Key takeaways
- I took GLP-1 treatment myself, even though I do not like injections.
- I began offering GLP-1 treatment about two years ago, and I was really late to it.
- GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide are commonly given once a week, just under the skin, with a fine pen needle like those used for insulin.
- Being the patient did not change my view that the dose is the skill, and that results depend on dose, protein and strength training together.
- Whether a GLP-1 medicine suits you is decided after assessment. I offer options and you choose.
Why does it matter that I took the treatment myself?
Most doctors prescribe medicines they have never taken. That is normal, and it is not a problem. Good prescribing rests on evidence, training and careful follow-up.
But some treatments involve more than a pill. A weekly injection at home asks something of you: a small act of courage every week, a routine, and some patience with side effects in the early weeks. I do not like injections. So when I took GLP-1 treatment myself, I was doing the very thing many of my patients are nervous about.
That experience does not make my advice more correct. What it changes is how I listen. When someone on a video call says, "Doctor, I am not an injection person", I know exactly what they mean.
Why was I late to GLP-1 treatment?
I have been practising in Thane since 2005, and I have loved technology since I had a ZX Spectrum as a child. Yet I did not rush into GLP-1 medicines. I started offering them about two years ago, and I will say it plainly: I was late.
There is no dramatic story behind that. It fits my wider experience with weight treatments. Over the years, I found that body-contouring machines rarely met expectations. Obviously, after that, I am slow to add the next new thing, and I would rather admit when I have changed my mind.
That caution comes from the same habit that shapes everything at the clinic: I plan from the result backwards. More on that in why I plan treatment like a chess endgame.
What is the needle actually like?
For many people this is the real question, so here is a plain answer.
GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide come in pens that use a short, fine needle of the same kind used for insulin. The injection goes into the layer of fat just under the skin, not into muscle. MedlinePlus describes semaglutide as a once-weekly injection into the stomach area, thigh or upper arm, using a different site each time.
The Forum for Injection Technique in the UK considers the 4 mm pen needle the safest pen needle for adults, regardless of body size. A review in Diabetes in Practice reported that 4 mm needles were less painful than longer ones and were preferred by users.
| What people worry about | What is actually involved |
|---|---|
| A long, thick needle | A short, fine pen needle, like an insulin needle |
| Injecting into a vein or muscle | Just under the skin, into the fat layer |
| Daily injections | Usually once a week, on the same day |
| Doing it wrong | The technique is taught, and sites are rotated |
| Reusing or sharing needles | A new needle each time, never shared, disposed of safely |
None of this means you will feel nothing. Sensation varies from person to person. But knowing what is actually involved often makes the fear more manageable.
What did being the patient teach me?
It did not give me a new theory. It made me more certain about the way I already run The Endgame Weight Programme.
The dose is the skill. General protocols suit most people, but adjusting for the individual is what matters. That is why I review your dose every month, myself.
The medicine is one part of three. I call it the Triad: dose, protein and strength training, plus the right supplements. Protein can come from everyday Indian food: dal, paneer, curd, eggs, chana, soya and sprouts. Strength training helps protect muscle while weight comes down.
Know the exit before you start. Every patient receives a written taper and maintenance plan from month one, so the question "what happens when I stop?" is answered at the beginning.
No pushing. I offer options and you choose. If you hear about the injection and decide it is not for you, that is a legitimate decision. That is your call.
What side effects should I expect?
Side effects are common in the early weeks and when doses change. MedlinePlus lists nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, constipation, heartburn and burping among the common ones. They often settle, but tell me at your review, or on WhatsApp in between, rather than adjusting the dose on your own.
Some people should not use these medicines. MedlinePlus advises that people with a history of certain thyroid tumours, or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2, will usually be told not to use semaglutide, and that it should be stopped two months before a planned pregnancy. This is exactly why the eligibility consult comes first. See how online weight loss consults work.
Tips if you are nervous about injections
If you share my dislike of needles, a few practical things help:
- Pick a fixed day and time, so it becomes a routine rather than a weekly decision.
- Sit down in a calm place, at home, before you start.
- Rotate sites between the stomach area, thigh and upper arm, as advised.
- Use a new needle every time. A fresh needle is sharper.
- Ask to be walked through it at your consult. Seeing the pen and the needle often removes most of the worry.
How we approach this at Dr Tvacha
If you are considering weight treatment but the injection worries you, tell me at the start. The Rs 499 eligibility consult by video is the place to ask every question, including whether a GLP-1 medicine is right for you at all. Details are on the weight loss page. The decision stays with you.
Frequently asked questions
Does the GLP-1 weight loss injection hurt?
Sensation varies, but the needle is short and fine, like an insulin pen needle, and it goes just under the skin. Studies in insulin users found 4 mm needles less painful than longer ones. Knowing what is involved often helps. If you are anxious, tell me at your consult and I will walk you through the pen and the technique.
How often is a GLP-1 injection taken?
Semaglutide is commonly injected once a week, on the same day each week, at any time of day. It goes under the skin of the stomach area, thigh or upper arm, with the site changed each time. I decide the medicine and dose after assessment and review it with you regularly.
Did Dr Amit Karkhanis really take GLP-1 treatment himself?
Yes. I took GLP-1 weight loss treatment myself, even though I do not like injections. I started offering GLP-1 treatment at Dr Tvacha about two years ago, and I was late to it. Having been the patient, I understand the hesitation many people feel about a weekly injection.
Can I do the programme if I am scared of needles?
Tell me at your eligibility consult. Seeing how short and fine the needle is, and learning the technique, can make a weekly injection feel more manageable. If injections are not acceptable to you, I will discuss whether other options suit you. Nobody will push you into treatment.
Is a GLP-1 medicine enough on its own to lose weight?
In my view, it is not the whole plan. I use the Triad of dose, protein and strength training, plus the right supplements, so that weight loss protects your muscle and is easier to maintain. A written taper and maintenance plan is part of the programme from month one.
Written by
Dr Amit KarkhanisAesthetic Physician · MBBS, Dip. Dermatology (UK) · Reg. No. 2001/02/1124Founder of Dr Tvacha, practising in Thane since 2005. Leads the weight loss and hair programmes.
Sources
- Semaglutide Injection: drug information (MedlinePlus)
- Tirzepatide Injection: drug information (MedlinePlus)
- Use of longer pen needles: FIT recommendation on 4 mm needles (OpenPrescribing)
- The shorter the better: benefits of optimal injection technique and short pen needles (Diabetes in Practice, 2014)
- Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity, TA875 (NICE)
This article is for general education and does not replace a consultation. Medicines and treatments are prescribed only after a doctor's assessment. Last reviewed 25 October 2026.