Ear Stapling

[9lives]

I can't believe this now...saw an ad for this procedure in our local paper, found this on the web:



You have probably heard all the gimmicks when it comes to weight loss. Now one man claims he can shrink your size by placing a tiny device inside your ear. It’s almost like an earring. It sounds unbelievable, but his clients say it's not a gimmick, but a godsend.

It seems body piercing puncture any and every part of the body these days. Some claim another kind of piercing inside your ear can take off unwanted weight.

“I thought it was a jip to be honest," says Brenda Garrett.

Brenda Garrett's skepticism soon turned into celebration.

“I have no cravings for sweets," explains Ms. Garrett. "I've lost 10 pounds and it's been a little more than a month."

She made the trip from Oklahoma across the red river for a stainless steel staple that, she says, works wonders. It is called the weight loss staple, and according to chiropractor William Burrows, it only takes a second to start shedding pounds.

"You can't fathom how or why it would do what it does," William Burrows says.

Burrows says the weight loss staple is the best kept secret his side of the border.

"Nobody knows about it, nobody," Burrows says.

He sees enough clients to make ear stapling his full time job. In fact, he has stapled more than 20,000 ears during the past 13 years, starting with his own.

"I took it out after three days because I couldn't eat. It hit me hard, which is the only reason we started doing it."

Burrows is working from a temporary office in Weatherford, Texas. He says, “We are just in transition."

Burrows says people flock from across the world for the piercing procedure.

Brandy Wigington joined in the stapling stampede and says she lost one dress size in one week.

“I think it's amazing that you could stick a staple in your ear and it works," says Ms. Wiginton.

The tiny piece of metal is strategically placed on the acupuncture stomach point inside the ear, suppressing the appetite, according to burrows.

"It alters the electro-magnetic field, which causes an indirect effect on the body, but it's a healthy type," explains Burrows.

Healthy, he says, because the staple comes without any man-made chemicals or side effects.

"I think I'd wait on getting that done myself until I've seen any kind of scientific information showing that it actually has some benefit," explains Dr. Michael Steelman.

Oklahoma Weight Loss Doctor, Michael Steelman, says before you do your stapling, do your homework.

"Anytime you're doing something that penetrates the body, you have a risk of infection and it's particularly dangerous if you get infection in cartilage," Dr. Steelman says.

Burrows has seen those types of infections. He says not from his own clients but from copycat staplers who point and shoot without any training.

"They come to us to get them out because that doctor doesn't even know how to get them out," William Burrows says.

Burrows says about 90 percent of his patients will trim down, some with drastic results. One of his clients told him that, "His wife lost 65 pounds and he lost 56 pounds in about seven months."

"It shocks us if they don't lose weight," Burrows says.

For Brenda Garrett, it shocked her that she did lose weight.

“It's true, I mean, it's not hype, it's not a lie, it's true," Garrett says. “It works!"

The chiropractor claims the staple's effect of suppressing the appetite lasts from two to three months, and then a new staple is required.

[minimonkey]

This was a rage a few years ago -- I remember reading about it. I have no idea if it works or not, but acupuncture seems to work for lots of folks....

I CAN however, comment on the cartilege infection aspect of it -- I had a cartilege piercing years ago that got infected -- oooh, ugly! My whole ear turned bright red, swelled up, and started oozing. I got a fever, and got very sick. If you pierce cartilege, do so safely and keep it clean!!!! Personally, I'll take induction over that risk anyday!

[Dottie]

I remember when it was "popular" you could actually buy a magnetic "clip" that didn't pierce the ear, but put pressure on the right points.
There was also a lot of info (on here but a long time ago) saying you could massage those pressure points when you felt hunger and it would supress your appetite.

[dizneegirl]

My aunt had her ears "stapled" back for cosmetic reasons... didn't affect her appetite. LOL! I suppose it's a different kind of staple, though.

Think I might pass on this one though!

[colleen44]

A friend of mine had this done to quit smoking years ago.....gained 20 pounds and went back for the weight loss 'stapling' (not sure what he called it)

Its a great business model if you ask me....
go and pay to stop smoking -- then gain weight -- then come back for the weight loss!

I do think its a bunch of crap though since he now smokes more than ever and gained back all of his weight, but hey whatever works!!

[karenb]

I knew a woman who had this done 30 years ago and it didn't help her at all

[reneebywater]

My Dad did it and it worked great. However he lost so much weight he looked terrible. I would not try it for what it did to him. A lot of this stuff works on the mind. If you want it bad enough and you believe it, then it works.

[idioglossic]

I will stick to lc.. it works anf I love it..

[Denise85]

No thanks. I get acupuncture for my CFS and back and it's been amazing. I have so much energy now and my back no longer hurts. I was on drug therapy and had tried chiropractics and physical therapy but the only thing that worked was acupuncture. I could see it working for appitite supression but I wouldn't get a staple put in my ear. I wouldn't want to risk infection and I want to be able to lose the rest of my weight without any weird gimmicks. Just eating healthy and exercising.

[Heather150]

I always thought if you stapled the mouth, you'd have much better results!

[Charski]

LOL at Heather!!