From Longboat Key, the path to bariatric surgery leads to South Miami and Dr. Reza Keshavarzi. He is a board-certified bariatric surgeon who guides your care himself, 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 meals leave you satisfied, and hunger becomes easier to manage. Dr. K uses minimally invasive techniques, working through small incisions.
If you live on Longboat Key, your surgery takes place with our team in South Miami. The drive is just under four hours, heading south on I-75 and across Alligator Alley. People make the trip so one surgeon can follow their case from the first conversation to the final follow-up.
There is no single bariatric operation. Dr. K offers surgical, endoscopic and nonsurgical choices, so your recommendation is built around your health, not around 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 reviews how your weight has changed over time, the health problems connected to it, the approaches you have tried before and how prepared you are for the new way of eating after surgery.
For some people, another step makes more sense first, like bringing a medical condition under control. You might start with an endoscopic procedure or medical weight loss.
Patients call him Dr. K. Dr. Keshavarzi is a board-certified bariatric surgeon and the lead surgeon at Miami VIP Surgery. He performs each surgical and endoscopic procedure described above and also 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 personal cell number and checking in after they got home. That kind of access counts when you are healing back on Longboat Key, about four hours from our office.
Share your history, your goals and your questions with Dr. K. Consultations can be virtual, so you can get started without leaving the island.
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. When results are ordered through our Miami clinic, they come back within 48 hours.
Before surgery you follow a pre-surgery diet, and any weight loss injections must stop at least two weeks ahead of your operation. Our team helps at every step. Once testing is finished, surgery dates often open within the same month.
Dr. K performs your operation and visits you during your hospital stay. Before you head back up I-75, our team lets you know how long to plan on staying in the Miami area.
Most people go back to work 4 to 7 days after surgery. While you heal, avoid lifting anything heavier than 20 pounds. Diet plans for each stage are on our website, and Dr. K is available by phone and text.
The gastric sleeve package includes your follow-up appointments for the first year, so the surgeon who operated on you keeps watching your progress.
Our gastric sleeve price is posted openly, so you can start planning before you ever call. For other procedures, the cost depends on your plan, and we go over it 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 take place virtually, so you can meet Dr. K from your own home. The trip to South Miami comes later, for the surgery itself, after your plan and testing are set.
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.
One factor alone rarely rules you out. Dr. K looks at your health history, the medications you take now, your medical clearances and how ready you are for the eating changes after surgery. When surgery is not the best place to begin, you may start with an endoscopic procedure or medical weight loss.
Yes. You can complete the required medical clearances and upper endoscopy with us or at an outside facility closer to home. Our team explains which tests you need and goes over the results with Dr. K.
The answer varies with your starting weight, your procedure and how carefully you stick to the diet after surgery. Weight tends to come off quickest in the early months. At your consultation, Dr. K gives you a realistic estimate for your specific procedure.
You need to stop them at least two weeks before your operation. Dr. K can also help you decide whether medication, surgery or a combination suits your goals.
Schedule a complimentary consultation from Longboat Key and come away with a clear plan: the procedure that fits you, the tests you need and when your surgery could take place.
