One surgeon, from your first call to your last follow-up visit. That is why Garden City, NY patients choose South Miami. Dr. Reza Keshavarzi is a board-certified bariatric surgeon who leads 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
Bariatric surgery reduces the size of the stomach. Some procedures also reroute part of the digestive tract. Smaller meals leave you satisfied, and hunger signals ease. Dr. K uses minimally invasive techniques, working through small incisions.
The surgeon you meet on your first call is the same one who operates and follows your recovery, and that makes the trip worthwhile. From Garden City, JFK Airport is about 20 minutes away via the Southern State Parkway and Belt Parkway without traffic. LaGuardia and Newark also have nonstop flights to Miami International, about 3 hours in the air. From there, our South Miami office is about 17 minutes away.
There is no single bariatric operation. The term covers a range of procedures. Dr. K offers surgical, endoscopic and nonsurgical options, so his advice is shaped by your health and not by one preferred 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 you qualify. Dr. K considers how your weight has changed over time, any health conditions linked to it, the approaches you have tried before and how prepared you are for the new way of eating after surgery.
For some patients, the best first move is different, such as bringing a medical condition under control. In that case, an endoscopic procedure or medical weight loss may come first.
Dr. Keshavarzi, or Dr. K as patients call him, is a board-certified bariatric surgeon and lead surgeon at Miami VIP Surgery. He performs the surgical and endoscopic procedures on this page 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.
Reviews keep returning to one point: Dr. K is easy to get hold of. Several describe him giving out his own cell number and checking in after they got home. That helps when you are recovering back on Long Island, a flight away from Miami.
Share your history, goals and questions with Dr. K and go over your options. Consultations can be virtual, so this step happens from home before you book a flight.
You 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. Results ordered through our Miami clinic are back within 48 hours.
You start a pre-surgery diet, and weight loss injections stop at least two weeks before your operation. Our team guides you along the way and coordinates the travel logistics, from lab coordination to hotel stays. Dates often open within the same month once testing is done.
Dr. K performs your procedure and visits you during your hospital stay. Before you fly home, our team tells you how long to plan to stay in the Miami area.
Most patients are back at work 4 to 7 days after the procedure, and you should not lift more than 20 pounds while you heal. Our website has diet plans for each stage, and Dr. K stays reachable by phone and text.
The gastric sleeve package includes your first year of follow-up appointments, so the surgeon who performed your operation is the one watching your progress.
Our gastric sleeve price is published openly, so you can budget before you ever call. Pricing for other procedures depends on your plan and is 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 talk with Dr. K from home in Garden City. Almost everything before surgery happens virtually, and most patients make one trip to Miami for the procedure itself, once the plan and testing are set.
Our gastric sleeve package is $14,000. It covers the hospital stay, surgeon's fee, hospital fees 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 the eating changes after surgery. When surgery is not the best place to start, an endoscopic procedure or medical weight loss can come first.
You can. The required medical clearances and upper endoscopy can be completed 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.
That varies with your starting weight, your procedure and how carefully you stick to the diet after surgery. The fastest loss usually happens in the first months. At your consultation, Dr. K gives you an honest estimate for the procedure you choose.
Weight loss injections have to stop at least two weeks before your operation. Dr. K can also help you decide whether medication, surgery or a combination suits your goals.
Start with the surgeon who will be with you through your final follow-up. Book a complimentary virtual consultation from home in Garden City and end the call knowing which procedure fits, which tests you need and when surgery could happen.
