Kara Wilfong
Doctorate Prepared Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
Fleming IslandA doctorally-prepared nurse practitioner who spent a decade as an emergency room nurse before moving into aesthetics and wellness.
Medical Weight Loss · Fleming Island, FL
A partner in your weight-loss journey, not a script
Supervised weight-loss programs built around who you are, not a single medication. Offerings include GLP-1 class support, our non-injectable Thinnr program, phentermine, and lipotropic (skinny shot) support, all screened and monitored by our nurse practitioner team.
Written by the Well Labs+ editorial team · Last updated July 2026
Category Overview
Why we start with the "why"
Before we talk about any program, we spend real time understanding how the weight came on and why it has been hard to lose, whether that is portion sizes, emotional eating, hormones, or a metabolic cause. That conversation, not a medication, is where a Pura Vida weight-loss plan actually begins.
From there, your nurse practitioner matches you to the program that fits your history: a supervised GLP-1 class plan, our non-injectable Thinnr program, a short-term phentermine program, or lipotropic support layered onto any of them, part of our complete wellness and body care, and we will tell you honestly which one, if any, is right for you.
The Weight-Loss Programs
Four ways to lose weight, medically supervised
Each program suits a different history and a different comfort level with medication. Use this as a guide, then let your provider help you choose, honestly, at your consultation.
Supervised · GLP-1 class + peptide tiers
Weight Loss Program
Our medically supervised weight-loss program, built around a screening visit, monthly monitoring, and tiers ranging from a peptide-based start to GLP-1 class medical support. The right fit for patients who want a clinician guiding the whole plan.
Learn about Weight Loss ProgramProprietary · non-injectable
Thinnr
A holistic, non-injectable program built on portion control and a lower-calorie, balanced way of eating, no medication or prescription required. The choice for patients who are not candidates for medication or prefer not to use one.
Learn about ThinnrPhysician-supervised · controlled substance
Phentermine Program
A short-term, candidacy-gated appetite-suppressant program using a prescription controlled substance, screened and monitored by our nurse practitioners. Considered when it is the right, safe fit for a patient’s history.
Learn about Phentermine ProgramInjection adjunct · B12 + amino blend
Lipotropic Injections
A B12 and amino-acid blend injection that supports energy and metabolism alongside a weight-loss plan. An adjunct that pairs with any program above, not a standalone weight-loss treatment on its own.
Learn about Lipotropic InjectionsWhich program is right for you is decided together at your consultation, based on your screening and your goals, never assumed in advance.
Also In Our Toolkit
When the barrier isn’t just food
Some patients have tried programs before and suspect the real barrier is behavioral or emotional, not just caloric. That comes up at consultation, not as its own standalone page.
Behavioral + Neurochemistry Layer
Serotonin-Plus
A layer we can add onto a medical weight-loss plan for patients whose weight struggle is tied to mood, stress, or emotional eating rather than portion size alone. We discuss whether it fits within your screening visit, alongside your other program options.
In Expert Hands
A plan built around your history, by a real clinician
Every weight-loss plan at Pura Vida starts with a nurse practitioner reviewing your health history, not a pre-set package. We screen honestly, including when a medication is not the right or safe choice for you, and we check in monthly so the plan adjusts as your body responds.
That is the difference between a script and a partner, part of the full wellness and body program built around you.
Fleming Island · Northeast Florida
Sustainable results for a coastal lifestyle
Fleming Island’s active, research-first families want a weight-loss plan that fits real life on the river and the golf course, not a quick fix that rebounds the moment the program ends. We coach the lifestyle changes, like a Mediterranean way of eating, that help results hold long after a program is over.
Northeast Florida’s UV index climbs to extreme from spring through late summer, and sun exposure drives much of the collagen loss and visible aging we treat, so care here is as much about prevention as it is about correction.
The practice Fleming Island trusts for medical wellness: voted the area’s best medspa six years running, cared for from our Medical Spa on Island Lane.
Serving
- Fleming Island
- Orange Park
- Middleburg
- Green Cove Springs
- Jacksonville
- Clay County
Is This For You?
Am I a Candidate?
A Good Fit If…
- You have struggled to lose weight on your own and want a clinician-guided plan.
- You are open to an honest conversation about the root causes behind your weight, not just the number on the scale.
- You want monthly monitoring and support rather than a one-time prescription.
- You are willing to pair a program with lifestyle changes so results are more likely to last.
Let’s Talk First If…
- You have a health history that may make a GLP-1 class medication inappropriate, which we will screen for honestly.
- You are hoping for a guaranteed amount of weight lost, which no honest provider can promise.
- You are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have certain thyroid or hormone conditions, so let us talk first.
- You want a completely non-medication path, in which case Thinnr may be the better starting point.
If a medical weight-loss program is not the right or safe fit, we will tell you honestly and point you toward what is, including our non-injectable Thinnr program. Declining a treatment that would not serve you is part of how we work.
Ready to Start?
Sounds like you? Let’s find your weight-loss program.
Request an appointment and a nurse practitioner will screen your history honestly and match you to the right program, here in Fleming Island.
What Our Patients Are Saying
What Fleming Island patients say
4.9★ From 1,400+ verified Google reviews across both Fleming Island locations.
"I did the seratonin weight loss program and was very nervous and not sure about it or the results but at the end of 3 months I looked and felt amazing. Kara has been amazing and has given me so much great information and guidance."
"Their weight loss program has been life changing - I went from needing a walker because of back pain to walking unassisted. Can’t say too many great things about all they do."
"I had an appointment with Kara to talk about hormones, bloodwork and weight loss. She was extremely knowledgeable and helped me understand what was going on with my body… Most important is I was able to do virtual appointments so I didn’t have to miss work or family time."
Prefer to Talk First?
Questions before you book? Call us.
Talk through which weight-loss program fits your history with our Fleming Island team before you schedule.
Our Process
How your weight-loss plan comes together
Start by understanding why
We spend real time trying to understand why the weight came on or why it has been hard to lose: portion sizes, emotional eating, hormones, or a metabolic root cause. That conversation shapes the plan more than any single medication does.
Screen for safety, honestly
Every patient is screened on family and personal health history, vital signs, weight, and BMI, then assessed by a nurse practitioner. Some patients are not candidates for a GLP-1 class medication, and we say so, recommending a program like Thinnr instead.
Choose the right program together
Your provider matches you to the program that fits your history and your goal, whether that is a supervised GLP-1 class plan, the non-injectable Thinnr program, a short-term phentermine program, or lipotropic support layered onto any of them.
Stay supported, monthly and beyond
We see patients monthly to track progress, adjust the plan if you plateau, and coach the lifestyle changes, like following a Mediterranean diet, that help you keep the results after the program ends. We are a partner in this, not a prescription pad.
Proven Excellence
Trusted across Clay County
Two Fleming Island locations serving the same families for years, with medical weight loss delivered from our Island Lane Medical Spa.
1,400+
Five-Star Reviews
More Google reviews than any other medspa in the region.
4.9★
Average Rating
Verified on Google across both Fleming Island locations.
2
Fleming Island Locations
Serving Clay County, Orange Park & greater Jacksonville.
Meet Your Care Team
Clinician-led weight-loss care
Kara Wilfong leads our medical weight-loss programs, backed by our nurse practitioner and physician assistant team. You see the same care team at every visit.
Brittany Smith
MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Fleming IslandA certified Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in advanced aesthetic medicine, with six years in trauma and progressive care before aesthetics.
Emily Arnold
Physician Assistant-Certified
Fleming IslandA board-certified physician assistant specializing in aesthetic medicine, with a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Augusta University.
Portrait coming soon
Brooke Taylor
Medical Assistant
Fleming IslandSupports the clinical team through every appointment so your provider can deliver attentive, unhurried care.
Patient Care Team
Scroll to meet the full team
Frequently Asked Questions
Medical Weight Loss Questions, Answered
What medications are used for medical weight loss?
Medical weight loss at Pura Vida uses GLP-1 class medications, prescribed and monitored by our nurse practitioners after a full health screening. We do not name a specific brand-name drug on this website: the exact medication and dose is a conversation between you and your provider, decided at your consultation, not a marketing claim.
Where can I get medical weight loss near Fleming Island?
Pura Vida offers physician-supervised medical weight loss at our Medical Spa on Island Lane in Fleming Island, FL, serving patients throughout Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Jacksonville, and greater Clay County. Kara Wilfong, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, leads the program alongside our nurse practitioner and physician assistant team, and Pura Vida has been voted best medspa in the region for six consecutive years.
How do you decide which weight-loss program is right for me?
We match you to a program based on an honest conversation about your health history, prior weight-loss attempts, and whether a GLP-1 class medication is appropriate for you. Patients who are not candidates for medication often do well on Thinnr, our non-injectable program, while others are strong candidates for a supervised medical plan. That decision is made together at your consultation, not by default.
How much weight can you lose with medical weight loss?
There is no guaranteed amount, and any provider who promises one is not being honest with you. Individual results vary based on your body, your health history, and how closely the plan fits your daily life, and results tend to be strongest for patients in the health-conscious, prevention-minded community around Fleming Island who pair the program with monthly monitoring and lifestyle coaching. What we can promise is a supervised process with honest screening and adjustments if you plateau.
What does a typical medical weight-loss visit look like?
Your first visit is a full assessment, covering vitals, weight, BMI, and a conversation about your health history and why previous attempts have or have not worked. After that, we typically see patients monthly to track progress, discuss nutrition and exercise, and adjust the plan, and we are available by phone between visits.
Do you check for thyroid or hormone issues before starting a weight-loss program?
Yes. A responsible medical weight-loss workup rules out or addresses underlying causes like thyroid dysfunction or hormone imbalance before you start a program. That is part of why we sometimes recommend hormone optimization alongside a weight-loss plan rather than treating the number on the scale in isolation.
Powered by Ageless AI
Curious what you’d look like? Find out in about 60 seconds.
Our AI preview tool shows you potential treatment results on your own face and body before you ever step into our office. No commitment, no guessing.
Preview My Results Free · takes about 60 seconds
Ready When You Are
Let’s find the right program for you
Request an appointment and we’ll screen your history honestly, walk through every program, and build a plan around the result you actually want, and can actually keep.
Not ready to book? Send us a question instead.