Long days in Uptown Charlotte leave little room for appointments. Dr. Reza Keshavarzi, a board-certified bariatric surgeon in South Miami, leads your care from a complimentary consultation through your first year of follow-up, with most of the planning done virtually.
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
Bariatric surgery reduces the size of the stomach, and some procedures also reroute part of the digestive tract. Smaller portions leave you full, and hunger signals settle. Dr. K uses minimally invasive techniques with small incisions.
A packed work calendar makes one trip easier to plan than many. Surgery takes place at our South Miami office. From home, it is about 15 minutes along Wilkinson Blvd to Charlotte Douglas, roughly 2 hours nonstop to MIA, then about 17 minutes to us. One surgeon follows your case from start to finish.
There is no single bariatric operation. Dr. K provides surgical, endoscopic and nonsurgical treatments, so 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. |
Your weight alone does not decide whether surgery fits. Dr. K reviews how your weight has changed over time, related health conditions, the approaches you have tried and how ready you are for the new way of eating after surgery.
For some patients, another step comes first, like bringing a medical condition under control. That first step might be an endoscopic procedure or medical weight loss.
Dr. Keshavarzi, whom patients call Dr. K, is a board-certified bariatric surgeon and lead surgeon at Miami VIP Surgery. He performs the surgical and endoscopic procedures above and directs 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.
Reviews keep coming back to his availability. Several describe Dr. K giving out his own cell number and checking in after they got home, which helps when you are healing in South End or Matthews, a flight away from Miami.
Go over your health history, goals and options with Dr. K. Consultations can be virtual, so this step happens before you book a flight.
You need medical clearances and an upper endoscopy, also called an EGD. These can be done with us or at an outside facility closer to home. Results ordered through our Miami clinic are back within 48 hours.
Before surgery you follow a set diet, and weight loss injections stop at least two weeks before the operation. Our team guides each step, and once testing is done, dates often open within the same month.
Dr. K performs your procedure and visits you during your hospital stay. Our team tells you how long to remain in the Miami area before you fly back to Charlotte.
Most patients are back at work 4 to 7 days after surgery and avoid lifting over 20 pounds while healing. Our website lays out diet plans for each stage, and Dr. K stays reachable by phone and text once you are home.
Your first year of follow-up visits comes with the gastric sleeve package, so the surgeon who performed your operation keeps watching your progress.
Our gastric sleeve price is published openly, so you can budget before you ever call. Other procedures are priced based on your plan and reviewed during 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
Not at all. Consultations are virtual, so you can meet Dr. K without leaving home. The flight to South Miami comes later, for the surgery itself, after your plan and testing are complete.
The gastric sleeve package is $14,000, which includes the hospital stay and first-year follow-up. Cherry financing is available, and pricing for other procedures is reviewed at your consultation.
Rarely does one factor rule you out. Dr. K looks at your health history, medications, medical clearances and readiness for life after surgery. When surgery is not the best place to start, an endoscopic procedure or medical weight loss may come first.
You can. The required medical clearances and upper endoscopy can be done 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.
Results vary with your starting weight, your procedure and how carefully you follow the diet after surgery. The fastest loss usually happens in the first few months. At your consultation, Dr. K gives you an honest estimate for your procedure.
Weight loss injections need to stop at least two weeks before surgery. Dr. K can also help you decide whether medication, surgery or a mix of both suits your goals.
Short on time between meetings? Book a complimentary virtual consultation from Ballantyne or anywhere around Charlotte and leave knowing which procedure fits, which tests you need and when surgery could happen.
