Pediatric Bariatric Surgery FAQs

Our dietary guidelines are designed to improve your chance of long-term success in weight loss. If you don’t follow the guidelines, you may not lose the excess weight or maintain the weight loss long-term. In addition, there is an increased risk of complications, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or malnutrition after surgery.

The goal of weight-loss surgery is to help patients lose a significant amount of weight in a safe, supervised way and to improve overall health. We will work with you to achieve your weight-loss goals, and then create a plan to maintain your weight loss in the future.

Our Healthy First Bariatric Surgery Program asks that you meet the following guidelines to be a good candidate for surgery:

• You have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater, or a BMI of 35-40 with a medically significant disease directly related to the diagnosis of obesity (i.e., sleep apnea, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension).
• You understand there are risks and benefits with any surgical procedure.
• You are committed to lifestyle change and follow-up with your medical team.
• Willingness to complete the preoperative checklist.
• Agree to avoid pregnancy for at least two years after bariatric surgery.
• Be able and willing to follow nutritional guidelines and an exercise program.
• No indication of active drug addiction, alcoholism, or untreated major psychiatric disorder

The potential risks associated with bariatric surgery for teens and young adults are the same as any other major abdominal surgery: reaction to anesthesia, pain, bleeding, infection, blood clots, and breathing problems/pneumonia. Risks specific to bariatric surgery include heartburn, gallstones, and gastric leak.

Our program will help you with your bariatric coverage benefits and determine if you have coverage for bariatric surgery. Some insurance companies may require completion of a medically supervised diet program before approval. We also offer a self-pay plan for those that do not have bariatric insurance coverage. You can discuss your options with our price transparency team.

This depends on two factors: your insurance requirements and the changes you need to make before surgery. You are generally in the preoperative evaluation and preparation period for six months before you will be able to have bariatric surgery. This is due to the insurance requirements we must meet for you to get an approval for surgery. Consequently, it is very important that you complete the tests that are ordered, you comply with diet and exercise changes that are given to you, and you are fully able to commit to lifestyle change.

Everyone is different in their response to pain and their healing rate. Depending on your surgery type, you will be in the hospital for 1-2 nights. During that time, you will be up and walking several times a day, you will be introduced to the diet you will be following post-operatively, and you will be assessed for any signs of complications during that time. Expect to have some pain/discomfort that will be managed with pain medication while you are in the hospital. You will also be discharged on appropriate pain medication when you leave the hospital. Expect to be sore with movement, but walking is important because it helps prevent post-operative complications, such as blood clots and pneumonia.

Right away. You will take short walks even while you are in the hospital. The key is to start slowly and to listen to your body and your surgeon. You will be taking 10-minute walks every hour daily after surgery, totaling about 60 minutes per day. No lifting anything over ten pounds until cleared by your surgeon. Your surgeon will give you further details as to how to progress after surgery. We will ensure to build an exercise plan that is right for you.

Our team will explain what and how you should eat after surgery. In general, patients will be on a liquid diet for four weeks following surgery, and then gradually return to eating a normal diet, although in smaller amounts. We usually recommend that patients limit their intake of food to ¼ cup (two ounces) of food at each meal. Eventually, you will be able to eat larger portions.