Dr. Suzanne Bentz

Bariatric Specialist

Red Mountain Weight Loss Programs

At Red Mountain Weight Loss, we offer medical weight loss programs all under the care of a physician. Our programs consist of prescription appetite suppressants, meal replacements, weight loss shots to boost your metabolism, and our most popular program featuring medical grade HCG.

General Weight Loss Program

Studies have shown that by being overweight there is a greater risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, gall bladder disease, certain cancers, osteoarthritis, high cholesterol, and a variety of other health issues. Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States and accounts for more than 300,000 deaths annually. Sixty percent of Americans are overweight or obese, and our society is now being described as "Obesegenic," which means our lifestyle contributes to obesity.

People become over weight for a variety of reasons. Some people are overweight due to genetic factors, but for other people it may be due to poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle. Many people gain weight in response to a stressful life changing event, an illness or an injury. For women, the challenges of childbirth and menopause can contribute to weight gain and obesity.

Regardless of the cause, it can be difficult to achieve a desired and healthy weight. Sometimes no matter how much a person diets and exercises, they are still not able to lose the weight. This can be stressful and frustrating. However, with the aid of a Medical Weight Loss Specialist to assist them, the ability to achieve weight loss goals is becoming not only easier, but a successful, long-term outcome.

One of the first steps in successful weight loss is controlling hunger, appetite, and food cravings. The cornerstone of treatment for many patients begins with using prescription strength appetite suppressant medications. These medications are very safe when used under the supervision of a Bariatric (weight loss) Specialist. Our medical providers carefully evaluate each patient to determine the best approach and medication to help them achieve a healthy weight.

Patients on the General Weight Loss Program are guided through a customized weight loss program with the expertise of a caring physician. Our program is personalized to each patient, because everyone is unique and has different needs. The program utilizes prescription appetite suppressants, exercise, and a low-calorie diet plan. The average weight loss on this program is 1 to 2 pounds per week.

HCG Weight Loss Program

HCG is the most exciting development in medical weight loss! H-C-G stands for Human Chorionic Gonadatropin. This natural hormone, helps you burn stored fat which creates rapid weight loss. It also targets the fat that tends to accumulate around the waist and stomach, allowing you to lose inches while you lose weight!

People who have struggled with a slow metabolism, hormone imbalance, menopause, or even those last few annoying 10 pounds, are finally losing weight and they are losing it fast! HCG activates the hypothalamus gland and causes your body to use your stored fat for energy, similar to the way your body uses calories you eat for energy. This medication is taken twice daily and it is done in conjunction with a low-calorie diet.

At Red Mountain Weight loss we offer only medical grade HCG. We only offer our patients the sublingual form of hCG, eliminating the need for inconvenient and painful hCG shots. Our HCG can be prescribed in a liquid sublingual form, or for your convenience, we also offer easy to use HCG tablets. The tablets are perfect for patients who travel frequently, or want the convenience of not having to mix or refrigerate their medication.

At Red Mountain Weight Loss, we do not prescribe a 500 calorie diet in conjunction with our HCG program, and have had great success, without having patients incur such a risk. We have found that it is not necessary to adhere exactly to the 500 calorie diet as suggested by Dr. Simeons protocol, and that sublingual HCG and a modified diet was still very beneficial to patients in assisting them in weight loss. Following a very low calorie diet without proper medication or doctor supervision is not safe or healthy.  That’s why Red Mountain Weight Loss uses a (higher calorie) modified diet in conjunction with HCG to insure our patients receive the necessary nutrients for safe and healthy weight loss. This diet is tailored to your specific needs and determined based on a number of variables. This will be discussed with a provider during your appointment.
 
HCG has virtually no side effects and, typically, between hCG and the diet, our patients will lose an average of 12 to 20 pounds per month!

The first month of the program includes your office visit, lab work, body composition analysis, low-calorie diet plan, and hCG for the month. Patients are seen every 30 days by one of our providers to check their progress and to receive a refill. For optimal results, the hCG program can be combined with the General Weight Loss Program for an additional charge.

HCG: Pharmaceutical vs. Homeopathic

With the variety of diet options available today, it can be very confusing to determine which is the safest and most appropriate program to choose. Most likely, you want to achieve optimal weight loss results, safely and in a realistic time period. However, with the number of products and programs on the market, you might be puzzled about the best way to accomplish this. At Red Mountain Med Spa we think it is very important to educate our patients about these products and programs, so that they can make safe and healthy choices to achieve their weight loss goals.

The Difference

Not all HCG is created equal. This hormone is creating amazing results for patients, and attracting a lot of interest. Unfortunately, it has also attracted the interest of enterprising business owners who look to capitalize on the name, while selling a counterfeit product. As a result, HCG is now being sold in some unlikely places like your local health club, vitamin store, or on the internet. The problem with this is "authentic" hCG is an FDA controlled substance that requires a doctor's prescription. When you purchase over- the- counter versions or buy HCG on the internet, you are not receiving a pharmaceutical or medical grade hCG product.

Dr. A.T.W Simeons found that 125 IUs (international units of hCG hormone is required and must be administered daily in order for the hypothalamus to trigger the release of abnormal fat when the body is in deprivation. Pharmaceutical hCG hormone medication must contain a minimum of 125 IUs, be physician prescribed, obtained, manufactured and dispensed from a reputable US based pharmacy. Whereas Homeopathic hCG is a liquid preparation comprised of a mixture of vitamins, herbal stimulants and microscopic trace amounts of hCG, if any at all. One also can't be sure what type of hCG is in this product, as often times makers substitute equine (horse) hCG to make the homeopathic version.

Why this matters?

There are a variety of potential and serious health risks associated with following a strict 500 calorie diet without the proper medication and supervision of a medically licensed physician. Since the homeopathic hCG does not contain the necessary amounts of the hCG hormone, you are really just doing an unsafe version of a VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) and you are putting your body in ketosis. In ketosis, you will most likely lose lean muscle tissue, bone, and easy to access fat, which your body actually needs. This will also cause your cellular metabolism to slow down, which in the long run will make gaining weight easier after you have stopped the program. By using pharmaceutical grade hCG, you will actually burn the abnormal fat (the stubborn kind around your abdomen and thighs) in your body and reset your metabolic rate.

The Bottom Line

There is no reason why a physician should ever put a patient on a VLCD or a weight loss program utilizing homeopathic hCG. Additionally, a physician should not put a patient on a VLCD and pharmaceutical hCG without first completing a detailed medical history, blood work, and consistently monitoring the patient throughout the program. This process is crucial to ensure that you are getting a high-quality, pharmaceutical grade product and to monitor your health and safety on the program.

Vitamin shots or "Weight Loss Shots" help patients jump start their metabolism and speed up their weight loss. These safe and effective injections help to burn fat, increase energy and decrease hunger. The shots consist of vitamin B-12 vitamin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-5, and a pharmaceutical agent that stimulates weight loss.

Weight loss shots can be taken once or twice a week or as needed to help speed you towards achieving your weight loss goal. These shots can be taken alone* or can be done in addition to either of our weight loss programs. You do not need to make an appointment for , this is done on a walk in basis and you would see a Medical Assistant only.

*If you are just interested in Vitamin Shots, you will need to schedule a consultation appointment before you begin the program. After your initial appointment, you can come in at any time to receive a shot (No appointment required).

Red Mountain Med Spa deeply believes in the importance of giving back locally; therefore, we support a variety of charitable organizations in the community and surrounding areas. Causes such as "Kids Crusade," which raises funds for three different orphanages in the Valley, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, North Scottsdale Little League, Toys for Tots, and Samaritan's Purse - Operation Christmas Child.