Key takeaways
- Wegovy (semaglutide) is a prescription drug used for weight loss and weight management. It may be a treatment option for some people who have had gastric sleeve surgery.
- Studies suggest semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, can be effective in losing weight or sustaining weight loss after gastric sleeve surgery.
- Compared with liraglutide (Saxenda), semaglutide (Wegovy) demonstrated potentially greater effectiveness in promoting weight loss after bariatric surgery. The most suitable option depends on individual health factors. It also depends on other health conditions you may have.
Gastric sleeve surgery, also called vertical sleeve gastrectomy, is a type of bariatric surgery to permanently remove a large section of the stomach.
This surgery helps you lose weight in two ways. It reduces the amount of food the stomach holds. It also affects hormones related to appetite and metabolism that help you feel less hungry.
But it’s possible to regain weight after gastric sleeve surgery. In some cases, a person may not lose sufficient weight after surgery.
Weight loss drugs such as Wegovy may be an option for supporting weight loss after bariatric surgery. This article looks at using Wegovy after gastric sleeve surgery. It discusses how effective it may be for weight loss and how it compares with other weight loss drugs in someone who’s had gastric sleeve surgery.
In people who’ve had gastric sleeve surgery, Wegovy may be an effective option for losing weight or maintaining weight loss after surgery. But more research is needed in this area.
Your doctor may prescribe Wegovy after gastric sleeve surgery if you’re regaining weight. Or they may prescribe it after if you haven’t lost a sufficient amount of weight.
Losing weight
- high cholesterol
- type 2 diabetes
- metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
According to a 2022 study,
After 6 months of semaglutide treatment, weight loss for 20 participants in the 2022 study was as follows:
- 85% had lost more than 5% of their body weight
- 45% had weight loss of more than 10% of their body weight
- 5% had weight loss of more than 15% of their body weight
A larger, randomized controlled trial is needed. This would help researchers fully understand the effectiveness of semaglutide for weight loss after bariatric surgery.
A
The researchers noted that longer follow-up studies are necessary. These would help them fully analyze the effects of semaglutide treatment in people who’ve had bariatric surgery. Further, they would help them determine how long weight loss results may last.
In a 2025 research review, semaglutide was found to be effective in reducing a significant amount of weight after bariatric surgery.
Another 2025 study followed people who had regained weight following bariatric surgery. After 1 year of treatment with semaglutide or liraglutide (Saxenda), most people had lost the weight they’d previously regained after the surgery.
Based on this 2025 study, using semaglutide or liraglutide after gastric sleeve surgery may be an effective way to maintain or continue weight loss.
Medical Perspective“Weight gain during perimenopause and menopausal years is common in 50% of women with the decline in estrogen and hormonal changes in metabolism occurring[. It] is associated with abdominal adiposity or central fat redistribution. On average, women report a weight gain of 1.5 lbs per year during their perimenopausal/menopausal years.”
— Shilpa Amin, MD, CAQ, FAAFP
Learn more about weight gain during perimenopause and menopause.
Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
Besides Wegovy, other drugs you may use for weight loss after gastric sleeve surgery include semaglutide (Ozempic) and liraglutide (Saxenda).
Wegovy and Saxenda both are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for weight loss and weight management. Ozempic is FDA approved to help manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes and certain other conditions. Although it may cause weight loss, it’s not approved for this use. But some doctors may prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight loss. (With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved to treat or help prevent.)
A
The results showed that after 12 months of treatment:
- people receiving semaglutide had lost an average of 12.9% of their body weight
- people receiving liraglutide had lost an average of 8.8% of their body weight
The best drug for weight loss after gastric sleeve surgery may depend on individual risk factors. It also may depend on possible side effects of the medication and any other health conditions you may have. You can talk with your doctor to help determine the best treatment option for you.
Wegovy may be an effective treatment for weight loss or weight management after gastric sleeve surgery in some cases. It may be helpful if you’re regaining weight or didn’t lose enough weight after surgery. It also may help prevent the need for another weight loss surgery.
Research suggests that semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy) may be more effective for weight loss after bariatric surgery compared with liraglutide (Saxenda).
If you’re considering weight loss medication following gastric sleeve surgery, you can discuss options with your doctor. They can help determine the best treatment plan for you and talk through any potential risks or side effects. They can also tell you about any additional diet and lifestyle changes you should make to help support weight loss.