Hypnosis is well known as a way in which to relax a patient and prepare them optimally for surgery and also for dulling perception of pain and reducing recovery time – all this supported by scientific research.

More recently though hypnosis is being used as an alternative to the gastric band – the patient is made to think that they have had the actual procedure when in fact they have not. Results indicate that this is an effective treatment, with the obvious bonus that it is non-invasive.