Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson will undergo weight loss surgery in New York City after her 17th birthday on August 28. The "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" will opt for a suture sculpt endoscopic sleeve with her boyfriend, Dralin Carswell.
Weight loss doctor Steven Batash will perform the procedure next month and TMZ reported it could cost $13,000. So, what made Alana decide to go under the knife?
InTouch Weekly revealed the 16-year-old currently weighs 275 pounds and she's hoping to drop it to 150. She makes this decision after failing to see any results from her various diets.
With that said, the teen reportedly fears her weight gain is genetic and believes only surgery can help her achieve her body goal. Thankfully, she has the support of her sister and now guardian, Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird, who signed off on her little sibling to undergo the operation.
Aside from Lauryn, Alana's boyfriend, Dralin, will be by her side and is also getting the same procedure. The two have been dating since mid-2021, though they only made their relationship Instagram official in September.
Us Weekly added the "Toddlers & Tiaras" alum opted for a suture sculpt endoscopic sleeve because it's "less invasive and safer than a traditional gastric sleeve." Her manager told the publication that Alana and Dralin believed this procedure would help them lose more and keep the weight off.
Alana has been experiencing body-shaming on social media. In an interview with Teen Vogue, she said she didn't understand why people would think that way, hating her just because she got "extra meat."
She then stressed that she never understood body-shaming, confident that she's beautiful and has a "banging body." "So, I don't care," she said. In addition, she revealed that she gets frustrated when people still see her as a kid instead of a teenager who has her own set of goals and opinions.
She explained that the public still sees the little "Honey Boo Boo" in her despite being a teenager and 16. Alana explained that just because she's from the South, people expect her to be "all country bumpkin," riding four-wheelers all the time, but that's not how it really works.
She then revealed that a lot of people on her Instagram don't like her nails or eyelashes, but she doesn't care. Alana added that as long as she likes herself, she's good.
