Surgery Backed By Science
The Research Behind the Care We Provide
At Precision Surgical Care, we believe every treatment decision should be grounded in evidence, not guesswork. That’s why our approach is shaped by the most up-to-date research, clinical guidelines, and proven outcomes.
This page is designed to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the science guiding your care—whether it’s robotic surgery, metabolic procedures, hernia repair, or bariatric revisions. Here, you’ll find simplified explanations of key studies, evolving surgical techniques, and why we choose the methods we do.
Because when it comes to your health, we believe knowledge is power—and trust is earned through transparency and excellence.
⚖️ Sleeve Gastrectomy Versus Semaglutide for Weight Loss in a Severely Obese Minority Cohort
Sleeve Gastrectomy vs. Semaglutide – What You Should Know
-
A recent study compared sleeve gastrectomy to semaglutide (GLP-1 weight loss injections) in severely obese African American and Hispanic patients.
-
After 12 months:
-
Sleeve surgery patients lost ~32% of their body weight
-
Semaglutide patients lost only ~2%
-
-
The study shows surgery resulted in much more weight loss than medication alone for this group.
-
Every person is different—this highlights the importance of personalized weight loss plans.
-
If you've struggled with weight despite medication, bariatric surgery may be a more effective option to consider.
Obesity Treatment With Bariatric Surgery vs GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
A recent study (2025) published in JAMA Surgery compared outcomes of metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) with treatment using GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) — a class of medications including semaglutide and tirzepatide — among adults with class II (BMI ≥35) and class III (BMI ≥40) obesity.
Key Findings:
-
Greater and more durable weight loss: Patients who underwent bariatric surgery experienced substantially more weight loss than those treated with GLP-1 medications.
-
Lower ongoing costs: Although surgery has a higher up-front cost, overall 2-year ongoing medical and pharmacy costs were significantly lower for the surgical group compared with continuous GLP-1 treatment.
-
Health care utilization: Surgery was also associated with reductions in certain obesity-related health care use over time compared with medication alone.
What This Means for Patients With Severe Obesity
For individuals with class II and III obesity, the findings suggest that:
-
GLP-1 medications alone — while helpful for many — may not provide as effective or durable weight loss as bariatric surgery in this high-risk population.
-
Relying solely on medical therapy may lead to higher long-term costs and less sustained improvement in weight and obesity-related comorbidities.
-
Bariatric surgery remains a powerful, evidence-based option that should be part of shared decision-making conversations, rather than being viewed only as a last-resort intervention
📄 2022 American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) Indications for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
In January 2023, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) jointly updated their indications for metabolic and bariatric surgery. These guidelines lowered the BMI thresholds for recommending surgery—supporting its consideration for individuals with a BMI of 30–34.9 kg/m² who haven't achieved durable weight loss or comorbidity improvements through non-surgical methods, and defining BMI >35 kg/m² as a clear indication regardless of comorbidities. They also recognize adjusted BMI criteria for Asian populations and endorse careful use in selected adolescents and older adults. These recommendations emphasize the growing evidence for safety, effectiveness, and long-term benefits of surgery for metabolic disease management.