On Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound?
GLP-1 shots work while you take them. A gastric sleeve is done once. Here is how the two compare on commitment, results after you stop, and cost, so you can choose with Dr. Reza Keshavarzi, board-certified bariatric surgeon.
The short answer
It depends on how much weight you need to lose and how long you want to keep treating it. GLP-1 medications are a weekly injection that most people need to keep taking to keep the weight off. Gastric sleeve surgery is a one-time procedure that removes about 75–80% of the stomach and changes the hunger hormones that drive appetite. If you have been on a GLP-1 and the cost, the side effects or the idea of staying on it for life is wearing on you, it is worth a consultation.
Side by side
Swipe to compare all three →
| GLP-1 medication | Gastric sleeve | Gastric balloon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commitment | A weekly injection, usually long term | One procedure, one night in the hospital | A 6-month program, then the balloon comes out |
| How it works | Medication that lowers appetite while you take it | About 75–80% of the stomach is removed, which reduces how much you can eat and the hunger hormones | A saline-filled balloon takes up space in the stomach so you feel full sooner |
| If you stop | In the STEP 1 trial extension, people regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost within a year of stopping semaglutide | There is nothing to stop. The change to the stomach is permanent | The habits built over the 6 months are what keep the weight off |
| Who it fits | People who want a non-surgical start, or who need help after surgery | BMI 30 and up, and BMI 25–30 with Dr. K's Mini Sleeve | Adults with a BMI between 30 and 40 |
| Cost at Miami VIP Surgery | $3,000 a year for our medical weight loss program, plus the medication itself | $13,999 once, financing from $320/month | $7,500 with our current $500 savings |
Prices are for self-pay patients at Miami VIP Surgery. Your consultation decides which option fits your health.
Why patients switch
No refills, no pharmacy shortages and no weekly injection. The sleeve is done once, usually as a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure.
GLP-1 weight loss tends to return when the medication stops. A sleeve keeps working because the stomach itself has changed.
Our $13,999 Easy-Step Sleeve Programâ„¢ includes Dr. Keshavarzi's surgical fee, anesthesia, a one-night hospital stay, follow-up visits and a full year of VIP Concierge care.
Real patients
Not ready for surgery?
Yes, some patients do. GLP-1 medications are sometimes used after bariatric surgery if weight loss stalls or weight starts to return. Dr. Keshavarzi will tell you whether that applies to you during follow-up.
Compare the sleeve and the balloon →Questions
Usually, yes, for a period before surgery, because these medications slow how fast the stomach empties. Our team gives you exact instructions for your medication and dose before your surgery date.
The standard gastric sleeve is for a BMI of 30 and above. For a BMI between 25 and 30, Dr. K's Mini Sleeve may be an option. Take the BMI quiz to see where you are.
No. Miami VIP Surgery is a self-pay practice, so there are no approvals to wait on. The sleeve program is $13,999 with financing from $320/month for 60 months.
In the STEP 1 trial extension, people who stopped semaglutide regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost within a year. That is why many patients look at a permanent option.
Free consultation. Same-day virtual consults available.
