Pinellas County patients travel to South Miami for surgery with Dr. Reza Keshavarzi, 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
Bariatric surgery shrinks the stomach and, in some procedures, reroutes part of the digestive tract. The result is feeling full after much smaller meals, with hunger signals that grow quieter. Dr. K uses minimally invasive methods that work through small incisions.
Pinellas patients make the trip to our South Miami office, about four hours away on I-75 S. Residents of Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Largo choose us because one surgeon follows their case from the first conversation to the last follow-up visit.
Bariatric surgery is a family of procedures, not one operation. Dr. K offers surgical, endoscopic and nonsurgical options, so the recommendation follows your health rather than a single technique.
| 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. |
Being a good candidate takes more than a number on the scale. Dr. K reviews your weight history, any health conditions linked to your weight, what you have already tried and how ready you are for the eating changes that come after surgery.
Some patients need a different first step, such as getting a medical condition under control. An endoscopic procedure or medical weight loss can come first.
Dr. Keshavarzi, known to patients as Dr. K, is a board-certified bariatric surgeon and the lead surgeon at Miami VIP Surgery. He performs the surgical and endoscopic procedures listed 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.
Patients often say he is easy to reach. Several reviews mention Dr. K sharing his personal cell number and checking in once they were home, which matters when you are recovering about four hours from Pinellas County.
Start with a conversation about your history, goals and options with Dr. K. Virtual consultations are available, so you can do this before you make any travel plans.
Medical clearances and an upper endoscopy, called an EGD, are required. Complete them with us or at a facility near home. Results ordered through our Miami clinic come back within 48 hours.
You follow a pre-surgery diet, and any weight loss injections stop at least two weeks before your operation. Our team supports you through each step, and dates often open within the same month once testing is done.
Dr. K performs your procedure and checks on you during your hospital stay. Our team will tell you how long to plan to stay in the Miami area before you drive home.
Most patients return to work 4 to 7 days after the procedure and avoid lifting more than 20 pounds while they heal. Stage-by-stage diet plans are on our website, and Dr. K stays reachable by phone and text.
Follow-up appointments for your first year are part of the gastric sleeve package, so the surgeon who operated is the one tracking your progress.
We publish our gastric sleeve price up front, so you can plan before your first call. Pricing for other procedures 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 80 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. We offer virtual consultations, so you can meet Dr. K from home, whether you live in Largo or Clearwater. The trip to South Miami comes later, for the surgery itself, once your plan and testing are in place.
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.
Rarely is there a single reason to rule someone out. Dr. K reviews your health history, current medications, medical clearances and readiness for the eating changes after surgery. Sometimes an endoscopic procedure or medical weight loss is the better first step.
Yes. You can finish the required medical clearances and upper endoscopy with us or at an outside facility near home. Our team will tell you which tests to complete and go over the results with Dr. K.
It depends on your starting weight, the procedure and how closely you follow the post-surgery diet. Most weight tends to come off in the first few months. Dr. K will give you a realistic estimate for your procedure at your consultation.
They must stop at least two weeks before surgery. Dr. K can also tell you whether medication, surgery or both fits your goals.
Book a complimentary consultation from St. Petersburg, Clearwater or anywhere in Pinellas, and leave with a clear plan: which procedure fits, which tests you need and when surgery could happen.
