Did you know that the cost of weight loss surgery is actually cheaper than continually being on Ozempic?
Obesity and obesity related illnesses are running rampant throughout the world. Doctors and healthcare workers are urging people to take control of their weight and adopt a healthy lifestyle that encourages weight loss and then maintaining the weight. Although everybody knows what it takes to lose and maintain weight, it is all easier said than done. Sometimes the traditional methods of losing weight are unsuccessful and people are turning toward alternative methods.
People who are obese and severely overweight are desperately looking for help to get them to their weight loss goals. These methods include medications, injections, and even weight loss surgery. The two most common alternative weight loss methods that are gaining popularity are injections such as Ozempic (active ingredient Semaglutide) and weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery). Renew Bariatrics will explore the cost of Ozempic vs. weight loss surgery and the associated factors of each.
Let’s Talk About Ozempic
Ozempic was originally designed to help patients who are struggling with Type 2 Diabetes, because it helps regulate blood sugar. The drug is administered as an injection into the abdominal or the thigh. Although Ozempic was not created as a weight loss option, it has gained popularity due to its effectiveness.
Semaglutide is quite beneficial to somebody who is overweight, because it makes one feel fuller longer and quicker. Many people claim that their “food noise” in their head is quieted and they no longer have the same cravings as they once had.
Patients have reported losing quite a bit of weight while taking the injections and it has proven to be a very successful form of weight loss.
The Downsides of Ozempic
Before you jump up and run off to talk to your doctor about Ozempic there are a couple of things that you need to understand. Semaglutide has a host of side effects that impact every person differently. Patients have complained about nausea, headaches, diarrhea, constipation, and the list goes on. Most people are going to suffer from one or multiple side effects.
Ozempic is also incredibly expensive if you don’t get it through your insurance (which is very hard to accomplish). Depending on your location, or the place that you receive the injections, Semaglutide can range from $300-$700 a month! This is why many people refer to Ozempic as the “Hollywood Drug” because it is more easily purchased by the rich and famous.
Let’s not forget about the temporary status of Ozempic (and comparable injections). Ozempic is not a one and done situation. You need to continue to inject yourselves with the medication once a week for the rest of your life. Some people are under the impression that they can just use Semaglutide to lose the weight and then they will maintain after that – this is an uncommon occurrence.
The majority of people who get off the weekly injections will gain the weight back. Some patients have even complained that they gained the weight back and some. Therefore, you need to understand that you are going to be spending approximately $3,600 – $8,400 every year until you no longer want to maintain or lose weight.
Let’s Talk Weight Loss Surgery
Bariatric surgery is a very popular option that is available to people around the world. There are many different types of bariatric surgery that must be discussed with a surgeon to find the best one that is right for you!
The different types of bariatric surgeries include:
- Gastric Balloon: It involves placing a soft, silicone balloon inside the stomach, which is then inflated with a sterile saline solution or air. The inflated balloon occupies space in the stomach, leading to a feeling of fullness and reducing the amount of food that can be consumed at one time.
- Gastric Bypass:During gastric bypass surgery, the surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach by stapling off a portion of it. This pouch is then connected directly to the small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum).
- Gastric Sleeve: During a gastric sleeve surgery, the surgeon removes a large portion of the stomach, leaving behind a smaller, sleeve-shaped stomach roughly the size and shape of a banana. This reduction in stomach size restricts the amount of food that can be eaten at one time, leading to a feeling of fullness more quickly and thus reducing overall food intake.
- Duodenal Switch: Similar to gastric sleeve surgery, a portion of the stomach is removed, leaving behind a smaller, sleeve-shaped stomach. In addition to the sleeve gastrectomy, a significant portion of the small intestine is bypassed, including the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine).
Each of these weight loss surgeries have the same intended goal – to lose and maintain a significant amount of weight. All of these methods are incredibly successful as long as you stick to your designated post-surgery plans. Not only are these surgeries highly effective, but they are not temporary solutions. They will allow you to lose and maintain weight for the rest of your life (if done properly).
Choosing Temporary Over Long-Term
Although Ozempic has proven temporary and even manufacturers state that the medication needs to be consistently used, people are still choosing Semaglutide products instead of weight loss surgery. But, why? There are a couple of reasons that people are leaning toward Ozempic as opposed to surgery.
Some of these reasons include:
- Fear of Surgery: Some people are just terrified of surgery and can’t imagine going through surgery on their own volition.
- Not Obese: Many patients want to lose weight, but just don’t qualify for any type of weight loss surgery.
- Only Need Temporary: There might be individuals that just want a temporary fix without committing to a lifelong decision.
- Cost: Quite honestly, the upfront cost of Ozempic is much cheaper than the upfront cost of weight loss surgery. So, it seems like the more attractive choice.
Cost of Ozempic vs Weight Loss Surgery
Let’s dive a little deeper into the cost excuse. Many people who are obese and would benefit from weight loss surgery are turning toward Ozempic and other Semaglutide products because they are convinced that it costs less and they will be getting the same result. Hold on there, did you know that the cost of Semaglutide is considerably higher than that of weight loss surgery?
Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers found that weight loss drugs containing semaglutide cost more than $53,000 over five years. In comparison, many bariatric surgeries cost around $20,000. So let’s suppose you have to be on Semaglutide for the next 10 years – that’s around $100,000 that you have spent on weight loss injections.
If you are hesitant to get weight loss surgery because you know that the cost is just “way too high” you might want to consider your alternatives. You can continue being obese (which shouldn’t be an option), try traditional methods again (which haven’t worked so far) or pay $53,000 every 5 years for Ozempic. Those are your options.
The Choice Seems Obvious: Weight Loss Surgery is the Answer
If you are suffering from obesity and diets and exercise has not been successful, it is strongly advised to consider weight loss surgery such as gastric sleeve or gastric bypass. Bariatric surgery is an excellent choice when you want to try to get control of your weight. If you are willing to stick to a strict diet before and immediately following the surgery, then you should look into weight loss surgery. Contact Renew Bariatrics in Tijuana or Cancun today for a safe and affordable weight loss surgery solution.
