation, and whether they are physically and structurally prepared for what weight maintenance really looks like.
This is where aesthetic foresight matters.
Structural loss is not vanity. It is biology.
The idea that patients should be grateful for weight loss, regardless of the consequences, is outdated. A growing number of patients are now seeking medically supervised care not only for what they lose, but for what they want to preserve. These are not individuals chasing cosmetic perfection. They are professionals, parents, athletes, and high-functioning adults who simply want to look like themselves, not a more gaunt, depleted version of the person they were.
In this context, the Self London programme offers something unique: preventative aesthetic intervention that is designed to support visible integrity, not change it.
From the outset, we assess facial and muscular markers of structural health. This may include baseline VISIA imaging, postural screening, and identification of areas at risk of volume shift. Some patients present with early signs of hollowing beneath the eyes or around the mouth. Others notice laxity in the neck or lower face. In physically active women, we often see posterior chain weakness or gluteal loss that is only partly explained by fat reduction. These are issues that injectable filler cannot solve. They require a different kind of toolkit.
We work with three key modalities:
Sofwave, an ultrasound-based device that stimulates collagen at a mid-dermal depth of 1.5mm. It lifts and firms the face, jawline, brow, and neck. It is particularly useful for patients who have lost facial fat resulting in pronounced nasolabial folds (nose to mouth creases), marionette lines (vertical creases in the lip corners), or loss of definition of the jawline.
Pure Impact, a high-intensity muscle stimulation treatment that targets core, gluteal, and postural strength. It is not EMSculpt. It is functional to build muscle or at the very least, reduce its loss. Delivered by our laser therapist, who is also a qualified personal trainer, this treatment helps protect against tone loss during calorie restriction or metabolic shift.
Laser coring and polynucleotide therapy, can be used selectively in patients experiencing hollowing or skin thinning. All treatments are optional and offered only where clinically indicated. There is no upsell. No “packages”. Just a medical team helping you think a few steps ahead, knowing the predictable aesthetic outcomes of weight loss medication.
Who this service is for
This programme is for individuals who are ready to begin, or continue, GLP-1 therapy within a structure that supports aesthetic longevity and long-term safety. It may also be suitable for those already prescribed semaglutide or tirzepatide elsewhere, but who feel unsupported, overexposed to high-dose medication, or aesthetically impacted by their weight loss to date.
We work with patients who want medical oversight, realistic pacing, and intelligent aesthetic support. This includes:
- Women in their thirties to fifties seeking to reverse perimenopausal weight gain without looking older in the process.
- High-functioning men and women who have already lost weight and want to preserve structure without volume replacement.
- Individuals on GLP-1 medication who are ready to taper or transition to microdosing.
- Athletes and relatively lean patients at risk of excessive facial or muscle loss during fat reduction.
- Patients interested in Pure Impact or Sofwave but who want metabolic and structural support as part of the wider plan.
We do not treat patients with active diabetes, significant renal or gastrointestinal disease, or those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or under 18. We also do not work with patients unwilling to engage in regular review or whose goals are purely aesthetic.
Your clinical pathway
All patients begin with a 30-minute medical consultation with Dr Charlotte. This includes full history, weight trajectory, medication review, blood pressure, waist circumference, and discussion of treatment options. Where appropriate, we initiate semaglutide or tirzepatide on-site, with structured follow-up scheduled every four weeks. You may be monitored on full dose, transitioned to microdosing, or offered additional support to address changes in facial volume, posture, or skin quality.
We do not promise outcomes. But we do promise intelligent care, grounded in physiology, aesthetic expertise, and clinical ethics.
Why this programme exists
This service was not created in response to a trend. It was created in response to a gap, patients arriving on GLP-1 medications, often prescribed online, with no monitoring, no physical assessments, and no thought given to the visible or physiological consequences of weight loss.
At Self London, we do things differently. All prescribing is led by a doctor. We take baseline blood pressure, weight, and waist circumference. We screen for contraindications; we do blood tests were needed. We refer to a dietitian when needed. We advise on movement, metabolic risk, and long-term maintenance, not just the medication. And we understand that fat loss affects the face, the body, and the way patients see themselves.
This is a proper clinical pathway, not a product. It is structured, measured, and designed to minimise risk while maximising long-term outcomes. The patients who do best are those who value clarity, oversight, and support. If that is what you are looking for, this service is right for you.
