Guillermo Higa, MD, FACS

Dr. Guillermo Higa operates a bariatric and metabolic surgery practice in Tucson, Arizona, where he combines advanced surgical interventions with pharmaceutical weight management options including semaglutide and tirzepatide. Board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and holding fellowships in both the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (FASMBS), Dr. Higa brings specialized training in metabolic disease treatment to patients throughout southern Arizona. His practice addresses obesity and related metabolic conditions through both procedural and medical pathways, allowing patients to select approaches aligned with their health profiles and weight loss goals.

The surgical component of Dr. Higa's practice includes gastric sleeve and gastric bypass procedures, performed using minimally invasive techniques consistent with his membership in the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). For patients seeking non-surgical alternatives or adjunctive therapies, the clinic provides semaglutide and tirzepatide—GLP-1 receptor agonists that regulate appetite and glucose metabolism. These peptide therapies are prescribed following comprehensive metabolic evaluation and are monitored through the practice's structured follow-up protocols. Patients receive individualized dosing schedules based on tolerance, weight loss response, and metabolic markers, with adjustments made during regular office visits in Tucson.

Dr. Higa's qualifications reflect extensive training in both the technical and metabolic aspects of obesity treatment. His FASMBS fellowship indicates specialized expertise in the physiological changes following bariatric intervention, including hormonal shifts, nutritional requirements, and long-term metabolic outcomes. This background informs his approach to peptide therapy, as he applies surgical-level understanding of gut hormones and satiety mechanisms to medical weight management. Patients benefit from a provider who understands both the anatomical and biochemical dimensions of weight regulation, whether they pursue surgical revision, primary bariatric procedures, or pharmaceutical intervention with semaglutide or tirzepatide.

The patient experience at Dr. Higa's Tucson practice centers on in-person consultations where metabolic history, prior weight loss attempts, comorbid conditions, and treatment preferences are evaluated. Initial visits include discussion of surgical candidacy criteria, expected outcomes for different procedures, and the role of adjunctive peptide therapy in achieving metabolic targets. For patients beginning semaglutide or tirzepatide, the practice provides injection training, side effect management guidance, and scheduled follow-up to assess progress and adjust treatment plans. The office maintains communication protocols for questions between visits, and patients are encouraged to report tolerance issues or plateau periods that may require dosing modifications or additional metabolic testing.

With a 4.9-star rating across 108 Google reviews, the practice demonstrates consistent patient satisfaction in both surgical and medical weight management contexts. Dr. Higa's Tucson location serves patients from across Pima County and surrounding areas of southern Arizona, offering a regionally accessible option for individuals requiring specialized bariatric surgery credentials combined with pharmaceutical weight loss expertise. The integration of FACS-level surgical skill with contemporary peptide therapies positions the practice as a resource for patients at various stages of metabolic disease treatment, from initial medical management with tirzepatide to complex revisional bariatric procedures requiring advanced technical proficiency.