There have certainly been many advances when it comes to the increasingly popular weight loss surgeries. In fact, incision-free bariatric surgery is now an option.
Well, the latest procedure is not only incision-free, but it’s also surgery-free. Huh?
Kay Lindley, 59, weighed 315 pounds and wanted to lose… So in July 2009, she traveled to a clinic in Spain. She spent days in “pre-surgery” counseling talking about her food choices and how gastric banding surgery would leave her stomach no bigger than a golf ball, and make it uncomfortable for her to eat more than she needed.In her final session, Lindley went into the “operating room” where she smelled antiseptics and heard sounds of the doctors and nurses talking. But, rather than go under anesthesia, Lindley had actually already been put under, using hypnosis.
Hours later she walked out of the “hospital” without a single incision having been made.
Lindley didn’t actually have — or want — gastric bypass surgery, she had hoped the hypnotists at the Elite Clinic in Marbella, Spain, could just convince her she had one so her body would not let her eat as much. Source
The result? Lindley lost 70 pounds in the first 5 months after “surgery.” But, the one thing that wasn’t fake was the bill – about $1,100.
I’m going to kick my guidance counsellor in the kidneys.
The “procedure” is called Gastric Mind Band Hypnosis, and it seems to be catching on in North America, with a clinic in Washington state charging a very real $1,400.
Science or Quackery?
I’m on board with the concept of the power of thought, and believe that the weight loss battle is won in the mind first and foremost. I also realize that hypnosis has been used successfully to break unhealthy habits.
That said, this procedure screams “excessive”. I would be willing to bet that this would be no more effective than regular hypnosis (skipping the whole fake surgery thing), or even more effective than plain old “free” mindset change techniques.
Is this as ridiculous as it seems, or am I missing something? What do you think?
Dr. Marco Sarinana, Endoscopic and Bariatric Surgeon in Mexicali Mexico, performs a variety of obesity weight loss surgery to aid long-term weight loss treatments. He is an accomplished gastric bypass surgeon with significant experience in gastric band surgery, gastric bypass surgery, mini gastric bypass surgery, weight loss surgery and gastric sleeve surgery. Individuals with a BMI of 35 or more with obesity-related health problems may be considered candidates for weight-loss surgeries.
A couple of years ago, I bought one of those tapes, a hypnosis tape. I was supposed to listen to it everyday. But after a few months, I couldn’t continue to listen to the same thing everyday. I did lose 5 pounds while listening to the tape. but quickly regained it back after I stopped listening.
Weight loss is and should be about fitness. If you’re considering some type of surgery to lose fat then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. This is just my opinion of course.
You’d be much better off developing a stronger relationship with your self and some self confidence.
Losing fat should be for your health and energy levels, looking great and getting the looks from the opposite sex should just be a bonus.
Just my 2 centz
The lady mentioned above is on GMTV tomorrow morning, 21st April, around 8.30am
Would it be possible to have the name of the clinic in Washington state that performs this? nothing came up on Google.
Actually, considering that it’s combining hypnosis with the placebo effect (which can be extremely strong), it seems possible that it’s more effective than either one alone.
Overpriced, probably – though how much is the surgery? If it gets the same results as the surgery would have, is it worth the same amount of money? It must cost something to set up a fake operating room and all, so it’d be a bit more than regular hypnosis.
Yes, that’s a good point. There definitely is a perceived value with something that costs a lot. Pity they are using that on such a vulnerable group of people.
Completely ridiculous. I think it’s shocking people go for this kind of stuff.
Well, they do say that before you have GB surgery, you need extensive counseling to make sure you’re even a good candidate for it and if it’ll work for you and your situation. A lot of people get surgery and then outeat the surgery and regain what weight they lost. I could see maybe a form of CBT being helpful to a lot of obese people, but I don’t think it’s necessary to do a “fake” operation or charge that much money for it.
I’m completely with you on this one, Mike. Mindset techniques work incredibly well for changing habits and the research is quite exhaustive in this area. The power of the subconscious mind is incredible, and what’s even more incredible is that we can influence and to an extent, control our own subconscious thoughts with some well-thought out strategies.
In the same breath, I can see why people would shell out a lot of cash to “cure” their problem. Consumers need something to buy. The mentality is that if it costs money, then it must have value. If it has value, then it must work.
Too bad for them that the “free” strategies work just as well for those who are willing to practice them. I’ll save my money