Medical Weight Loss Program

Unlike alot of other medical weight loss programs, we do not believe in a subscription model. That means there is no monthly payments or contracts.

To be a part of the program, all you need to do is have a profession consultation with Dr Cheng or Dr Rigas.

New patient initial consultation cost:

• Dr Cheng – $300
• Dr Rigas – $450

Follow up consults cost:

• Dr Cheng – $150 
• Dr Rigas – $150 – 250

* Dietitian consult fees are bulk billed with a valid care plan or charged to Hicaps through insurance.

* Equally, psychology consults can be sub-sidised through a valid care plan.

* Use of our advanced body composition analyzer is complimentary.

Note – *The cost of medication will be separate and purchased through your pharmacy

Once you start the program, we will organise regular follow ups with the team to track your progress.

Typically this would mean:

• follow up at 3 month
• then follow up at 9 month
• Once your up to speed,  it could be every 6 months or 12 months for ongoing maintenance

Be prepared, the follow up sessions can be quite involved.

During follow up sessions:

• you will consult with your designated specialist:
  • check on progress
  • check for side-effects
  • discuss ongoing management plan – i.e. adjusting medication and its doses, changing tactics
  • discuss areas which need addressing
  • review up-to-date nutritional bloods work
• you will also consult with our dietitian:
  • review your current diet
  • develop tailored meal plans
  • discuss areas that need addressing
  • discuss nutritional supplementation
  • discuss your body composition results
• you may be asked to consult with our psychologist (over telehealth)
  • work on food relationships
  • address certain eating behaviours
• get on the body composition scan to assess current muscle mass, adipose percentage and metabolic rate

Not always.

We value your time and understand that unnecessary blood work can cause discomfort and also disrupt your daily schedule.

We aim to keep blood work to max 1-2 times per year.

Of course!

We believe in flexibility while prioritising long term outcomes.

There are times when our specialists would advise you to come in for a face-to-face consultation based on what is going to benefit you most.

Both Dr Cheng and Dr Rigas have a wealth of experience when managing weight issues.

Choosing between specialists sometimes comes down to personal preference and need.

• if you are in need of medical weight loss and also management of women related health issues i.e. menopause etc, Dr. Rigas may be more appropriate as she can provide holistic approach for both issues.
• if you are of a higher weight category and undecided about surgery, Dr Cheng could help guide you with the most appropriate plan for you.

There are times when both specialists are involved with your care and you maybe seeing them inter-changeably.

We are unique when it comes to long term follow up.

Weight and obesity related medical issues are chronic disease problems. Life is un-predictable which can also throw many curve-balls when it comes to weight management.

Tackling them usually requires long term follow up. At SGOS we believe in life-long follow up and will always be there for you.

The truth is that there is no universal timeframe. Weight management is often best approached as a long-term health strategy, with the intensity of treatment changing as your health and goals change.

Once your situation stabilises, we will organise ongoing yearly follow ups for fine-tuning.

It is always important to regularly touch base with our dietitian.

Diet forms a major corner stone of weight loss management and there is so much to gain from your dietetic consults.

As you know, losing weight also can mean muscle loss and it is important that we rectify this as soon as possible to avoid other new issues.

Our team is at the forefront of weight loss management.

We often tailor the most suitable medication for your needs.

Medication options includes the whole spectrum of GLP-1 agonists along with other agents like Phentermine, Naltrexone + Buproprion, Orilostat etc.

The most suitable medication is often the one that is most “bang for buck” for you – meaning a good balance between acceptable costs and weight loss outcomes

Medication is not automatically required. If medication is appropriate, your clinician will discuss the available options, potential benefits, side effects, contraindications and expected costs.

Short answer is Yes.

Exercise is an important part of maintaining muscle, heart health, physical function and long-term weight management.

Exercise does not have to mean gym work and can be as much as 30min walking for 3 times per week.

Weight loss is usually a gradual process. Your treatment plan may be adjusted over time depending on your progress, appetite control, nutrition and other health factors.

Remember, slow and steady wins the race.  The idea is not how quickly you can lose weight, but how we can help you adjust your metabolism in ensuring that weight continues to come off and you maintaining it long term.

Two people can have the same BMI but very different amounts of body fat and muscle.

Where appropriate, body composition assessment can provide additional information about:

• Body fat
• Lean mass
• Muscle mass
• Visceral “tummy” fat (unwanted fat)
• Changes in fat versus lean tissue over time

This can provide a more complete picture than weight or BMI alone.

Furthermore, regular body composition monitoring helps to measure whether you are losing too much muscle in relations to fat tissue.

We know through evidence that the stricter you are with your diet, the higher the chance of you dropping off from that diet.

More importantly, the focus should be on developing sustainable eating habits rather than a highly restrictive diet.

Nutrition recommendations can be personalised around your preferences, lifestyle, cultural background, medical conditions and weight-loss goals.

Quick-fixes doesn’t work. This is what often leads to yo-yoing of weight.

The aim is to provide evidence-based, medically supervised weight management, rather than short-term dieting plans.

The focus is on improving health and establishing sustainable strategies that can be maintained over the long term.

This is also why we don’t believe in subscription models or 8-12 week weight loss challenges.

Even more so that you need to consider a dedicated weight loss program.

Weight management can be particularly important when excess weight is associated with other health conditions. Your specialist can incorporate these conditions into your treatment plan and coordinate care with your GP or other specialists where appropriate.