Dear Doctor Column, July 17, 2006
Ear Stapling: Weight-loss Fad Can Cause Serious Complications
Question:
A friend just had her ears stapled to help her lose weight. What can you tell me about this procedure?
Answer:
Ear stapling, a potentially dangerous procedure, borrows from principles of acupuncture — a group of techniques originating in China that involve stimulating anatomical pressure points on the body with hair-thin metallic needles. During the procedure, also called auriculotherapy, a small surgical staple is placed into the inner cartilage of the ear at a pressure point practitioners say controls appetite. Placing the staples takes only a few minutes and is about as painful as getting your ears pierced, according to businesses that perform the procedure.
Staples are left in the ears for 2 to 3 months. During that period, practitioners say the body adjusts to the staple, and it needs to be replaced in a slightly different location to maintain its appetite-curbing effects. Staples must be removed professionally. The procedure costs between $50 and $100 per staple. People who have had their ears stapled must clean the area regularly and avoid touching the staple to help prevent infection.
Proponents claim ear stapling not only helps people lose weight by suppressing hunger cravings, they also maintain it can curb your addiction to cigarettes and reduce hot flashes, acid reflux, and migraines. Yet there is no scientific data supporting these assertions, and safety is a major concern. Ear stapling is gaining popularity, and there is only limited regulation of the practice, which some states consider a form of acupuncture and others classify as a piercing procedure. Regulations governing acupuncture and body piercing vary from state to state. Alabama, for example, has no laws governing who can perform acupuncture and only establishments that pierce parts of the body other than the ear are regulated by the health department.
This lack of oversight means anyone can attend a day-long training seminar on ear stapling, purchase the specialized staple gun, and start an ear-stapling business. Unsanitary and unsafe practices are real dangers of ear stapling, which is not approved for any purpose by the Food and Drug Administration.
Infection is a potential threat anytime the skin is pierced, and puncturing the cartilage of the ear can cause deformity and lead to serious complications. In 2006, after numerous reports of infections caused by ear stapling, the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure shut down 35 businesses for practicing medicine without a license. (Mississippi considers ear stapling acupuncture, which only licensed medical doctors can legally practice.)
Until other states put regulations in place, people have to rely on their common sense to avoid the dangers of this practice. If you want to try this unproven procedure, talk to your physician and make sure you understand all the risks. Consider consulting with a medical doctor trained in acupuncture techniques. At the very least, you should ask any ear stapling practitioner about their training and experience, request references, and make sure they follow sanitary practices. Practitioners should sterilize all equipment after each use, use only sterilized, surgical-grade staples, cleanse the area thoroughly, and wear surgical gloves. Touching the stapled area, which must be kept clean and disinfected, may spread bacteria and cause irritation and serious infection.
Americans, who spend $33 billion a year on weight-loss products and services, are often desperate enough to pay for any supplement, diet plan, or procedure alleging it will help drop pounds fast. Ear stapling is a mostly unregulated practice with potential to cause harm. Even practitioners say it works best when combined with diet and exercise, a claim that can be made for any weight-loss gimmick. Although stories about ear stapling resulting in quick weight loss are compelling, UAB experts note the placebo effect, which can deliver results because patients believe the remedy will work, plays a role in many treatments, including weight-loss strategies.