Every January our phones get busy with weight loss enquiries. Many people have already tried a programme somewhere, lost a few kilos, and put it all back. Before you sign up anywhere, including with us, ask a few plain questions. This page lists the ones we would ask if we were in your place.
Last updated: 31 October 2026 · Medically reviewed by Dr. Lokeshwari · VK Allure Dermaclinic, Kilpauk, ECR-Uthandi & Ambattur, Chennai
Ask who will examine you, which blood tests they check, what weight loss they think is realistic for you, how often you'll be reviewed and by whom, and what happens after the programme ends. A good clinic answers all of this before you start. If the answers are vague, or the first visit is mostly about a package, take that as a warning.
See a doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have diabetes, heart, kidney or thyroid problems, take regular medicines, or have ever had an eating disorder. A weight plan has to fit around these.
| Who sees you | A doctor takes your history and examines you |
|---|---|
| Tests | Relevant blood tests before any plan or medicine |
| Target | A steady, realistic pace, not a big number in a few weeks |
| Follow-up | Regular reviews with a named person |
| After the plan | A clear way to keep the weight off |
Ask this on the phone itself. You want a doctor to take your medical history, check your weight, waist and blood pressure, and look at your medicines before anyone gives you a diet or a machine session. A dietitian or therapist can run the day-to-day plan, but a doctor should be in charge of the safety checks.
This matters more than people think. Weight gain is sometimes the first sign of thyroid trouble, PCOS or a medicine side effect. A plan that ignores the cause will be slow and frustrating. If you're a woman with irregular periods, acne or hair fall along with weight gain, our page on PCOS and thyroid hair fall explains why we test for these.
They should. A sensible start usually includes your weight, height, waist size and blood pressure, plus blood tests chosen for you, often sugar, thyroid, cholesterol and haemoglobin [CHECK: confirm the tests we usually order]. Without these, nobody can say what pace or diet is safe for you.
For Indians the numbers also need reading differently. An Indian consensus statement puts the overweight line at a BMI of 23, not 25, and flags waist size above about 90 cm in men and 80 cm in women [CHECK]. Many of our patients are surprised by this. You can work out your own numbers with our calorie calculator before the visit.
Tests won't make the weight come off faster. They just stop you from following a plan that's wrong for your body.
For most adults, a slow, steady loss of about half a kilo to one kilo a week is a safe pace [CHECK]. Losing even 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can improve blood sugar, blood pressure and joint pain. Be careful with any clinic that promises a big, fixed number of kilos within a few weeks.
Quick drops in the first week are mostly water. That's why the scale races at first and then stalls. When someone guarantees a result, ask them what happens if you don't reach it. Honestly, your body doesn't read the brochure.
Some people lose slowly even when they follow everything, especially with PCOS, thyroid problems or after pregnancy. A good clinic tells you this at the start. [ADD DOCTOR EXAMPLE: the pace Dr. Lokeshwari usually expects for a typical patient, and one real (anonymous) example.]
One of these alone may be a misunderstanding. Two or three together, and we'd look elsewhere.
Not really for weight. Treatments like fat freezing, EMS and inch loss therapy can reshape a stubborn area, such as the lower belly or love handles, in people who are already close to their goal. They won't bring your overall weight down in a meaningful way. Diet, activity and medical care do that part.
We use these devices too, so we'd rather be clear about what they do. You can read how they compare in our fat freezing vs laser body contouring guide, or see all options on the body treatments in Chennai page. If a clinic offers you only machine sessions and no food plan, ask how the weight will stay off.
Weight loss injections are prescription medicines. Ask who prescribes them, which tests are done first, how side effects like nausea are watched, how long you'll take them, and what the plan is when you stop. They aren't suitable for everyone, and they work best alongside food and activity changes.
[CHECK: confirm whether VK Allure prescribes weight loss injections. If not, keep this section as general advice and remove anything that suggests we offer them.] Be careful with injections sold without a doctor's prescription or examination.
Regularly, and for months, not weeks. Research on weight programmes shows people do better with frequent sessions over at least six months, led by trained staff. Ask how often you'll be weighed and reviewed, whether a doctor or a dietitian does it, and what changes if you stall.
[ADD DOCTOR EXAMPLE: how often our patients come back, who leads each follow-up (doctor or dietitian), and how the plan changes when weight stops moving.] Chennai routines matter here. Long commutes, late office dinners and wedding season all shape what's realistic, so the plan should be adjusted at each visit, not printed once.
Ask this before you start. Weight usually creeps back if the habits stop when the sessions stop. A good programme slowly reduces visits, teaches you to manage meals on your own, and keeps a check-in for the months after.
Keeping weight off is harder than losing it. We tell patients that on day one. It's not to discourage anyone. It's so the plan includes the last few months, not just the first.
Our doctor first reviews your history, weight and measurements, and may suggest blood tests. We then make a food, activity and treatment plan around your health and daily routine. Where it suits you, non-invasive sessions are added. Weight and measurements are tracked at every review and the plan is adjusted. The full details are on our weight loss treatment page and our weight loss clinic in Chennai page.
There are also things we say no to. [ADD DOCTOR EXAMPLE: what we refuse, e.g. crash targets before a wedding, or treatment without tests.] For a simple eating structure to start with, see our 1200 calorie diet plan, but please check with a doctor before following any fixed calorie plan.
You can see us at Kilpauk, ECR Uthandi or Ambattur. Bring your recent blood reports and a list of medicines. Exact cost depends on your assessment, so book a free consultation first.
Sources: NIDDK (US National Institutes of Health): Choosing a safe and successful weight-loss program; Misra A et al. Consensus statement for diagnosis of obesity and abdominal obesity in Asian Indians, JAPI 2009.
Ask who examines you, which tests are done, what pace they expect, how often you're reviewed and what happens after the programme. Clear answers before you pay anything are a good sign.
Yes. A doctor should check your history, medicines and blood tests before a plan starts. Conditions like thyroid problems, PCOS and diabetes change what's safe.
It depends on you. Commonly sugar, thyroid, cholesterol and haemoglobin are checked [CHECK]. The doctor adds others if your history points to them.
Usually around 2 to 4 kg [CHECK]. A pace of about half to one kilo a week is safer and easier to keep. Big early drops are mostly water.
A BMI of 23 or more. An Indian consensus statement uses lower cut-offs than the global ones, because Indians tend to carry more body fat at the same weight [CHECK].
No. They help shape a stubborn area once you're near your goal. Weight itself comes down with food, activity and medical care.
They're prescription medicines and can be safe when a doctor selects and monitors you. They're not for everyone, and side effects like nausea are common at first [CHECK].
Regularly for at least six months. Frequent reviews help people stay on track. Ask who leads each review and how often [ADD DOCTOR EXAMPLE].
Mostly because the habits stop when the sessions stop. A good plan tapers visits slowly and keeps a check-in for a few months after.
Exact cost depends on your assessment. Book a free consultation and the doctor will explain the plan first.
Medically Reviewed By
Dermatology Specialist · VK Allure Dermaclinic, Chennai
Dr. Lokeshwari is the lead dermatologist and medical reviewer at VK Allure Dermaclinic, practising at the Kilpauk, ECR-Uthandi and Ambattur branches in Chennai. She plans skin, hair and laser treatment for Indian skin types and Chennai's hot, humid climate.
This weight loss clinic guide was reviewed by Dr. Lokeshwari on 31 October 2026 for medical accuracy and safety advice.
About Dr. Lokeshwari →📞 +91 96009-58060 · 💬 WhatsApp · 🏥 Kilpauk, ECR-Uthandi & Ambattur, Chennai
This weight loss clinic guide is written by our clinical team and medically reviewed by Dr. Lokeshwari, Dermatology Specialist and lead medical reviewer at VK Allure Dermaclinic. Last reviewed: . Read our editorial policy.
Medical disclaimer: This page is for general education and is not a substitute for a personal medical consultation. Results vary from person to person. Please consult our dermatologist before starting any procedure.