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How Fifty410 built a safer, stickier patient community on Circle

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Dera Corliss
Customer Engagement Manager, Fifty410
40K+
members in a thriving telehealth community on Circle
80%+
of engagement now happens on mobile
2×
more activity in the branded app than on desktop
5.5%
lift in comments after launching their branded app

Overview

    Fifty410, a telehealth GLP-1 weight loss clinic, outgrew Facebook and faced constant moderation risk. With the introduction of their own branded app powered by Circle, they migrated a thriving 40K+ member community into a safer, more organized hub—complete with app-exclusive offers, on-demand video education, and a stronger sense of belonging.

    “Community is everything in wellness. Belonging, encouragement, and shared progress—that’s what keeps people going.”

    Dera Corliss
    Customer Engagement Manager, Fifty410
    Before

    A growing community without a home

    When Fifty410 launched as a telehealth GLP-1 weight loss clinic, connection was always part of the care model. Patients across the U.S. were beginning deeply personal health journeys and needed a place to share wins, ask questions, and find encouragement.

    Founders Alexandria and Arsenio Aaron created a private Facebook group to help patients connect. It quickly became the heart of the business—an online support system that reinforced the medical care happening behind the scenes.

    By the time Dera Corliss, Customer Engagement Manager, stepped in to oversee the community, it was already thriving—and growing faster than the team could keep up.

    “When I took over the Facebook group, it was already taking off. There were about 2,000 members and every week more patients were joining. Within a couple months, it grew to over 25,000.”

    But as the community expanded, Facebook’s limitations became impossible to ignore.
    Challenge

    Outgrowing Facebook and losing control

    In the GLP-1 space, compliance and moderation are serious business. On Facebook, the team was constantly battling keyword restrictions, post takedowns, and the looming risk of losing their entire community overnight.

    “We were getting flagged just for mentioning the medications our patients were prescribed. For nearly a year, it felt like we could lose the group at any moment.”

    Beyond compliance, the feed format made it impossible to deliver the personalized experience their patients needed. New prospects mixed with long-time members, conversations overlapped, and essential updates were quickly buried.

    “Everyone was at a different stage of their journey, but they were all seeing the same posts. We needed a space that could meet people where they were.”

    The team realized they needed something built for ownership and safety—a platform where they could protect patient privacy and design a more intentional experience.

    “We wanted a place where patients could share openly without worrying about being censored or exposed. That’s when Arsenio found Circle, and we signed a contract the same day.”

    Solution

    Building an owned platform to grow with them

    As Facebook tightened restrictions, Fifty410 made a decisive move. Within weeks, they built and launched a fully branded mobile app on Circle—just as their old group was beginning to be taken offline.

    “We didn’t plan to move that quickly, but once Facebook started removing posts, we had to. Thankfully, everything with Circle moved smoothly, and our branded app was ready right when we needed it.”

    Members followed almost immediately. Thousands downloaded the app within days, drawn by the familiarity of mobile access but the newfound privacy and organization of a dedicated platform.

    “We gave members sneak peeks and updates so they knew change was coming. When the app went live, the excitement was huge—people joined right away.”

    Working with Circle’s success team, Dera built structured spaces for each stage of the patient journey and refined them based on community feedback. The team introduced exclusive offers through an “Offerings” tab and implemented a custom Stripe + Zapier verification system to ensure only active patients accessed private areas.

    “The setup process was seamless. Our CSM, Han, has become an extension of our team—he understands exactly how to translate our brand and patient experience into Circle.”

    Transformation

    A safer space, stronger community, and deeper engagement

    The move to Circle didn’t just protect the community—it strengthened it.
    Inside the branded app, Fifty410 brought patient support, education, and conversation together in one organized space. They launched 7- to 14-day challenges around hydration, protein intake, and self-care—creating momentum and accountability among members.

    “Our challenges give patients something to rally around. They keep everyone motivated and make progress feel like a shared effort.”

    To complement live interaction, the team introduced Fifty410 TV, an in-app video hub for clinical education, nutrition guidance, and success stories. It’s quickly become the go-to destination for both learning and inspiration.

    “Fifty410 TV turned into our knowledge center. Members get reliable advice directly from our medical team—and it saves us countless hours answering the same questions.”

    Since the app launch, engagement has grown deeper. Comments increased 5.5% quarter-over-quarter, reflecting how comfortable members now feel sharing openly.
    Operationally, Circle’s structure improved efficiency across the team. Spaces, tagging, and content organization streamlined communication and reduced manual work, giving staff more time to focus on community building.

    “Everything is easier to manage now. Having all our educational content in one place saves hours every week and keeps our focus on helping patients.”

    Looking ahead, Fifty410 is expanding its use of Circle with gamification and AI agents to keep members engaged and educated automatically.

    “We’re excited about gamification—it’s a fun, natural way to sustain engagement. And AI will let us educate patients at scale while giving our team back valuable time.”

    For Dera, the branded app has become much more than a communication channel—it’s an extension of the care model itself.

    “Circle gave us a space that feels personal and empowering. It’s not just a community platform—it’s part of how we care for our patients.”

    Fifty410 turned what began as a Facebook group into a modern, mobile-first health community—one that connects patients, drives accountability, and redefines what ongoing care looks like in the digital era.

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