Making a serious commitment to a doctor-approved diet and exercise plan can be all that’s necessary to shed excess pounds and avoid obesity-related complications. But when regular weight loss attempts have failed and medical problems persist, bariatric surgery or “weight loss surgery” might be an option. At Nemours, we offer a bariatric surgery program for teens who are severely obese.
What to Expect With Bariatric Surgery
Teen bariatric surgery relies on the gastric banding (or Lap-Band) technique. This minimally invasive, laparoscopic surgery involves placing an adjustable silicone device at the very top of your child’s stomach to create a small pouch. This pouch reduces the size of the stomach and decreases the amount of food that can be comfortably eaten.
The band can also be tightened or loosened to increase or decrease weight loss, and it can also be removed entirely, if desired.
