¿Qué hace un médico internista y en qué se diferencia del médico general?

El internista es un especialista formado para diagnosticar y manejar enfermedades crónicas, complejas o con múltiples sistemas involucrados en el adulto (3 años de especialización adicional). El médico general atiende patologías frecuentes y de baja complejidad.

¿Cuándo debo consultar un internista en vez de seguir con mi médico general?

Busca un internista cuando tienes dos o más enfermedades crónicas simultáneas, cuando el médico general no ha logrado controlar una condición con el tratamiento habitual, o cuando quieres iniciar un medicamento GLP-1 (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy) que requiere protocolo de inicio y seguimiento especializado.

¿Necesito remisión de otro médico para consultar al Dr. Montoya?

No. Para consultas particulares o con medicina prepagada puedes agendar directamente, sin necesidad de remisión de tu médico de cabecera.

¿Cuánto dura una consulta de medicina interna?

La primera consulta dura entre 40 y 60 minutos. Las consultas de control son de 20 a 30 minutos.

+ Internal Medicine in Medellín · Neuro+

Internal Medicine: comprehensive management of chronic diseases and obesity

Especialidad médica dedicada al diagnóstico y tratamiento no quirúrgico de las enfermedades del adulto, con énfasis en condiciones crónicas y metabólicas. Liderada por el Dr. Pablo Montoya, con enfoque en el manejo integral de la obesidad.

GLP-1

Supervised Ozempic · Mounjaro · Wegovy

Specialties coordinated in one center

In-person appointment

Follow-up teleconsultation

+ Our specialist

Our internal medicine specialist at Neuro+

Dr. Pablo Montoya

Internist
Specialist in the medical management of obesity

Experto en manejo médico de la obesidad, síndrome metabólico, diabetes tipo 2 y enfermedades cardiovasculares asociadas al exceso de peso. Trabaja en articulación directa con el equipo de cirugía bariátrica, nutrition y neurología de Neuro+ para un abordaje verdaderamente integral.

Obesity and metabolic syndrome Type 2 diabetes GLP-1 agonists Cardiovascular risk

+ Clinical internal medicine

Conditions treated at Neuro+

Non-surgical diagnosis and treatment of chronic adult diseases, with an emphasis on obesity and metabolic health.

Obesity and overweight

A chronic, complex and multifactorial disease. It increases the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep apnea and cognitive decline. A comprehensive medical approach with new-generation medications.

Metabolic syndrome

Abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, high triglycerides, high blood pressure and cholesterol abnormalities. Therapeutic strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Type 2 diabetes

GLP-1 agonists (Ozempic, Mounjaro) don’t just control blood sugar: they also produce weight loss and have proven cardiovascular benefits.

High blood pressure and dyslipidemia

Evaluation and management of high blood pressure and cholesterol and triglyceride disorders, often associated with obesity.

Other adult conditions

COPD, rheumatologic diseases, hyperuricemia and gout, and hypothyroidism, often associated with weight gain.

GLP-1 medications for obesity

Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro prescribed and monitored with regular check-ups on dose, tolerability and results.

When is medical treatment preferable to surgery?

Medical treatment is the ideal option when

The patient doesn’t want surgery
They are not a surgical candidate
BMI between 27 and 35 with comorbidities
They want a less invasive alternative with significant clinical results
They need pre-operative preparation for bariatric surgery
They’ve already had surgery and want medical support for maintenance

What if more than 20–25% weight loss is needed?

In that case, bariatric surgery usually produces better long-term results. The advantage of Neuro+ is that both options are available in the same center.

If during your medical treatment it turns out that surgery would be more beneficial, Dr. Andrés Velásquez can evaluate you without you having to look for another center.

+ Pharmacological management

Available obesity medications

The three most advanced agonists, prescribed and monitored within a structured medical program.

Mounjaro

Tirzepatide

Dual GLP-1/GIP agonist. The most potent option available today for the medical management of obesity.

Average weight loss15–22.5%

See more →

Wegovy

Semaglutide 2.4 mg

Semaglutide approved specifically for the treatment of obesity in adults.

Average weight loss12–15%

See more →

Ozempic

Semaglutide 0.5–1 mg

Weekly GLP-1 agonist for type 2 diabetes and obesity, with cardiovascular benefits.

Average weight loss5–8%

See more →

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Important: full details on each medication — mechanism, dosing, titration and clinical evidence — are on the medical obesity treatment page. The right medication for each person is determined by the physician based on their full clinical profile.

+ Multidisciplinary approach

Integration with the Neuro+ team

Common cases of coordinated care between internal medicine, neurology, surgery and nutrition.

Obesity + sleep apnea

Dr. Montoya (GLP-1) + Neurology (sleep study)

Obesity + chronic migraine

Dr. Montoya + Neurology — GLP-1 medications may reduce the frequency of migraine

Preparation for bariatric surgery

Dr. Montoya (GLP-1 or comorbidity management) + Dr. Andrés Velásquez (surgery)

Post-surgery with weight regain

Dr. Montoya + Dr. Velásquez + Nutrition

+ Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about internal medicine at Neuro+

If your question isn’t here, message us on WhatsApp. We reply right away.

What does an internist do, and how is it different from a general practitioner?

An internist is a specialist trained to diagnose and manage chronic, complex or multi-system diseases in adults (3 additional years of specialization). A general practitioner treats common, low-complexity conditions.

When should I see an internist instead of staying with my general practitioner?

See an internist when you have two or more chronic diseases at the same time, when your general practitioner hasn’t been able to control a condition with the usual treatment, or when you want to start a GLP-1 medication (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy) that requires a specialized start-up and follow-up protocol.

Do I need a referral from another doctor to see Dr. Montoya?

No. For private consultations or with a private health plan, you can book directly, without a referral from your primary care doctor.

How long does an internal medicine consultation last?

The first consultation lasts 40 to 60 minutes. Follow-up consultations last 20 to 30 minutes.

+ Book today

Book your Internal Medicine consultation

Care in El Poblado, Medellín · Teleconsultation available.