In an era where countless weight-loss methods promise quick results and instant transformations, slimming wires have become the new talk of town in being a solution to tackling stubborn kilos.
Also known as jaw wiring, slimming wires are a weight-loss technique that involves the temporary wiring of the upper and lower jaws together. This measure is done to restrict food intake, forcing individuals to consume only liquids or pureed foods to lose weight.
After seeing the trend on social media, Kutlwano Black from Pretoria got slimming wires installed after trying several weight-loss methods with no results.
“I saw a video of a lady who had slimming wires and I thought maybe it might work for me because I’ve tried Duromine, Biogen supplements, different teas, and exercising with no luck,” Black says.
“It was really not a bad experience, but I couldn’t brush my tongue or the inside of my teeth. I could feel the dirt every day and it made me feel insecure, thinking I had bad breath.
“For the first two weeks, I could see my weight was down by 6kg. I used to have smoothies, slimming shakes, chia seeds with lemon, green tea, and instant soup.”
Kutlwano Black
However, Black says she didn’t have them in for long.
Minenhle Malevu from Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal, who also saw the trend on social media, says the difficulty of trying to lose weight for years with no good result was the main driver in her trying slimming wires, hoping for a change.
Not easy wearing slimming wires
“Having slimming wires is not easy at all. It was a hard journey; the first two weeks were very bad. After two weeks, I started to see some changes in my body. I can’t explain the feeling of happiness, and that’s what made me stay with them for six months because of the results. I lost so much weight in my first round.
“I didn’t notice any risk because, before installing my wires, I did some research and my doctor told me the do’s and don’ts. I was eating eggs that were not dry so that they could pass, making fruit smoothies when I felt more hungry, and taking oatmeal with plain yoghurt.”
Specialising as a dentist, Dr Lebohang Malunga from Pretoria notes that slimming wires are wires used to lock the jaw shut.
She explains that the wires are placed using orthodontic brackets or “threaded” in between the premolars (the back teeth). They then promote weight loss as the patient is forced to consume liquids only, this results in a calorie deficit, which is when a person burns more calories than they eat.
“Wires are typically kept in place for six weeks or until the patient reaches their goal weight. They are used as an adjunct in a person’s weight-loss journey.
“Clinically slimming wires were used in morbidly obese patients in preparation for gastric bypass surgery to get the patient to an ideal weight to be approved for surgery. Regular adjustments are not needed.”
Dr Lebohang Malunga
“The amount of weight a patient can lose depends on the calories the patient consumes. Liquid calories are also calories and if the incorrect liquids are consumed the person may not lose weight at all. Ideally, patients lose between 5 and 20kg on slimming wires in six weeks. They can see results from the first week.”
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Impact on oral hygiene
Malunga further points out that slimming wires can affect oral hygiene as the patient cannot brush lingually (on the inner surfaces of the teeth).
“We strongly suggest that patients do a scaling and polishing (dental cleaning) before and after placing the slimming wires. Patients are encouraged to continue brushing twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste.
“A water-floss which substitutes a normal floss can be used during this period to ensure that food stuck between the teeth is removed. Patients are also advised to avoid sugary drinks and smoothies high in sugar to reduce the risk of tooth decay.”
According to her, high-protein smoothies which contain protein supplements, vegetables, and fruits such as kale, spinach, berries, and apples can be consumed. Blended vegetables and warm soups can also be consumed.
However, she advises that people should avoid fruits high in sugar and rather use honey to sweeten the smoothie, including substitutes such as agave nectar and artificial sweeteners such as xylitol.
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Risks of jaw wiring
Malunga underlines some potential risks of slimming wires, which include but are not limited to:
- Loss of consciousness or fainting due to hunger resulting from a drop in blood glucose levels.
- Jaw pain as the jaws are shut for a long period – the permanent clenching position – can result in the temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) being painful.
- Body dysmorphic disorder due to rapid weight loss. The individual may have a distorted self-image.
- Asphyxiation (suffocation) is brought about by pulmonary aspiration, which is when an individual chokes on their vomit. The inhalation of the vomit into the lungs blocks the oxygen flow, resulting in health complications such as pneumonia.
She also emphasises that slimming wires are not suitable for everyone. “Patients with chronic illnesses that require oral ingestion or administration of pills will be obstructed by the wires from taking their medication. This will result in the patient defaulting treatment and that is detrimental to the patient’s health.
“Slimming wires are also not suitable for diabetic patients as they cannot consume enough food because of the huge caloric deficit, which can lead to hypoglycaemic shock resulting in seizures, loss of consciousness, and in some cases death.”
Dr Lebohang Malunga
Additionally, she advises individuals to consult a dietitian or nutritionist to get assistance in losing weight naturally with a good diet and exercise before attempting or even considering slimming wires.
“Patients considering slimming wires should first consult their general practitioner to ensure that they are healthy enough to embark on the journey. Furthermore, there are no quick fixes in life and a patient may be successful in losing the weight but may not have proper systems in place to maintain the achieved ‘ideal’ weight.”
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