Safe and effective weight loss
The Adolescent Weight Loss (Bariatric) Surgery Program at Boston Children's Hospital is dedicated to understanding and addressing the medical, surgical, nutritional, emotional, and social needs of children who are candidates for weight loss surgery.
We understand that weight-loss surgery affects the whole person. As part of the top pediatric hospital in the country, we have access to experts in a variety of fields that enables us to care for our patients at every level. Specifically, our collaboration with the following departments allows us to care for a the various systems potentially affected by bariatric surgery:
- By collaborating with theDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutritionwe can care for patients’ nutritional needs leading up to and following surgery.
- Our collaboration with theDivision of Gynecologyallows us to provide coordinated long acting reproductive contraception and PCOS management for interested patients.
- 我们与Department of Cardiologyto address cardiovascular co-morbidities (such as high cholesterol andhigh blood pressure) associated with weight.
- TheDivision of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicineoffers specific expertise in the management ofeating disorders, as well as medical weight loss management for those who are not prepared for surgery.
- All patients also see a provider in theSleep Medicine teamto determine the need for a sleep test given the very high rates of sleep apnea in our patients.
- Our plastic surgeonswork with our patients postoperatively who are interested in skin removal surgery after extensive weight loss.
- TheDivision of Endocrinologysees many of our patients who are managing pre-diabetes or active diabetes.
Our approach to weight-loss surgery
The first step is a thorough education, conducted with our care and support team. Our guiding principle is that weight-loss surgery (also known as bariatric surgery) should only be considered after all other attempts at reaching a healthy weight have failed. We believe, however, that weight-loss surgery can be a safe and effective option for a child whose obesity has persisted despite all medical efforts, and who is suffering from the complications of obesity. For these children and their families, we provide the full array of weight loss surgery services all in one location:
- surgical consultation and evaluation
- medical evaluation and treatment recommendationsfor health problems caused by obesity
- oversight of pre-operative diet and education
- minimally invasive surgery
- nutritional counseling
- exercise support
- 心理支持
- support groups
- long-term follow-up