Some children and teens struggle to achieve and maintain a healthy weight on their own. But you and your child aren’t in this alone.
When bariatric surgery is appropriate, feel confident knowing your teen’s procedure will be performed by highly experienced pediatric bariatric surgeons at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olsen Children’s Hospital. In addition to being the only dedicated pediatric hospital in Central and South Georgia, we’re recognized by the American College of Surgeons for providing the highest quality surgical care.
No matter your child’s unique needs, count on us to help them maintain a healthy weight, lower risk of chronic disease and have a healthy future.
Treatments
Depending on your child’s unique condition and medical history, we’ll help you decide the best path of care.
Healthy Me Clinic
The Healthy Me Clinic is designed to help children and teens ages 3-17 (and their whole family, if interested) achieve a healthier lifestyle through clinical support and lifestyle changes. Once referred by their regular doctor, patients learn healthy eating and exercise habits and have access to other resources, including meal plans and mental health counseling.
Services include:
- Individualized wellness plans
- Weight management counseling
- Nutrition education and guidance
- Exercise evaluations and guidance
- Support from a licensed clinical social worker
- Laboratory services (e.g., checking blood sugar, lipid profile and liver enzymes)
Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery is an option for teens ages 13 to 19 who have participated in the Healthy Me Clinic but are still facing weight-related complications and need additional help losing weight. Our minimally invasive surgical options include:
- Sleeve gastrectomy (recommended in most cases) – During a sleeve gastrectomy (also called gastric sleeve surgery), a large part of the stomach is removed. Like gastric bypass surgery, a small pouch (or sleeve) is created, which can only hold small amounts of food.
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass – Using a stapling method, this procedure creates a pouch in your child’s stomach. The pouch is small, which restricts how much food can be consumed.
To determine if a patient is a good candidate for bariatric surgery, their weight-loss team will consider their BMI (body mass index), as well as other medical conditions, called comorbidities.
Is your child in a healthy weight range? Use the CDC’s BMI Calculator to find out.
Although BMI is a helpful tool, it’s not a diagnosis. Talk to your child’s doctor to determine if they’re at a healthy weight.
Why Choose Atrium Health Levine Children’s for Adolescent Weight Management
Specialized team
Helping kids lose weight safely is what we do. Our team includes a registered dietitian, nurse practitioner and providers trained in adolescent weight loss, as well as highly experienced pediatric and adult bariatric surgeons. When additional support is needed, we offer seamless access to specialists nearby, including experts in psychiatry, pulmonology (lung diseases) and more.
Nationally recognized for bariatric surgery
We’re the only program in our region to be accredited for both children and adult bariatrics by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). Being an accredited MBSAQIP center means we meet the highest standards, going above and beyond for safe, top-quality bariatric surgery care. We’re also recognized as a Blue Distinction Center by Blue Cross Blue Shield and are one of Aetna’s Institutes of Quality for delivering exceptional specialized care.
Support at every step
Overcoming obesity can improve a child’s life, for the rest of their life, and we’ll be there every step of the way. From the first consultation to their personalized treatment plan and into adulthood, our pediatric and adult weight-loss specialists stand ready to offer support and education and help our patients stay on track for the healthy future they deserve. If your child’s care requires a hospital stay, have peace of mind knowing child life specialists are available to make their stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
Contact
840 Pine Street, Suite 750
Macon, GA 31201
478-633-1458
Providers
FAQs
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, pulmonologist 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.
We perform adolescent bariatric surgeries at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital.
Surgeries are performed at the surgery center located at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital in Macon, Georgia. In addition to an exceptional surgery program, Atrium Health Levine Children is onsite if your child needs further pediatric specialty care. We also have child life specialists available, with individuals trained in helping kids and teens feel comfortable during hospital stays.
Yes, bariatric surgery is just as safe as any other surgery.
And it can help decrease the risk of life-threatening conditions caused by childhood obesity.
It varies by patient, but the operating time is usually about 2 hours. Your child will stay in the hospital for 1 day after to recover.
After surgery, patients have no drains or catheters. They can drink as soon as they are awake and alert and can walk on their own.
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 the Healthy Me Clinic by a pediatric medical advisor and dietitian.
Once it’s determined that a teen is a candidate for surgery, they’re referred to our medical clearance physician for a bariatric surgery consultation. They will then complete 6 months of weight and nutritional monitoring. Once the teen is in the middle of the 6-month mark, they will then be referred to the bariatric surgery team. They’ll continue follow-ups with their surgical team for 3 months after the procedure, then they’ll go back to the Health Me Clinic to continue their weight loss journey.
For the right candidates, bariatric surgery can be life-changing at any age. It can help teens reduce the risk of weight-related problems, like diabetes, heart disease and mental health issues. It can also improve their confidence and overall quality of life.
It depends on your policy. Call your insurance company to see what they cover. Our team is also happy to guide you through the health insurance process.
Medically supervised lifestyle changes are always the best first step to pediatric weight loss. If your child is not already a patient, the Healthy Me Clinic is designed to help children ages 3-17 achieve healthier lifestyle. Depending on insurance, oral or injectable weight loss medications can be offered for teens over the age of 13.
This specialized team includes doctors, a nurse practitioner, a registered dietitian, 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.
