Med Spas Selling Ozempic: Safe and Convenient, or Dangerous? Experts Weigh In

Over the last year, weight loss medications such as GLP-1s (such as compounded semaglutide, Ozempic or Wegovy) have become diet culture staples. A-list celebrities and media personalities like Elon Musk have credited their staggering weight loss formations to these "miracle" medications, which were once only intended for diabetes . Not only do they help regulate blood sugar, but oftentimes, they aid in weight loss. And they've infiltrated weight loss journeys beyond Hollywood. But because of skyrocketing demand, drug shortages and spikes in cost have made these medications far more difficult to obtain, and many looking to lose weight are turning to other outlets, such as med spas, for Ozempic .

Med spas often don't even have any medical affiliations.  Many of them have also started facing legal reprecussions for labeling "compounded" medications using the Ozempic name. Some of these med spas operate completely online, while others have brick-and-mortar locations. They make GLP-1 access easier and sometimes cheaper, but it safe to skip the doctor's office while getting a prescription? Or is this just a more convenient way to get your next dose?

"GLP-1s can have serious side effects. Oftentimes, they require clinician oversight," law and bioethics professor Sharona Hoffman of Case Western University explained to Woman's World . "There are also a lot of fraudulent weight-loss products out there. You want to make sure the GLP-1 comes from reputable and legitimate pharmacies."

What Is a Med Spa?

Med spas have long been popular for cosmetic procedures like Botox, microneedling, but with the advent of Ozempic, many are adding prescription weight weight loss treatments, as well. The idea behind a med spa is to bring aesthetic medical services to a spa-like environment . Because their treatments are medical-grade, they are supposed to be affiliated with a medical doctor. Procedures can be done by aesthetic nurse practitioners, licensed physicians and even plastic surgeons, depending on the treatment.

High Prices Are Making People Choose Med Spas Over Doctors for GLP-1s

More and more people are looking to "spas" and telehealth providers rather than to actual in-person doctors for GLP-1 prescriptions. And it's no coincidence — Dr. Lisa Golding-Granado MD , the Medical Director at Serotonin Centers, explains this is the result of increased demand, limited prescription access and social media influence. Obtaining brand-name medications from a real doctor can be incredibly expensive , sometimes amounting to almost $2,000 per dose.

But med spas are starting to offer their medications at a discount — especially with generic "compounded" versions of popular drugs. "Forgoing a healthcare provider's guidance for approved medical grade products is dangerous and undermines patient safety," Dr. Golding-Granado tells us. "Despite what may seem like potentially 'easy access,' these are resources for unregulated and potentially dangerous products."

Despite what may seem like potentially "easy access," these are resources for unregulated and potentially dangerous products.

Med Spas Sometimes Operate Within a Legal Grey Area

Controlled substances like GLP-1s require prescriptions from real medical doctors. Reputable med spas partner with medical professionals and can add GLP-1s to their practice legally. To be able to administer these kinds of controlled substances, a med spa must have informed consent, medical supervision, training, standard operating procedures, insurance and legal guidance.

But at times, medical supervision at a med spa can be sparse. A licensed physical must always OK a prescription, to make it valid. "GLP-1 requires a valid prescription from a licensed physician," Professor Hoffman adds. " Administering it without a prescription is illegal. "

Obtaining GLP-1s From Med Spas Isn't Always Safe

Dr. Sajad Zalzala , Co-Founder and Medical Director of AgelessRx says many med spas use paid ads and undergo regulatory oversight. That's why certifications like LegitScript are such important things to look out for — they show that a board of medical experts have approved the pharmacy as a trustworthy and safe option, for those looking to take these kinds of medications. If they aren't trustworthy, they may offer non-regulated prescriptions, or might prescribe GLP-1s to someone who doesn't necessarily need it.

"While there are legitimate telehealth clinics that are LegitScript certified telehealth platforms, there are also plenty of websites that are capitalizing on paid ads to take advantage of people looking for GLP-1s," Dr. Zalzala says. "Legitimate telehealth platforms undergo regulatory oversight, quality assurance checks, and ongoing check-ins to ensure patient health and using only licensed pharmacies and prescribers."

Without Proper Prescribing, You Can Overdose on Semaglutide

One troubling issue among non-medical administrators pertains to confusion with dosages. There are dangers of taking too much of the medication , according to the FDA, as it can sometimes lead to hospitalization . Generally, if prescribed through an actual doctor, the medication will come pre-measured in a syringe. But when it's prescribed through a spa, it may not come pre-measured. Therefore, patients are advised to reach out to an actual provider about how to measure it out for themselves, if it isn't already portioned out into separate dosages.

"Compound pharmacies often do not clearly communicate how to properly dose the medication," Rachel Goldberg , LMFT, PMH-C  tells us. "Dosage labels can come in different formats, leading to confusion for those unfamiliar with the process. Another issue arises when individuals dose themselves without oversight, especially since the needles are typically not pre-filled (though some med spas offer this option). If someone decides to increase their dose prematurely to speed up effects, there’s little to prevent them from doing so."

Purchasing Peptides Overseas Can Result in Low-Quality Medications

But controlling dosages isn't the only supervision issue. Compounding pharmacies may also buy peptides overseas, which can lead to quality issues. In June 2024, the WHO issued a warning regarding an uptick in counterfeit Ozempic across Europe and South America. Aside from being a waste of money, this can mean putting questionable and sometimes hazardous ingredients into your body.

"There’s no oversight for these products, leading to concerns about quality, purity, and legal implications related to importing or possessing prescription drugs without proper authorization," Rachel Goldberg told Woman's World . "There’s also no medical supervision, leaving individuals vulnerable to side effects or dangerous interactions with other medications, as well as lacking a healthcare professional to consult if issues arise...Despite these risks, people continue to turn to these methods because they are often cheaper, allow them to bypass the need for a prescription from their own healthcare provider (who may not approve the medication), and avoid potential insurance denials."

Despite these risks, people continue to turn to these methods because they are often cheaper.

Some Distributors Sell Potentially Dangerous "Research Products" For a Discount

A Wall Street Journal article warns that many online distributers were selling research-grade GLP-1s for a discount . However, there are serious hazards to taking research-grade medications, because they are not necessarily pure or for human use. These are black market, and they are not regulated by the FDA. And if something bad happens, there's nothing the patient can do about it, because they were taking medication they obtained through the black market.

"Despite what may seem like potentially 'easy access', using these resources for unregulated and potentially dangerous," Dr. Golding-Granado explains. "Taking these products without a healthcare provider's guidance for approved medical grade products is dangerous and undermines patient safety."

Research-Grade Medications Don't Come With An Actual Rx

A formal prescription ensures that the medication you're getting is legitimate. Many research-grade medications don't come with an actual Rx, which is how they sell on the black market. "The issue is accessing these meds from a website without a Rx. It's legal for those websites to provide meds for research purposes," adds Dr. Jonathan Kaplan, a Board-certified plastic surgeon, tech innovator, influencer, and GLP-1 expert at BuildMyHealth . "But, it's disingenuous for them to tout the benefits of these meds for humans, with the caveat that they're for research uses only — not human use. It's as though that absolves them of selling to humans."

It's disingenuous for them to tout the benefits of these meds for humans, with the caveat that they're for research uses only — not human use. It's as though that absolves them of selling to humans.

Compounded Medications May Also Be Unregulated

Recently, the FDA raised concerns regarding compounded GLP-1 medications . These are generic medications that come from compounding pharmacies, often containing the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy. They tend to cost less than name brand medications, but sometimes, they aren't as regulated. There have been numerous recalls over the last month, because non-FDA approved drugs can be very unsafe , and drug makers are trying to get them banned altogether .

But Are Semaglutide Drug Makers Concerned for Your Safety — Or Just Protecting Enormous Profits?

Med spas across the country are now receiving cease-and-desist letters from Eli Lily , the creator of Ozempic. The brand doesn't want its name to be tarnished by med spas, particularly those using compounded medications with "the same active ingredient" as Ozempic. Woman's World spoke with lawyer Jeff Cohen of Florida Healthcare Law Firm, who is representing Sam Tejada , founder of med spa Liquivida, regarding this legal matter. "Big Pharma has a lot invested in vetting these products and controlling their formulation and safety issues on their end," Cohen says. "The cease and desist letters really arise from the fact that clinics and platforms are using the brand names (Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound). Big pharma doesn't like it because they think it's deceptive, misleading and that it allegedly creates quality problems. They say that they're tracking reported problem injuries from using compounded medications instead of their own."

Big pharma doesn't like it because they think it's deceptive, misleading and that it allegedly creates quality problems. They say that they're tracking reported problem injuries from using compounded medications instead of their own.

Will Cracking Down On Med Spas Result In More Harm Than Good?

Ultimately, this may be a dangerous move on Eli Lily's part, for GLP-1 safety. If fewer clinicians are able to offer compounded GLP-1s for a lower price, customers may start resorting to the black market (such as research-grade medications) instead. Tejada, whose med spa clinic does offer compounded GLP-1s with proper medical supervision, compares it to prohibition, when alcohol was outsourced illegally and unsafely.

"It's almost like the prohibition days — you're not going to stop them from 'drinking.' They're just going to start 'making beer and everything else in the bathtub," Tejada says. "Now they're pushing these patients to the black market, where there's no clinical supervision or quality control behind the product. This is where you're going to see real problems develop."

What to Look Out For When Getting a GLP-1 Prescription:

There are a few ways to get GLP-1s without going to an in-person doctor — whether that means going to a med spa, or using an online telehealth provider . However, it's important to lookout for tell-tale signs that it is, in fact, a safe outlet for you to obtain prescription weight loss medications.

Med Spas That Prescribes Medications Should Be Affiliated With an MD

Companies called "telehealth providers" can be safer, because they have a medical affiliation. As long as they have a doctor on board, it should be legal and safe, and many practicing physicians consult with both telehealth providers and med spas on the side. For med spas, in addition to providing ample training to employees, Med Spa Society says a safe med spa will have a detailed document of Standard Operating Procedures to ensure strict, uniform standards.

"Med spas can offer some medical procedures and/or prescribe certain medications (such as Ozempic) if they are owned by a physician or if they have an association with a doctor," personal injury lawyer Don Worley tells us. "They can either come to the spa or offer consultations via telemedicine."

You Should Also Get a Medical Evaluation, and a Pharmacy Prescription

Med spas can also prescribe GLP-1s legally and safely by taking proper precautions before and after writing a prescription. The American Med Spa Association emphasizes the importance of conducting a "good faith" exam , and then writing up an actual prescription for it. That said, Dr. Kaplan told us that proper preliminary and conclusive measures are crucial for a med spa to safely prescribe GLP-1s: "Med spas and [telehealth] websites can be reasonable places to get these meds," Kaplan says. "As long as there's an evaluation and a prescription submission to a pharmacy."

Unless You’re Sure a Med Spa Is Following the Rules, Use a Reputable Telehealth Provider or See a Doctor

If you're thinking about getting a weight-loss (or any other) medication from a med spa, make sure it meets the standards our experts recommend: An association with a practicing doctor who consults on your prescription; a Standard Operating Procedures for semaglutide document; and a prescription from a pharmacy (online or traditional) with proper dosing, and not a sketchy "research chemical."

If it doesn't meet those criteria, it may be safest to just go to your doctor in-person or use a Legit Script certified telehealth provider for a GLP-1 prescription. It may be more expensive and take more time to get approved. But ultimately, you'll know that you're doing what's safest for you. Go to the spa for a facial or a massage, but leave the prescriptions to your trustworthy provider. "I would see your general physician that you know and trust for any type of medical procedure — certainly for any type of prescription medication," Worley says. "Only go to spas for non-medical treatment."