Ear stapling: a risky and unproven procedure for appetite suppression and weight loss.
In an effort to achieve weight loss, many people are pursuing alternative medical interventions. Widely available as a variant of acupuncture, ear stapling (in which a surgical staple is placed in the conchal bowl of the ear) is reported by practitioners to decrease the appetite and induce weight loss. This practice lacks proven efficacy and has a significant risk of infection and deformity. We report a series of 3 patients who developed complications from ear stapling and present this article to describe the practice so that physicians will be prepared when encountering a staple in the ear.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, 88 E. Newton St., Suite D-616, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Leslie K
LK
Winter
Jeffrey H
JH
Spiegel
D001066:Appetite; D004423:Ear / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult