PHOENIX -- Body piercing to lose weight is catching on, but before rushing out to try it, the medical community says make sure the practitioner is certified and licensed to perform the technique.

The technique is known as ear stapling. It draws on the ancient practice of Eastern acupuncture to battle an assortment of maladies, from obesity to smoking.

With the procedure gaining in popularity, medical groups warn piercing anything on your body can lead to an infection, and piercing cartilage can increase the risk.

Cherie Thomas said she has tried all types of diets, but this one is a little different.

For $60, you get a staple in each ear and that is supposed to curb your appetite.

Thomas said it worked for her mom so now she's trying it out herself.

"She loved it," Thomas said. "She's taking a break now to heal, but definitely getting it done again."

The Miracle Staple procedure only takes a few minutes.

A certified medical assistant places a small stainless steel staple inside the inner cartilage of the ear to target certain reflex points designed to affect hunger, sugar cravings and tension.

"They don’t desire the same amount of food," said Glenda Vaughn with Miracle Ear. "Portion size is decreased, along with cravings for the big Macs, sweets and salty food and snacking in between."

James Moore is a doctor of oriental medicine at Synergistic Therapies in the Phoenix area. He said the Miracle Staple is similar to acupuncture procedures that have been around for years.

Moore insisted there are no real health risks with having the procedure done, but he said patients need to know there's more to losing weight than just some pressure on your ear.

"I think people still need to do work," said Moore. "They have to have desire to lose weight and understand about healthy nutrition. They have to want to lose weight and maintain active lifestyle."

Medical Groups Stress Safety

The Cleveland Clinic has warned that while ear stapling may be the latest quick fix to weight loss, the side effects can be devastating.

According to the clinic's Web site, the infection rate for ear stapling can be as high as 20 percent in some cases.

Unlike acupuncture, the practice is relatively new and many states do not require a licensure to perform the procedure, making it possible for almost anyone, even with little or no medical background or training, to do ear stapling, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Mississippi was the first state to take action against ear stapling practices, according to The Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure.

After receiving several complaints from people suffering infections as a result of ear stapling, the board did an investigation and came to the conclusion that when the procedure is not done by a certified physician it is not safe, Mal Morgan, executive director of the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure, told The Daily Mississippian.

In 2006, Mississippi's state medical board ordered the closing of 14 weight-loss businesses that offered ear stapling in the wake of complaints from people who developed serious ear infections as a result of the procedure.

The medical community stresses the importance of seeking out a certified acupuncturist.

While weight loss results from ear stapling will vary from person to person, Thomas said it worked for her

"When I went to eat again,I was full immediately,” she said. “When I'd normally eat sandwich and soup, I ate half of sandwich and was full."

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