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  • About

    virginiabariatric.com/

    Virginia Bariatric Surgery — Dr. Matthew Fitzer's Northern Virginia weight-loss practice.

  • About

    virginiabariatric.com/about

    About Dr. Matthew Fitzer and Virginia Bariatric Surgery.

  • About

    virginiabariatric.com/team

    Meet the surgeon, nurses, and staff at Virginia Bariatric Surgery.

  • About

    virginiabariatric.com/our-program

    Our comprehensive weight-loss surgery program.

  • Contact

    virginiabariatric.com/contact

    Request an appointment or message the office.

  • About

    virginiabariatric.com/results

    Patient before-and-after weight-loss stories.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/services

    Overview of weight-loss surgery and non-surgical options.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/services/sleeve

    Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy surgery with Dr. Fitzer.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/services/bypass

    Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for weight loss and diabetes.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/services/band

    Adjustable gastric band procedure and follow-up.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/services/balloon

    Orbera intragastric balloon — a non-surgical weight-loss option.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/services/esg

    Incisionless endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty in the DC metro.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/medical-weight-loss

    Physician-supervised, non-surgical weight loss with Dr. Fitzer.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/medical-weight-loss/insurance

    How Virginia insurers decide coverage for Zepbound, Wegovy, and Saxenda — the two gates, the diagnosis backdoor, and a plan-by-plan comparison.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/medical-weight-loss/insurance/medicaid-cova

    Cardinal Care BMI rules and the July 2026 COVA change requiring a BMI of 35.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/medical-weight-loss/insurance/medicare-tricare-fehb

    The $50 Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, TRICARE step therapy, and FEHB requirements.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/medical-weight-loss/insurance/commercial-marketplace

    Sentara, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Anthem, Aetna, CareFirst, Kaiser, and PBM formularies.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/medical-weight-loss/insurance/cash-pay-denials

    Appealing a denial and current LillyDirect and NovoCare self-pay prices.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/medical-weight-loss/medications

    GLP-1 and injectable weight-loss medication management.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/services/revisions

    Revision surgery for prior bariatric procedures.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/services/revisions/sleeve

    Sleeve-to-bypass conversion, re-sleeve, and SADI/duodenal switch after a sleeve gastrectomy.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/services/revisions/gastric-bypass

    TORe, surgical pouch revision, and distalization after a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

  • Service

    virginiabariatric.com/services/revisions/lap-band

    Band removal and conversion to a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass.

  • Resource

    virginiabariatric.com/resources

    Hub of patient resources: FAQ, forms, nutrition, financing, and more.

  • Resource

    virginiabariatric.com/resources/faq

    Frequently asked questions about bariatric surgery.

  • Resource

    virginiabariatric.com/resources/qualifications

    Do you qualify for weight-loss surgery? BMI and eligibility criteria.

  • Resource

    virginiabariatric.com/resources/insurance-coverage

    How Virginia Bariatric handles insurance pre-authorization.

  • Resource

    virginiabariatric.com/resources/forms

    Downloadable new-patient forms.

  • Resource

    virginiabariatric.com/resources/instructions

    Pre-op and post-op instructions.

  • Resource

    virginiabariatric.com/resources/nutrition

    Bariatric nutrition guides and post-op diet stages.

  • Resource

    virginiabariatric.com/resources/obesity-and-diabetes

    How obesity and type-2 diabetes are connected.

  • Resource

    virginiabariatric.com/resources/prosper

    Ways to finance weight-loss surgery and spread payments over time.

  • Resource

    virginiabariatric.com/resources/support

    Support-group calendar and community.

  • Resource

    virginiabariatric.com/resources/suggestion

    Send us a private suggestion.

  • Blog

    virginiabariatric.com/dr-fitzer-dissects-the-news/glp-1s-improve-survival-for-women-with-breast-cancer

    GLP-1 drugs show striking survival gains in breast cancer patients — up to a 63% mortality drop. Dr. Fitzer reviews the data, and the reasons for caution.

    September 19, 2026

  • Blog

    virginiabariatric.com/dr-fitzer-dissects-the-news/glp-1-management-stat

    An urgent care chain now offers telehealth GLP-1 weight-loss management. Dr. Matthew Fitzer weighs in on who should really be managing these medications.

    September 5, 2026

  • Blog

    virginiabariatric.com/dr-fitzer-dissects-the-news/eye-problems-and-glp-1-medications

    Can Wegovy or Zepbound harm your eyes? Dr. Matthew Fitzer explains diabetic retinopathy worsening, the unsettled NAION question, and how we screen patients.

    August 10, 2026

  • Blog

    virginiabariatric.com/dr-fitzer-dissects-the-news/weight-regain-after-wegovy-zepbound-treatment-part-3

    Part 3: Can bariatric surgery prevent weight regain after stopping Wegovy or Zepbound? Dr. Matthew Fitzer explains the long-term options.

    May 25, 2026

  • Blog

    virginiabariatric.com/dr-fitzer-dissects-the-news/weight-regain-after-wegovy-zepbound-treatment-part-2

    Part 2: Do lifestyle programs, exercise, or switching medications prevent weight regain after stopping Wegovy or Zepbound? Dr. Fitzer breaks down the evidence.

    May 17, 2026

  • Blog

    virginiabariatric.com/dr-fitzer-dissects-the-news/weight-regain-after-wegovy-zepbound-treatment-part-1

    Part 1: Why weight regain after stopping Wegovy or Zepbound is expected, and why dose tapering studies fall short. Analysis by Dr. Matthew Fitzer.

    May 17, 2026

  • Blog

    virginiabariatric.com/dr-fitzer-dissects-the-news/weight-regain-after-stopping-injectable-medication-whats-the-reality

    Will you regain weight after stopping Wegovy or Zepbound? Dr. Matthew Fitzer explains what the evidence shows and what your options are.

    May 3, 2026

  • Blog

    virginiabariatric.com/dr-fitzer-dissects-the-news/semaglutide-versus-weight-loss-surgery-outcomes

    Does max-dose Wegovy work as well as weight-loss surgery? Dr. Matthew Fitzer compares the outcomes and explains why surgery still comes out ahead.

    May 2, 2026

  • Blog

    virginiabariatric.com/dr-fitzer-dissects-the-news/our-ten-year-weight-loss-data

    I am happy to report that my electronic health record vendor (Baritrax360) updated their app. With one click, I can now pull up my patients’ weight loss data for different operations out to ten years. (Before the change,

    April 19, 2026

  • Blog

    virginiabariatric.com/dr-fitzer-dissects-the-news/why-are-gastric-bypass-patients-at-risk-for-alcoholism

    Gastric bypass patients have a higher alcoholism risk. Dr. Matthew Fitzer explains the hypoglycemia link, symptoms, and how carb hygiene can help.

    April 10, 2026