While both weight loss injections and bariatric surgery can lead to noticeable body contouring results, recent studies insist that surgery can produce more stable, long-term changes for patients.
With bariatric surgery, patients are known to lose around 25-35% of their total body weight and 50-70% of their excess weight. With GLP-1 agonists like Semaglutide, patients typically only lose around 15-20% of their body weight – a less dramatic result.
In this blog, the team at Obesity Control Center in Tijuana, led by Dr. Ariel Ortiz MD, FACS, FASMBS, explores the differences between GLP-1 weight loss medications and bariatric procedures and how injections can support patients seeking to qualify for surgery.
What Are Weight Loss Injections, And How Do They Work?
As obesity has slowly risen to become the “leading cause of preventable death,” according to a study by the Cleveland Clinic, patients are seeking solutions that can help them reclaim their appearance, health, and well-being.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 agonists) like Ozempic and Wegovy (Semaglutide) are weight loss medications administered as injections once a week to help patients shed the pounds without surgery. They work by mimicking the body’s natural appetite-suppressing hormones released after meals. Semaglutide will slow the movement of food through the gut, helping patients to feel satiated for a longer period of time, which in turn decreases cravings and supports overall weight reduction.
How Does Bariatric Surgery Work?
Bariatric surgery is a popular, effective procedure that can help patients lose weight and regain their quality of life. During the procedure, the size of the stomach is reduced, and the digestive process is altered to limit food consumption, reduce the body’s ability to absorb fat and calories, and help patients feel fuller faster. Hunger signals traveling from the stomach to the brain are also curbed, eliminating cravings. For patients who have tried dieting and exercise without success, bariatric surgery can be life-changing. It is known to help reduce the risk of the following health concerns:
- Hypertension
- Sleep apnea
- Type II diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Breast, endometrial, and prostate cancer
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
How Do The Two Weight Loss Solutions Compare?
Statistics show that bariatric surgery patients lose an average of 25-35% of their body weight and 50-70% of their total excess weight. With GLP-1 agonists like Semaglutide, patients usually lose 15-20% of their body weight. While both bariatric surgery and weight loss injections can improve the symptoms of diabetes, it is clear that patients tend to be more successful with weight loss and lowering their BMI (Body Mass Index) when they choose bariatric surgery.
Bariatric surgery has been shown to lower the risk of death from heart disease by 40%. It can also lower the risk of death from cancer by 60% and the risk of death from diabetes by 92%, according to data compiled by the South Shore Hospital Center for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Lastly, weight loss injections offer only a temporary solution to the problem of obesity. When the patient stops taking the GLP-1 drug, the benefits of the medication are lost. Bariatric surgery on the other hand can provide long-lasting advantages without needing to be repeated.
Are There Barriers To Getting Bariatric Surgery?
In order to qualify for bariatric surgery, the traditional thinking of insurance companies is that patients must have a BMI of 40 or greater (35 or greater when obesity-related comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, or sleep apnea are present.) Recently, the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) recommended that the BMI requirements be lowered to 35 and 30 to allow more patients to undergo this transformative surgery.
What About The Barriers With Weight Loss Injections?
Weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy (Semaglutide) are approved for individuals with a BMI of 30 or greater (27 or greater in those with a weight-related condition like hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol.) Semaglutide should be avoided by those with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2).
When it comes to affordability, weight loss injections without insurance coverage can cost $800-1200/month or more, which may be prohibitive for many patients. Additionally, GLP-1 medications can cause a range of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, infections, headaches, and acid reflux.
When Is It Appropriate To Combine GLP-1 Agonists And Bariatric Surgery?
In some cases, patients who desire bariatric surgery may not qualify for the procedure due to their weight. Patients who weigh more than 500 lbs, for instance, can benefit from non-surgical weight loss methods like injections, as these aids can help them get closer to the qualifying BMI for bariatric surgery. In other words, it is a safer route for massively overweight individuals to start with injections and then progress to surgery when they are ready. After bariatric surgery, Semaglutide injections can also help certain patients to avoid regaining weight.
Questions About Bariatric Surgery Vs. GLP-1 Weight Loss Injections? Obesity Control Center Can Help!
Both bariatric surgery and weight loss injections like Semaglutide are vital tools in the fight against obesity. Our compassionate, knowledgeable team at Obesity Control Center in Tijuana is standing by to help you understand your options and get started on the path to a slimmer, shapelier figure, enhanced confidence, and a more comfortable lifestyle. Contact us today to set up a private consultation!
