How to Choose a Weight Loss Clinic in Houston, TX | Questions to Ask | TeleSlim Clinic
How to Choose a Weight Loss Clinic in Houston, TX: Questions to Ask
Houston has many options for medical weight loss, from hospital programs to private practices and telemedicine. Whatever you choose, a few questions will help you compare them fairly. Use this checklist with any clinic, including ours.
1. Who is the physician, and what are the credentials?
Ask whether a licensed physician evaluates you, whether they are licensed in Texas, and whether they have training in obesity medicine. At TeleSlim Clinic, your physician is Dr. Diala Alatassi, MD, DABIM, DABOM, FACP, board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine and licensed in Texas.
2. Which medications are used, and where do they come from?
Ask whether the clinic prescribes FDA-approved medicines. Compounded versions of some drugs are not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality the way it does approved products. TeleSlim Clinic prescribes FDA-approved medications only and does not offer compounded GLP-1 medications.
3. Does the clinic sell the medicine?
Some clinics dispense medicine themselves; others send prescriptions to your pharmacy. We do not dispense. Your prescription goes to the pharmacy you choose.
4. What does it all cost?
Ask for the visit fee, follow-up fees, the medication cost and anything else, in writing. Our pricing is $99 for the first video consultation and $99 per month for follow-up, with lower per-month rates on longer plans. Medication is a separate cost.
5. Is safety information shared up front?
A good clinic explains boxed warnings, side effects and who should not take a medicine before you start.
6. How often will you be seen?
Ask about follow-up visits, who answers questions between visits, and how dose changes are handled. We offer monthly physician follow-up.
7. Is the plan about more than a prescription?
Nutrition, activity and long-term maintenance matter. Ask what support is included.
8. Does it fit your life?
Think about commute, parking, hours and whether you prefer in-person or video visits. Read about online care in Houston.
Questions from Houston patients
Do you take insurance?
We do not bill insurance for our own visits, but we handle prior authorization for your medication, send prescriptions and lab orders to the pharmacy or lab you choose where your insurance can be used, and provide a superbill you can submit to your insurer, and reimbursement is not guaranteed.
Can I see you in person?
Our visits are by video.
Cost and how to get started
TeleSlim Clinic visits are self-pay: $99 for the first video consultation and $99 per month for physician follow-up, with lower per-month rates on 3-month, 6-month and annual plans (see our cost guide for Houston). The medication is a separate cost paid at the pharmacy or through manufacturer programs. Cash prices for weight-loss medications typically run about $150 to $450 per month depending on the medicine and dose, and they change over time, so ask your pharmacy for the current price. We provide a superbill you can submit to your insurer, but reimbursement is not guaranteed (see insurance and weight loss medication in Houston).
TeleSlim Clinic does not dispense medication, and we do not offer compounded GLP-1 medications. If your physician prescribes a medicine, the prescription goes to the pharmacy you choose. Visits are by video with Dr. Diala Alatassi, MD, DABIM, DABOM, FACP, who is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine and licensed to practice in Texas. TeleSlim Clinic serves adults 18 and older.
Book your $99 video visit to talk through your options with a Texas-licensed physician.
Related reading: am I a candidate for weight loss medication, weight loss medication vs bariatric surgery, weight loss medications in Houston.
This page is general education, not medical advice. Whether a medication is appropriate is a decision made by a physician after an evaluation. Individual results vary. Always read the manufacturer's full prescribing information.
