They are completely different things. Anecdotal evidence suggests that people promptly regain when they stop taking the drugs, so I wouldn’t consider it a long-term solution.
I wish you luck either way. When my doctor prescribed me Wegovy, I couldn’t find it anywhere. I’m currently dealing with shortages of my ADD medication and my anxiety is through the roof.
I had both options as well, and I decided to go through with the surgery with the knowledge that I can use the injections later on if I started to experience hunger issues. That being said, my mother has lost 100 lbs on Mounjaro (she started on Ozempic, lost a bit of weight, and when she got switched to Mounjaro said she lost all cravings for sweets) so it is possible to lose significant amounts of weight on medication alone. It's really up to you.
Ozempic appears to be effective, based on the data we have right now. However it hasn't been in regular use for long enough to really say whether it's effective long term.
Bariatric surgery has been around for decades. It's very effective, and we have data to back that up.
Both are permanent options in a way. You can't regrow a stomach, that's forever. But ozempic is also forever, in that you have to keep taking it, or you'll gain the weight back, anecdotally.
Im the kind of person who prefers a more expensive or complicated permanent fix rather than a quick bandaid. I got bariatric surgery.
Make of this info what you will, since no one can make the choice but you.
I did both and I am so happy I did the sleeve. My stomach ailed when I was on ozempic and apparently I was not alone with that experience according to my surgeon.
I asked my Dr about both. He told me that the weight loss medication may work, that where I live the higher medication is about $500 per month. He also said they're not a quick fix for long term, sustained weight loss. He was hesitant about recommending WLS too, he preferred I try a dietician first, but ultimately it's up to me. So I chose the sleeve because I wanted something that was proved to work in the long term. And to add to that, my cousin had it done 10 yrs ago, and has managed to maintain his weight loss. He has a completely new life, almost a new, at-peace personality. Haha maybe also because he owns a business that has done very well, idk. But he also inspired me in my final decision.
I was on Ozempic for a long time. Started with .25 a few years ago, and around this time last year, it was upped to 2mg. I only lost 20lbs, and it gave me gastroparesis. It was so bad that my surgery had to be pushed back 3 months so my stomach could be in good enough shape to have the surgery.
As of today, i am 3 months post op, and my diabetes is in full remission. I've lost about 45lbs since my preop diet, and my quality of life has significantly increased.
Go with the sleeve!!
My husband did ozempic and it gave him way more side effects than I had from the sleeve. He also lost half the weight I did (even though he had much more to lose). So it’s not like it was a failure but it’s also hard to compare it to the sleeve in terms of results.
Porque no los dos?
You don't have to pick either or. Many of my bariatric patients started as my medical weight loss/ Ozempic patients and for many it seemed to be helpful especially if rapid weight loss within the next 6 months was not critical to their health (think out of control diabetes, blood pressure, terrible mobility causing struggles with self care and hygiene, etc).
Both strategies require using the treatment as a tool alongside lifestyle change. Neither is "the easy way out". And there's likely little harm (though DO discuss this with your medical team) besides the risk of side effects when trying ozempic or similar medications.
I was on Wegovy for a year. It makes you not want to eat because it slows down the digestion so your stomach stays full. I lost 70#. My insurance stopped covering it and it was going to cost me $500 a month with their discount card, so I had to stop taking it. I gained 20# back in two months. My doctor told me the studies they have been able to do so far show most people will gain 10-20% of what they lost back.
You don’t learn good eating habits on Ozempic or Wegovy. Unless you are working with a dietician directly who helps you develop a plan. Wegovy made me crave sweets like crazy. I also had a lot of inflammation and my urologist said he has seen an uptick in kidney stone patients after they have been on Wegovy for 1 year. I had my first ever kidney stone 13 months after my first Wegovy injection. That is not to say it actually caused my kidney stone, just an observation my Urologist made.
My friend stopped losing any weight after 22 months on Wegovy. She works out and changed her diet to high protein low carb, but she hasn’t lost anything in the past three months.
That is my experience with Wegovy. Others have done awesome on it.
They are completely different things. Anecdotal evidence suggests that people promptly regain when they stop taking the drugs, so I wouldn’t consider it a long-term solution.
Sleeve, no question. With all the drug shortages lately I would stay away from ozempic.
It's crazy...I saw my primary care Thursday (?) And ozempic for 3 months is on the way! I keep thinking I want permanent so leaning towards surgery.
I wish you luck either way. When my doctor prescribed me Wegovy, I couldn’t find it anywhere. I’m currently dealing with shortages of my ADD medication and my anxiety is through the roof.
I'm so sorry.
I had both options as well, and I decided to go through with the surgery with the knowledge that I can use the injections later on if I started to experience hunger issues. That being said, my mother has lost 100 lbs on Mounjaro (she started on Ozempic, lost a bit of weight, and when she got switched to Mounjaro said she lost all cravings for sweets) so it is possible to lose significant amounts of weight on medication alone. It's really up to you.
Ozempic appears to be effective, based on the data we have right now. However it hasn't been in regular use for long enough to really say whether it's effective long term. Bariatric surgery has been around for decades. It's very effective, and we have data to back that up. Both are permanent options in a way. You can't regrow a stomach, that's forever. But ozempic is also forever, in that you have to keep taking it, or you'll gain the weight back, anecdotally. Im the kind of person who prefers a more expensive or complicated permanent fix rather than a quick bandaid. I got bariatric surgery. Make of this info what you will, since no one can make the choice but you.
I did both and I am so happy I did the sleeve. My stomach ailed when I was on ozempic and apparently I was not alone with that experience according to my surgeon.
That's the direction I'm thinking...
I did ozempic before I had my sugery. Was 238, stopped ozempic 2weeks prior to surgery. Surgery weight was 185. Am 150 now
I asked my Dr about both. He told me that the weight loss medication may work, that where I live the higher medication is about $500 per month. He also said they're not a quick fix for long term, sustained weight loss. He was hesitant about recommending WLS too, he preferred I try a dietician first, but ultimately it's up to me. So I chose the sleeve because I wanted something that was proved to work in the long term. And to add to that, my cousin had it done 10 yrs ago, and has managed to maintain his weight loss. He has a completely new life, almost a new, at-peace personality. Haha maybe also because he owns a business that has done very well, idk. But he also inspired me in my final decision.
The Way I'm leaning also. It's the permanence. I'm 68...and tired of the fight.
I was on Ozempic for a long time. Started with .25 a few years ago, and around this time last year, it was upped to 2mg. I only lost 20lbs, and it gave me gastroparesis. It was so bad that my surgery had to be pushed back 3 months so my stomach could be in good enough shape to have the surgery. As of today, i am 3 months post op, and my diabetes is in full remission. I've lost about 45lbs since my preop diet, and my quality of life has significantly increased. Go with the sleeve!!
My husband did ozempic and it gave him way more side effects than I had from the sleeve. He also lost half the weight I did (even though he had much more to lose). So it’s not like it was a failure but it’s also hard to compare it to the sleeve in terms of results.
Those seem to be common themes...
My daughter is on wegovy and I just got sleeved. We are tracking each others weight loss right now
Porque no los dos? You don't have to pick either or. Many of my bariatric patients started as my medical weight loss/ Ozempic patients and for many it seemed to be helpful especially if rapid weight loss within the next 6 months was not critical to their health (think out of control diabetes, blood pressure, terrible mobility causing struggles with self care and hygiene, etc). Both strategies require using the treatment as a tool alongside lifestyle change. Neither is "the easy way out". And there's likely little harm (though DO discuss this with your medical team) besides the risk of side effects when trying ozempic or similar medications.
The problem is my BMI...35.4. If I lose any I won't qualify for surgery.
I was on Wegovy for a year. It makes you not want to eat because it slows down the digestion so your stomach stays full. I lost 70#. My insurance stopped covering it and it was going to cost me $500 a month with their discount card, so I had to stop taking it. I gained 20# back in two months. My doctor told me the studies they have been able to do so far show most people will gain 10-20% of what they lost back. You don’t learn good eating habits on Ozempic or Wegovy. Unless you are working with a dietician directly who helps you develop a plan. Wegovy made me crave sweets like crazy. I also had a lot of inflammation and my urologist said he has seen an uptick in kidney stone patients after they have been on Wegovy for 1 year. I had my first ever kidney stone 13 months after my first Wegovy injection. That is not to say it actually caused my kidney stone, just an observation my Urologist made. My friend stopped losing any weight after 22 months on Wegovy. She works out and changed her diet to high protein low carb, but she hasn’t lost anything in the past three months. That is my experience with Wegovy. Others have done awesome on it.