Gastric Sleeve vs Weight Loss Injections: Which is Better? Treated

Gastric Sleeve vs GLP-1: Which is Better?

This is entirely based on your personal preference and situation. Both methods are safe and effective for most people, but factors like cost, your feelings on surgery, and whether you want a permanent or temporary treatment could be deciding factors.

On this page we’ll explore their differences, as well as the pros and cons of each option.

Medically reviewed by

Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer

	Gastric sleeve	Weight loss injections
Average weight lost	Mean total weight loss after one year: 25%.	Mean total weight loss after one year: 6%-20% for all GLP-1 injections.
How long does it last?	A permanent, non-reversible procedure that involves removing part of your stomach.	Reversible and temporary. The medications only work when used.
Invasiveness	Surgical (typically laparoscopic) involving small incisions.	Little to no invasiveness. Requires subcutaneous injections daily or weekly.
Initial cost	Depends on insurance. Many plans cover it if criteria are met.	Depends on insurance. Monthly list prices range from ~$1,000 to ~$1,350.
Lifetime cost	One-time cost of $15,000–$25,000 if paying out-of-pocket.	Monthly cost that continues as long as you are on the medication.
Risks and side effects	Blood clots, infection, stomach leak, nutritional deficiency, gallstones, excess skin.	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, gas, headaches, fatigue.
Recovery time	Two to six weeks for a full recovery.	No recovery time, but side effects should subside within a few weeks.

Gastric sleeve

Weight loss injections

Average weight lost

Mean total weight loss after one year: 25%.

Mean total weight loss after one year: 6%-20% for all GLP-1 injections.

How long does it last?

A permanent, non-reversible procedure that involves removing part of your stomach.

Reversible and temporary. The medications only work when used.

Invasiveness

Surgical (typically laparoscopic) involving small incisions.

Little to no invasiveness. Requires subcutaneous injections daily or weekly.

Initial cost

Depends on insurance. Many plans cover it if criteria are met.

Depends on insurance. Monthly list prices range from ~$1,000 to ~$1,350.

Lifetime cost

One-time cost of $15,000–$25,000 if paying out-of-pocket.

Monthly cost that continues as long as you are on the medication.

Risks and side effects

Blood clots, infection, stomach leak, nutritional deficiency, gallstones, excess skin.

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, gas, headaches, fatigue.

Recovery time

Two to six weeks for a full recovery.

No recovery time, but side effects should subside within a few weeks.

Cost

Gastric sleeve

In the US, a gastric sleeve may be covered by private insurance or Medicare if you meet specific BMI and health requirements. If you pay out-of-pocket (self-pay), the surgery can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000.

Weight loss injections

The cost of weight loss injections in the US varies wildly based on your insurance plan’s “formulary” (list of covered drugs). If covered, you may only pay a small monthly copay. If not covered, the list price for medications like Wegovy or Zepbound is over $1,000 per month. However, many pharmaceutical companies offer savings cards that can reduce the price to $550 or less for those with commercial insurance.

Efficacy

Both methods are effective at helping you lose weight. People lose an average of 25% of their body weight within a year after gastric sleeve, while you can lose up to 20% of your body weight within 72 weeks (a little over a year) of using tirzepatide (Zepbound).

To get the best from both treatments, it's essential to make healthy lifestyle changes alongside them. Without proper maintenance, there’s a significant risk of regaining weight with either option. So it's important to continue following a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

Safety

Both treatment methods are safe, but there’s a risk of side effects with each option. That said, the benefits of weight loss usually outweigh the potential risks and side effects of treatment.

Gastric sleeve

The surgery itself is very safe, with many patients having no complications. While there’s a slight risk of side effects, a study found that people who underwent gastric sleeve surgery had a reduced risk of mortality, complications, and reintervention.

Additional health benefits include reduced blood pressure, a lower risk of stroke, cancer, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and cardiovascular disease. Type 2 diabetes may also be reversed.

Weight loss injections

Weight loss injections are generally safe and well-tolerated. Although nearly all users may experience gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, these effects are usually manageable. In fact, only 1.8% of patients discontinued treatment with tirzepatide due to side effects. Furthermore, most side effects tend to subside within a few weeks as your body adjusts to the medication. Other health benefits include reduced blood pressure and improvement in blood sugar levels and knee and joint pain.