【Objective】 To compare the degree, efficacy and safety of testicular catch-up growth after inguinal and subinguinal surgery for adolescent varicocele. 【Methods】 Clinical data of 121 adolescent varicocele patients with secondary testicular atrophy treated during Sep.2014 and Jun.2021 at Huili People’s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed, including 40 cases treated with the inguinal incision approach, and 81 with the subinguinal approach. The characteristics of intraoperative, efficacy, surgical complications and prognosis were compared between the two groups. 【Results】 The inguinal group had significantly shorter microscope usage time (P=0.006), fewer number of preserved internal spermatic arteries (P<0.001), and significantly larger diameter of preserved internal spermatic arteries than the subinguinal group (P=0.005). The subinguinal group required ligation of more internal spermatic veins, and there were significantly more internal spermatic veins with a diameter of 4 mm or more (P<0.001). No recurrence occurred, and the incidences of scrotal edema and hydrocele were very low (P>0.05). Two years after surgery, the bilateral testicular volume of both groups was significantly larger than that before surgery (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the testicles (P>0.05). 【Conclusion】 In the treatment of adolescent varicocele patients with secondary testicular atrophy, the subinguinal approach significantly reduces the difficulty of microsurgical varicocele ligation, and has good efficacy and safety, which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.