Residents of Lakeland, Winter Haven and the rest of Polk County travel to South Miami for surgery with Dr. Reza Keshavarzi. He is a board-certified bariatric surgeon, and he guides your care from a complimentary consultation through your first year of follow-up.
Each pair is one of our own patients, photographed before surgery and again after weight loss. Results vary from patient to patient.
Bariatric surgery, 1 of 6
The stomach is made smaller in bariatric surgery. Some procedures also reroute part of the digestive tract. Together these changes help you feel full after much less food and quiet the hunger signals you're used to. Dr. K performs these operations with minimally invasive techniques through small incisions.
Polk County patients come to our South Miami office for surgery, a drive of about three and a half hours on US-27 S. Many make the trip to work with one surgeon who knows their case from the first conversation through the last follow-up visit.
Bariatric surgery is a family of procedures, not one operation. Dr. K offers surgical, endoscopic and nonsurgical options, so the recommendation follows your health rather than a single technique.
| Procedure | Approach | How It Works | Often Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gastric Sleeve | Surgical | Removes most of the stomach, leaving a narrow sleeve that holds less food and produces less of the hormone that drives hunger. | Adults with obesity and related conditions such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea. |
| Low BMI "Mini Sleeve" | Surgical | A sleeve gastrectomy planned for patients carrying less excess weight. | Patients with a BMI of 25 to 30. |
| Teen Gastric Sleeve | Surgical | A sleeve gastrectomy with care planned around a body that is still growing. | Adolescents aged 14 to 17. |
| Gastric Bypass | Surgical | Creates a small stomach pouch and reroutes part of the small intestine, limiting both how much you eat and how much you absorb. | Patients with more weight to lose, severe reflux or harder-to-control diabetes. |
| Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty | Endoscopic | Stitches the stomach smaller from the inside with an endoscope passed through the mouth, with no external incisions. | Patients who want a smaller stomach without surgery. |
| ORBERA Gastric Balloon | Endoscopic | A temporary balloon placed in the stomach so you feel full sooner while new habits take hold. | Patients who want a nonsurgical start. |
| Medical Weight Loss | Nonsurgical | Personalized plans from our weight loss specialists that can include weight loss injections. | Patients not ready for a procedure, or who want support before or after one. |
Eligibility is about more than the number on the scale. Dr. K reviews your weight history, any health problems linked to your weight, the approaches you've already tried, and whether you're prepared for the eating changes that come after surgery.
Some patients need a different first step, such as getting a medical condition under control. An endoscopic procedure or medical weight loss can come first.
Dr. Keshavarzi, known to patients as Dr. K, is a board-certified bariatric surgeon and the lead surgeon at Miami VIP Surgery. He performs the surgical and endoscopic procedures listed above and oversees our medical weight loss program.
He earned his medical degree with High Distinction from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine after graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Louisville. He completed his surgical residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital and a fellowship in laparoscopic, bariatric and robotic surgery at Jackson South Medical Center.
Patients often mention how reachable he is. Several reviews describe Dr. K sharing his own cell number and checking in once they were home, which matters when you are recovering about three and a half hours away in Lakeland.
Review your history, goals and options with Dr. K. Virtual consultations are available, so this step can happen before you make any trip.
You'll need medical clearances and an upper endoscopy, known as an EGD. Complete them with us or at an outside facility nearer home. Results ordered through our Miami clinic return within 48 hours.
You follow a pre-surgery diet, and any weight loss injections stop at least two weeks before your operation. Our team supports you through each step, and dates often open within the same month once testing is done.
Dr. K performs your procedure and checks on you during your hospital stay. Our team will explain how long to plan on staying in the Miami area before you drive home.
Most patients return to work 4 to 7 days after the procedure and avoid lifting more than 20 pounds while they heal. Stage-by-stage diet plans are on our website, and Dr. K stays reachable by phone and text.
Follow-up appointments for your first year are part of the gastric sleeve package, so the surgeon who operated is the one tracking your progress.
We publish our gastric sleeve price up front, so you can plan before your first call. Pricing for other procedures depends on your plan and is reviewed at your consultation.
One price covering:
Patients who find the cost of surgery difficult can ask about a special package that starts at $12,500.
Your consultation with Dr. K is complimentary.
★★★★★4.9 average from 80 Google reviews
"Dr. Keshavarzi explained every detail of the surgery from getting prepared, to the actual day of surgery, and beyond."
Hannah S., Google review
"Dr. Keshavarzi was with us throughout the whole process and was even contacting us once home to see if everything was running smoothly."
Yerandis L., Google review
"From my 1st visit he made me feel at ease with my decision to pursue bariatric surgery."
Yesi, Google review
Not at all. Virtual consultations let you talk with Dr. K from home, whether you live in Lakeland or Haines City. You come to South Miami for surgery once your plan and testing are ready.
Our gastric sleeve package is $14,000, including the hospital stay and first-year follow-up, and Cherry financing is available. Pricing for other procedures is reviewed at your consultation.
Rarely is there one single disqualifier. Dr. K looks at your health history, current medications, medical clearances and readiness for post-surgery eating changes. If surgery isn't the right first step, an endoscopic procedure or medical weight loss may come first.
Yes. Medical clearances and upper endoscopy can be completed with us or at an outside facility closer to home. Our team will tell you which tests to finish and go over the results with Dr. K.
The answer depends on your starting weight, the procedure, and how closely you follow the post-surgery diet. Most weight comes off fastest in the first months. Dr. K will give you a realistic estimate for your procedure during your consultation.
They must stop at least two weeks before surgery. Dr. K can also tell you whether medication, surgery or both fits your goals.
Book a complimentary consultation from Polk County and leave with a clear plan: the right procedure, the tests you need and when surgery could happen.
