The Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program at Valley LifeStart™: The Center for Weight and Wellness features a holistic, comprehensive approach to weight-loss surgery for teenagers age 15 and older. Our multidisciplinary team of experts are highly skilled in minimally invasive robotic bariatric surgery for teens and the supportive care needed to help them lose weight, maintain success, and live healthier, fuller lives.
The Valley Approach to Adolescent Bariatric Surgery
Valley’s adolescent bariatric surgery program features a compassionate, supportive team of doctors, nurse practitioners, dietitians, social workers, and patient coordinators who partner with patients and their families to help teens achieve success in attaining weight loss and developing a healthy lifestyle for their future.
Teenage obesity is the most common chronic disease in the United States, affecting 25% of teens, according to a 2026 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity is complex but treatable, best approached before an obese teen becomes an obese adult and suffers serious health consequences. Once engaged in treatment, teens are usually more willing than adults to make permanent life changes.
Valley’s adolescent weight-loss surgery program can change the pathway of a patient’s life. Teens who undergo bariatric surgery can attain a positive self-identity and self-esteem during the crucial high school and college years, in which they’re forming important relationships and moving forward in their education and social life. The entire Valley team is here to support them with surgical services and follow-up care throughout their journey.
Medical Benefits of Losing Weight
The benefits of weight loss are numerous:
- Reduced risk of heart disease
- Lower blood pressure
- Control of type 2 diabetes without insulin
- A more restful, satisfying sleep, including a reduction in the severity of sleep apnea
- Improvements in levels of cholesterol, glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and other elements measured in routine bloodwork
- Increased function of the liver, pancreas, and other organs and tissues
- Improvements for those with an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation)
- Reversal of weight-induced infertility
Additional benefits include:
- Increased energy
- Improved stamina throughout the day
- Improved confidence
- Reduced stress
- Feelings of accomplishment
- Easier to exercise
Who is a Candidate for Adolescent Bariatric Surgery?
Although every patient is unique, bariatric surgery guidelines for adolescents include:
- Adolescents age 15 and older
- Girls who are past puberty
- Boys whose growing period is over
- BMI (body mass index) of 35 for teens with other weight-related medical conditions (hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea)
- BMI of 40 without other weight-related medical conditions
- Failed non-surgical attempts at weight loss (diet and exercise)
- A psychological screening
Sleeve Gastrectomy for Adolescents
Valley’s bariatric surgery team treats adolescent patients with the safe, effective sleeve gastrectomy procedure. Sleeve gastrectomy is accomplished using the latest-generation robotic da Vinci® Surgical System, which helps patients recover quicker with less discomfort than traditional surgery. Patients stay overnight in the hospital and can return to an active lifestyle within days.
Preparing for Surgery
Bariatric surgery for adolescents requires a pre-operative plan that begins several months before the procedure. Parents are included in the preparation, which includes several meetings with behavioral health specialists and other members of the team. The patient must undergo a psychological evaluation and be able to make decisions on their own. The family will be advised as to what support is needed at home.
On the day before surgery, a nurse navigator will call the patient, parents, or guardian to instruct them about food/drink fasting, the time to arrive at The Valley Hospital, where to go, and what to bring.
The Hospital Stay
Patients will stay in Valley’s specialized pediatrics unit for bariatric surgery. As an accredited Comprehensive Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, Valley’s adolescent bariatric surgery program has designed the unit to feature comfortable furnishings, gowns, special blood pressure testing equipment, and other amenities. The unit’s nursing staff are dedicated to caring for only bariatric surgery patients.
A New Lifestyle after Surgery
Patients will see their surgeon or another member of the team at two weeks after surgery and then several times within the first year. They are also invited to join a monthly virtual bariatric surgery support group led by a licensed clinical social worker to discuss their concerns, share their struggles, and celebrate their accomplishments.
Nutrition Changes
Before their discharge from Valley, each patient receives nutrition instructions from the program’s dietitian, which generally include:
- Drinking a liquid diet the first week, then eating soft foods and eventually solid foods
- Hydrating with plenty of water
- Taking medications or supplements prescribed by the doctor
- Avoiding alcohol and stopping smoking
For extra support, the Valley LifeStart team provides outpatient nutrition guidance and support from a clinical dietitian at locations in Mahwah and Montvale.
Exercise and Activity Guidelines
The Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program has also partnered with Valley Health LifeStyles, a world-class fitness center in Mahwah, which offers group exercise classes, a medical fitness program, a six-lane lap pool, a walking/running track, personal training, and more. Exercise is an important part of weight loss after bariatric surgery.
Why Choose Valley for Adolescent Bariatric Surgery?
- Experience: Valley’s multidisciplinary team of skilled surgeons, pediatric/adolescent medicine nurse practitioners, dietitians, exercise physiologists, and social workers are all weight-loss specialists with years of experience in treating teens and emphasizing their unique needs during surgery and follow-up care.
- Holistic care in partnership with patients and parents: The team focuses on comprehensive care that involves patients and parents in decision-making. Patients are educated with tools to achieve their weight-loss goals and practice lifelong wellness choices.
- A nationally recognized program: Valley's program is accredited as a Comprehensive Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, a joint program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. The program is fully accredited for its commitment to providing medical and surgical management of obesity for both adolescents and adults.
- Support to help patients succeed: Free monthly support group meetings create a network where patients can help each other reach their goals and sustain their accomplishments.
