From the Bridge of Lions to Ponte Vedra, St. Johns County patients come to South Miami for surgery with Dr. Reza Keshavarzi. He is a board-certified bariatric surgeon who 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
These procedures reduce the size of your stomach, and some also reroute part of the digestive tract. Smaller portions then leave you full, and hunger signals become quieter. Dr. K uses minimally invasive techniques with small incisions.
If you live in St. Augustine, your surgery takes place with us in South Miami, about five hours south on I-95 and Florida's Turnpike. It is a long trip. Patients make it to have one surgeon who follows their case from the first talk to the final follow-up.
There is no single weight loss operation. Bariatric surgery covers several procedures, and Dr. K offers surgical, endoscopic and nonsurgical choices. That way, the plan he suggests is built around your health, not around one method.
| 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. |
The scale is only part of the picture. Dr. K considers how your weight has changed over time, any health conditions linked to it, the approaches you have tried and how prepared you are for new eating habits after surgery.
For some people, surgery is not the place to start. You may first need to get a medical condition under control. An endoscopic procedure or medical weight loss can come first.
Patients call Dr. Reza Keshavarzi simply Dr. K. He is a board-certified bariatric surgeon and the lead surgeon at Miami VIP Surgery. He performs the surgical and endoscopic procedures 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.
Many patients say he is easy to reach. Several reviews mention Dr. K giving out his own cell number and checking in after they got home. That kind of access counts when you are healing nearly five hours away in St. Augustine.
Start by sharing your history, goals and options with Dr. K. Consultations can be virtual, so you can begin before you plan any trip south.
You will need medical clearances and an upper endoscopy, known as an EGD. These can be done with us or at an outside facility closer to home. When tests are ordered through our Miami clinic, results are back within 48 hours.
Next comes a pre-surgery diet. Any weight loss injections must stop at least two weeks before your operation. Our team helps you at every stage, and once testing is complete, surgery dates often open within the same month.
Dr. K performs your operation and visits you during your hospital stay. Our team lets you know how long to stay in the Miami area before the drive back up I-95.
Most people are back at work 4 to 7 days after surgery and avoid lifting over 20 pounds while they heal. You can find diet plans for each stage on our website, and Dr. K stays available by phone and text.
The gastric sleeve package includes your first year of follow-up visits. That means the surgeon who performed your operation is the same one watching your progress.
Our gastric sleeve price is posted openly, so you can budget before you ever pick up the phone. For other procedures, cost 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 96 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
No. Consultations can be virtual, so you can meet Dr. K from your own home in St. Johns County. The trip to South Miami comes later, for the surgery itself, 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.
A single factor rarely rules you out. Dr. K looks at your health history, the medications you take, your medical clearances and how ready you are for new eating habits after surgery. When surgery is not the best place to start, an endoscopic procedure or medical weight loss can come first.
Yes. You can complete the required medical clearances and upper endoscopy with us or at an outside facility closer to home. Our team lets you know which tests you need and goes over the results with Dr. K.
Your results depend on your starting weight, which procedure you have and how well you stick to the post-surgery diet. Weight usually drops fastest in the first months after surgery. At your consultation, Dr. K gives you a realistic estimate for your procedure.
You need to stop them at least two weeks before your operation. Dr. K can also help you decide whether medication, surgery or both suits your goals.
Schedule a complimentary consultation from St. Augustine and come away with a clear plan: the procedure that fits, the tests you need and when your surgery could take place.
