Good questions,
honest answers.

Schedule a complimentary Meet & Greet with Dr. Maalouf to talk through your goals and decide whether Elios is the right fit. Book now.

Not exactly. Elios is a specialty practice focused on weight loss and metabolic health, not full primary care. You'll still need a PCP for sick visits, annual exams, vaccinations, and routine referrals like mammograms. We coordinate directly with your primary doctor and act as a specialty partner on your care team.

Our focus is weight loss and cardiometabolic health, including: obesity, PCOS, MASLD (formerly fatty liver disease), prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Directly, by phone, text, or secure message. No call center and no long callback windows. Direct physician access is one of the most valued parts of the membership.

No contract. Stay because the care works for you, not because you're obligated to. You can cancel at any time.

Yes. Dr. Maalouf prescribes GLP-1 receptor agonists including semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) when clinically appropriate. Every prescription is paired with a full metabolic workup, lab monitoring, personalized nutrition guidance, movement recommendations, and strategies to preserve lean muscle mass. It's a medication used inside a real weight-loss plan, not a standalone prescription.

Elios is based in the Los Angeles area and treats patients across all of California by telemedicine, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Orange County, Sacramento, and the Bay Area. All visits are virtual, so there is no commute and no waiting room.

Elios is a direct-pay concierge membership practice and does not bill insurance. This is what allows for longer visits, direct physician access, and care that isn't dictated by insurance requirements. HSA and FSA funds can usually be used, and superbills for reimbursement are available on request.

Yes. Every prospective member starts with a complimentary 20-minute discovery call with Dr. Maalouf. It's a real conversation, not a sales pitch, so you can decide whether Elios is the right fit before joining. Membership is monthly with no long-term contract, so you can also stop any time if it isn't working for you.

Not at all. The plan is built around you, your labs, and your life. Not a rigid protocol.

Visits happen by secure video from wherever you are in California. Labs are ordered at partner locations near you, and results are reviewed together. Most members never need to step into a traditional clinic.

The $250 membership price is the total you pay to Elios when you pay by bank transfer or ACH. A credit card option is available at $257.50/month, which reflects a 3% processing surcharge. You choose which method works best for you at sign-up. Lab work is billed directly by the laboratory, and any prescriptions are paid at your pharmacy. Both are usually eligible for insurance reimbursement, HSA, or FSA accounts.

Yes. Your friend gets $50 off their first month of membership, and when they join Essential, your next month of membership is on us. Just send us a quick note with their name. No codes or forms. It's the kindest way we know to grow the practice.