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“Honey Boo Boo” star and former child beauty-pageant contestant Alana Thompson revealed Wednesday that she will be traveling to the Big Apple to undergo weight-loss surgery shortly after her 17th birthday.

Thompson, 16, is scheduled to get a suture sculpt endoscopic sleeve from Steven Batash — who was recently recognized as one of New York’s top weight-loss doctors, reports TMZ.

The surgery — which costs a whopping $13,000 — will take place in August in Queens with the hope of, according to her manager Gina Rodriguez, the reality-TV star slimming down to 150 pounds from her current weight of 275.

According to the “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” actress, she has tried to exercise and eat healthy, but she was just not getting the results that she wanted.


  Alana Thompson is scheduled to receive weight-loss surgery shortly after her 17th birthday by a NYC doctor. Santiago Felipe/WireImage Alana Thompson is scheduled to receive weight-loss surgery shortly after her 17th birthday by a NYC doctor. Santiago Felipe/WireImage

  Thompson is also worried that the weight she gained is due to her genetics and sees the procedure as the only available route to better health. Ben Gabbe/Getty Images Thompson is also worried that the weight she gained is due to her genetics and sees the procedure as the only available route to better health. Ben Gabbe/Getty Images

  Several members of Alana Thompson’s family have expressed their support for the expensive procedure. Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images Several members of Alana Thompson’s family have expressed their support for the expensive procedure. Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

  “Honey Boo Boo’s” Alana Thompson first entered the spotlight as a competitor in child beauty competitions. Noel Vasquez/Getty Images for Extra “Honey Boo Boo’s” Alana Thompson first entered the spotlight as a competitor in child beauty competitions. Noel Vasquez/Getty Images for Extra

Thompson is also worried that the weight she had gained is due to her genetics and sees the procedure as the only available route to better health.

Her guardian and sister, Pumpkin, signed off on the procedure and said that she supports her sister’s decision.

Pumpkin, whose real name is Lauryn Shannon, was awarded custody of Thompson after their mother was arrested in 2019 for drug possession and paraphernalia after an alleged domestic dispute.

“Mama” June Shannon, 42, was picked up by police at an Alabama gas station on suspicion of felony possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia while then-boyfriend Geno Doak was slapped with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and domestic violence charges.

According to both Pumpkin and Thompson, the arrest led to a strained relationship with their mother culminating in Pumpkin becoming Thompson’s official guardian in April 2022.

Thompson’s boyfriend and once suspected fiancé Dralin Carswell said that he also supports his girlfriend’s choice to undergo the surgery and that it was a procedure he was looking into getting done as well.

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