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by Robert MacKay, Thursday, 06 June 2013 | Categories: Weight Loss

A new procedure is being done in America to help patients reduce their weight. In Southern California, Dr Nikolas Chugay claims that his procedure, called the tongue patch, helps patients lose around 20 pounds in one month. This procedure consists of sewing a pored patch, made of a material called marlex, to the tongue. The patch is then removed after a month to prevent the tongue from incorporating the material. The patch’s purpose is to make it impossible for patients to eat solid food. Individuals who undergo the procedure are forced to stick to the doctor’s 800 calorie per day liquid diet. Attempting to eat any solids will result in extreme pain, forcing the patients to stick to the doctor’s diet.

This procedure is pretty extreme but we are dealing with consenting adults and we are sure that they have been made aware of the potential downsides. First, it is obvious that getting something stitched to your tongue can cause complications. Some patients find it hard to speak or sleep. As the material will start to bind with the tongue tissue, the procedure needed to take out the patch after a month will extremely painful but local anaesthetics and post-procedure painkillers will help to mitigate these factors.

Secondly (and perhaps more importantly), have you thought about what happens when suddenly after a month (and a few days’ recovery) patients are able to eat solid food again? My guess is they would go back to their old eating habits. A month is unlikely to be sufficient for the body to be re-educated in a way that the patient’s relationship with food is dramatically improved. Obesity and overeating are complicated problems and we are not convinced that a painful tongue patch for a month is the way forward. I am sure that the doctor is providing a great follow-up service but it would be interesting to know the outcome around 12 months after the procedure. I remain to be convinced that patients will have dramatically different body shapes.

Here is a link to Dr Chugay’s website – but this is not an endorsement!





 
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