Bariatric Surgery for Teens
Adolescent bariatric surgery, or surgical weight loss for teens, is a big decision for your family. But it can be a life-changing procedure for teens who haven't been able to achieve a healthy weight through lifestyle changes alone. When paired with a healthy diet and exercise, bariatric surgery can help your teen lose weight, improve weight-related conditions and lower their risk of chronic diseases in the future.
At Atrium Health Levine Children’s Weight Management, we offer the latest, safest adolescent bariatric surgeries and support for teens ages 13 and up. We help your teen lose weight safely and get on track to the healthy future they deserve.
Want to learn more? Sign up for a free bariatric surgery webinar.
Or call 704-355-9484 to speak to a member of our team.
Bariatric surgery – what to expect from Atrium Health Levine Children’s
When your child undergoes surgery, you want to know they’re getting the best care possible. Here’s why families choose Atrium Health Levine Children’s for adolescent bariatric surgery:
Specialized team
Surgical weight loss can be a remarkable tool, but it’s only one part of the weight loss process. In addition to metabolic and bariatric surgeons, your child has a team of obesity medicine specialists, psychologists and dietitians – all specialized in pediatric weight loss.
Full-service support
In addition to surgery, your child and family get the support you need to make healthy lifestyle changes and lower your risk of chronic diseases. We also use an app to help your child as they recover. It lets us track their progress, monitor their condition, send reminders and share helpful resources.
Nationally recognized program
We’re accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). Being an accredited MBSAQIP center means we meet the highest standards for safe, top-quality bariatric surgery. We’re also recognized as a Blue Distinction Center by Blue Cross Blue Shield for delivering exceptional specialized care.
Adolescent-focused care
Our family-centered approach includes education and support, age-appropriate medication management, and a team specialized in caring for children. When your child turns 18, we seamlessly transition them to the adult team within Atrium Health Weight Management.
Adolescent bariatric surgery options
Depending on your child’s unique condition and medical history, we’ll help you decide which surgery is right for them.
-
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
This procedure uses a stapling method to create a small pouch in your child’s stomach. The pouch can only hold a small amount of food and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine.
-
Sleeve gastrectomy.
Also called gastric sleeve surgery, this procedure removes a large amount of the stomach. The remaining part of the stomach is used to create a small pouch (or sleeve), which restricts the amount of food that can be consumed.
Frequently asked questions
To qualify for bariatric surgery, your child must meet the following criteria:
- Age 13 or older
- BMI over 35 with other weight-related diseases or BMI over 40
They must also get the necessary evaluations, which can include a psychologist, gynecologist and/or other Atrium Health Levine Children’s specialists. Both a child and their parent/guardian must consent to the surgery.
Use the CDC’s BMI calculator to measure your child’s body mass index. It’s not a diagnosis but can be a helpful tool to see if your child’s in a healthy weight range.
Most teens will feel ready to get back to school and other activities in 2 weeks.
They can go up and down the stairs the same day of surgery and shower the next day. They can go for brisk walks and jogs within the first week of surgery, as long as they’re comfortable and don’t have incision pain. We recommend easing back into more strenuous activities, like running and weightlifting, and stopping if there’s pain or discomfort.
It’s best to wait 2 weeks before sitting in a bathtub or swimming.
Initially, all teens are evaluated with their families at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Healthy Futures by a pediatric medical advisor, dietitian and psychologist.
Once it’s determined that a teen is a candidate for surgery, they’re referred to our bariatric surgery team. They’ll continue follow-ups with their surgical team for 3 months after the procedure, then they’ll go back to their Healthy Futures team to continue their weight loss journey.
Medically supervised lifestyle changes are always the best first step to pediatric weight loss. If your child is not already a patient, check out Atrium Health Levine Children’s Healthy Futures.
This specialized team includes doctors, a nurse practitioner, a registered dietitian, an exercise physiologist and a licensed clinical social worker. They help patients and their families make healthy lifestyle changes to things like diet and physical activity, helping lower their risk of chronic diseases.
Meet the Team
Get to know the providers who will be caring for your child throughout their weight loss surgery.