How to Start Peptide Therapy:
What to Expect at Your First Consultation
Most people who reach out about peptide therapy aren't sure what they're walking into. Is it a sales call? A 5-minute Zoom and a script? A multi-month process before you can even get started? The honest answer at Juvenis Medical is none of those — and worth understanding before you pick up the phone.
Here's exactly what the process looks like, from the first call through your first month on therapy.
Step 1: The Free 15-Minute Call
Every patient relationship at Juvenis starts with a free 15-minute call directly with Dr. Paul. Not a coordinator, not a PA — Dr. Paul himself. The call is intentionally short and exists to answer two questions:
- Are peptide therapy or hormone optimization actually appropriate for what you're dealing with?
- Are we the right clinic for you, and are you the right fit for us?
You'll get to describe your situation, ask questions, and hear an honest read on whether what you're hoping for is realistic. If the answer is "this isn't the right tool for what you described," you'll hear that. If you're a good candidate, we'll outline what the next steps look like.
No pressure to commit on the call. Most patients take a few days to think it over before scheduling the formal evaluation.
Step 2: Comprehensive Lab Work
Before any prescription, we need data. The exact lab panel depends on your goals, but for most peptide therapy candidates we order:
- Full hormone panel — total and free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol, DHEA-S, LH, FSH, prolactin (and progesterone for women)
- Thyroid panel — TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, antibodies if indicated
- Metabolic markers — fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, lipid panel
- Inflammation and nutrient status — hsCRP, vitamin D, B12, ferritin
- CBC and CMP — baseline organ function, hematocrit, kidney and liver markers
- PSA for men over 40 (relevant for any testosterone protocol)
Labs are drawn at any LabCorp or Quest near you — we send the order electronically. Results typically arrive within 5–7 days. There's no need to come to the office for the draw.
Step 3: The Evaluation Visit
Once labs are in, we book a longer appointment — typically 60 minutes — to go through everything in detail. This visit is the actual clinical evaluation. It happens via video for telehealth patients, in person at the Oakland Park clinic for those who prefer.
What we cover:
Full History Review
Symptoms, timeline, prior treatments, current medications, family history, training and lifestyle context, and what specifically you're hoping to change. We take notes — not for show, but because the details matter when we build the protocol.
Lab Walkthrough
We go through every value on your panel — what it means, why it matters for your situation, what's optimal versus what's "in range," and where the biggest opportunities are. You'll leave the visit understanding your own labs, not just hearing a summary.
Goal Alignment
What does success look like to you in 3 months? 6 months? 12 months? We translate those goals into specific, measurable changes — body composition shifts, sleep quality, training capacity, lab values, symptom reduction. This becomes the standard we measure progress against.
Protocol Design
Based on the labs, the history, and the goals, Dr. Paul lays out a specific protocol. Which peptide(s) and/or hormones, at what dose, on what schedule, for how long. The reasoning behind each choice is explained — including why certain things you might have read about aren't the right call for you.
Costs and Logistics
Transparent pricing — what the medication costs, what follow-up labs cost, what visits cost. No hidden fees. No "package" pressure. You'll have time to ask questions and decide whether you want to proceed.
Step 4: Prescription and Onboarding
If you decide to move forward, prescriptions go directly to a licensed compounding pharmacy. Medications are shipped to your home in temperature-controlled packaging, typically arriving within 5–7 days. Everything you need — vials, syringes, alcohol swabs, instructions — is included.
Our team walks you through self-administration step by step. We have video demonstrations on the video library page showing exactly how to draw doses, prep injection sites, and inject safely. For most peptides, the injections are tiny (insulin syringes, similar to the diabetes you've seen others use), and patients are comfortable doing them within a few days.
Step 5: Follow-Up and Optimization
Real medical care doesn't end at the first prescription. Our standard follow-up cadence:
- Week 4–6: brief check-in (video, 15 min) to discuss tolerance, side effects, early changes
- Week 8–12: repeat targeted lab work, full follow-up visit, dose adjustments as needed
- Months 3–6: continued monitoring, adjustments to dose or stack
- Month 6 and beyond: quarterly to semi-annual check-ins depending on stability
You also have direct access to our team between visits — for side-effect questions, dose timing, anything that comes up. We don't disappear after the first prescription.
What we won't do: hand you a 30-day script with no follow-up, prescribe anything that isn't backed by your labs and history, or push protocols you don't understand. If a clinic operates that way, that's a sign to keep looking.
Telehealth vs In-Person — Which Is Right for You?
Both work. The choice depends on your situation:
- Telehealth works for the vast majority of peptide therapy patients nationwide. Non-controlled peptides like BPC-157, Sermorelin, Ipamorelin/CJC-1295, NAD+, PT-141, and GLP-1 weight loss therapy can all be handled by video. Florida residents can also handle controlled-substance therapies (TRT, BHRT) entirely via telehealth.
- In-person at the Fort Lauderdale clinic is the right fit if you prefer face-to-face care, want body composition assessment done locally, are non-Florida and need controlled-substance evaluation, or want a hybrid (in-person initial, telehealth follow-up).
How to Prepare for Your First Call
You don't need to do anything special, but the call goes more smoothly if you can describe:
- What's actually bothering you, in concrete terms (not just "I want peptides")
- How long it's been going on
- What you've already tried — labs, treatments, supplements, lifestyle changes
- Any meaningful medical history — surgeries, cancer history, cardiovascular events, current medications
- What you'd consider a successful outcome 3–6 months from now
Don't worry about being perfect. The point of the call is to figure out the picture together — not to test you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long until I'm actually on therapy?
Typical timeline: free call (week 0), labs ordered same day, results back in 5–7 days, evaluation visit scheduled within 1–2 weeks of labs returning, prescription same day if you proceed, medication arrives 5–7 days after that. Most patients are dosing within 2–4 weeks of their first call.
Do I have to commit to a long contract?
No. We don't do contracts or "packages." You pay for what you use, you can stop at any time, and you're never locked in.
Can I bring my own labs from another doctor?
If they're recent (within 60–90 days) and complete, often yes. We'll review them on the call and tell you whether anything additional is needed.
What if peptides aren't right for me?
Then we'll tell you. Sometimes the better answer is hormone optimization (TRT, BHRT), sometimes it's a referral elsewhere, sometimes it's "fix sleep and come back in 3 months." We'd rather tell you the truth than sell you something that won't help.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Peptide therapy and hormone optimization are prescription protocols that require comprehensive evaluation by a licensed clinician. Individual responses vary. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or modifying any treatment.