Ozempic after gastric bypass
Gastric bypass surgery can lead to significant weight loss — and for lots of people, it’s a life-changing step toward better health. But it’s also common to experience weight regain or hit a plateau, even when you’re doing everything “right.”
So, can you take Ozempic after gastric bypass surgery to help you keep the weight off? Yes, research suggests glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) can be an appropriate tool for many patients after gastric bypass.
This class of medications includes semaglutide, the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy. While Ozempic is only FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes, it’s sometimes prescribed off-label to help with weight loss. Wegovy is specifically approved for weight management in people with obesity or overweight and a related health condition (like sleep apnea or high cholesterol).
Read on to learn about Ozempic after gastric bypass, whether you can take Ozempic after gastric sleeve surgery, and alternative weight loss medications to consider post-bariatric surgery.
Reviewed by Criag Primack, MD, FACP, FAAP, FOMA
Can you take Ozempic after weight loss surgery?
Yes, most people can take Ozempic after gastric bypass surgery — aka Roux-en-Y gastric bypass — but it’s important to talk to your surgeon or another healthcare provider first.
Research on semaglutide indicates that people can safely lose two-thirds of the weight they regain after bariatric surgery with GLP-1 medications.
That’s because semaglutide can:
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Help you feel fuller
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Reduce food cravings
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Help you get back in control of your eating habits
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Control blood sugar levels (glucose)
More research is needed, but here’s what we know so far.
Ozempic may help you lose weight you’ve regained after gastric bypass
About 20 to 25 percent of people experience insufficient weight loss or regain some of the weight they lost after bariatric surgery. Sometimes called metabolic surgery, bariatric surgery is any kind of weight loss surgery, including gastric bypass.
The research we have on weight loss medications after gastric bypass surgery is promising, though.
One small 2022 study looked at 44 people without type 2 diabetes who underwent bariatric surgery. Participants had either a gastric bypass or a gastric sleeve and experienced insufficient weight loss or weight regain after surgery.
They started taking a once-a-week 0.5 milligram (mg) dose of semaglutide about five years, give or take, after surgery.
Participants had regained an average of 12 percent of their body weight (starting from their lowest post-surgery body weight). While taking semaglutide, they lost six percent of their body weight after three months and about 10 percent after six months.
Ozempic (Semaglutide) may be more effective than other weight loss drugs
Several GLP-1 drugs are used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Research has shown that semaglutide may be more effective than other options for treating weight gain after weight loss surgery.
A 2023 study compared semaglutide to liraglutide — the active ingredient in Victoza and Saxenda. The study included 207 participants who had regained weight after either gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, or gastric banding surgeries. They took either 1 milligram of semaglutide weekly or 3 milligrams of liraglutide daily.
After a year of treatment, the participants taking semaglutide lost an average of almost 13 percent of their body weight, whereas those taking liraglutide lost an average of almost nine percent.
Our BMI (body mass index) calculator and chart can give you an idea of where you stand in terms of body composition.
When to take Ozempic after gastric bypass
The best time to take Ozempic after bariatric surgery will vary from person to person, so it’s important to consult a healthcare provider before starting treatment.
Research shows that taking weight loss medication when you hit a weight loss plateau after surgery — instead of waiting until you regain weight — could help you lose more weight in the long run.
What’s more, taking weight loss medication before surgery could be more effective than taking it after — and may even help you lose more weight overall. But more research is needed to know for sure.
Can you take Ozempic after gastric sleeve surgery?
Generally, it’s okay for most people to take semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) after a gastric sleeve or sleeve gastrectomy. Semaglutide can help you lose weight if you’ve regained weight after the surgery or if the surgery wasn’t as successful as you’d hoped.
Several studies support the use of semaglutide after bariatric surgery.
For example, the 2022 study we mentioned above looked into the use of semaglutide after gastric sleeve and gastric bypass procedures. There weren’t any significant weight loss differences between the two types of surgery, and semaglutide helped participants lose weight after both procedures.
Can you take other weight loss medications after weight loss surgery?
Ozempic is one of several treatment options for folks looking to lose weight after a bariatric procedure.
One such option is Wegovy, which can help people lose weight and keep it off. Plus, it’s FDA-approved specifically for weight loss.
In Wegovy clinical trials, participants lost up to 20 percent of their body weight over the course of 68 weeks. In other words, it can be an effective long-term weight loss treatment.
If you’re curious to learn more about how they compare, check out our guide to Ozempic versus Wegovy.
There are also other GLP-1 injections, including:
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Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
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Zepbound (tirzepatide)
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Victoza (liraglutide)
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Saxenda (liraglutide)
Semaglutide medications may lead to greater weight loss than liraglutide medications, but liraglutide can still help with weight loss.
A randomized clinical trial compared a 3-milligram daily liraglutide injection to a placebo in 70 participants who had experienced 20 percent or less weight loss after gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery.
After 24 weeks of treatment, the liraglutide group lost an average of almost nine percent of their body weight. Those who got a placebo lost an average of about 0.5 percent. In this study, there were no serious side effects for participants taking liraglutide.
There’s also a new 2025 study on people taking tirzepatide after bariatric surgery, which shows promising results. Everyone in the study lost at least five percent of their body weight, most lost over 10 percent of their body weight, and about one in four lost more than 15 percent of their body weight in about six months.
Then there are non-injectable weight loss drugs, including:
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Buproprion
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Metformin
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Topiramate
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Naltrexone
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Qsymia (phentermine-topiramate)
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Xenical (orlistat)
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Rybelsus (semaglutide)
Though research into the efficacy of weight loss medications beyond semaglutide and liraglutide is limited, the available data suggests that the following ingredients could help you lose weight after weight loss surgery:
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Semaglutide
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Liraglutide
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Tirzepatide
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Phentermine
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Topiramate
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Orlistat
You can take our free weight loss assessment to see what option might work best for your unique situation.
How to choose the right weight loss medication after a bariatric procedure
A healthcare provider can walk you through the pros and cons of each medication, whether you’re eligible to take it post-surgery, and which would be most suitable for you.
They’ll take into account any medical conditions you might have and your weight loss results after surgery.
And, just so you know, your provider may recommend lifestyle changes alongside medication to help with weight loss and weight management.
These might include:
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Eating nutritious foods, like fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains
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Incorporating more movement into your day
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Drinking more water
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Getting enough sleep
See our guide to building healthy habits for more tips.
Ozempic after gastric bypass: The final verdict
A gastric bypass procedure can help treat obesity, but it’s not always successful, and regaining some of the weight you’ve lost is common. This is where Ozempic or similar drugs like Wegovy can come in to help you lose weight after surgery.
Here are the key takeaways on Ozempic after gastric bypass:
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Many people can take Ozempic after a gastric bypass. More research is needed, but from what we know so far, semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) appears to be effective for weight loss after gastric bypass surgery. It can help you continue losing weight or lose some of the weight you’ve regained post-procedure.
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You can take Ozempic after other types of weight loss surgery. Studies on semaglutide after weight loss surgery usually include participants who’ve undergone gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, or gastric banding procedures. Semaglutide appears to help promote weight loss after all types of surgery.
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GLP-1s like semaglutide and tirzepatide may be more effective than other options. There isn’t much research yet comparing these medications in people who’ve had bariatric surgery, but emerging data is promising. One study found that semaglutide led to more weight loss than liraglutide. And a new study on tirzepatide shows promise for post-bariatric surgery weight loss.
The path to weight loss isn’t always linear, but a medley of options can help.
There are different types of lifestyle adjustments, different types of surgery, and different types of medication — including FDA-approved and off-label medications. A healthcare provider can help find the best treatment plan for you, your body, and your weight loss journey.
Ozempic and Wegovy are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Hims, Inc. is not affiliated with or endorsed by Novo Nordisk A/S.
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Related: Are Weight Loss Drugs Covered By Insurance?
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Related: Metformin For Weight Loss: Does It Work?
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This article originally appeared on ForHers.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
