Welcome to the world of the 10 weirdest medical treatments that still find a place in modern healthcare. From chilling skin cancers with liquid nitrogen to engineering babies with three sets of DNA, these procedures are as bizarre as they are real.

Exploring the 10 Weirdest Medical Procedures

10 Fighting Skin Cancer With Cryotherapy

Cryogenics, the science of ultra‑low temperatures, isn’t just for sci‑fi fantasies about frozen humans. In dermatology, doctors dab liquid nitrogen onto a cotton swab and press it against a cancerous spot, effectively “freezing” the malignant cells. The frigid blast cauterizes the tissue, making a biopsy impossible because the nitrogen literally burns the sample, so pathologists can’t examine it under a microscope afterward.

Side‑effects include a few days of burning pain, blister formation, and the possibility of scarring. Yet many patients accept these temporary discomforts, deeming them a small price to pay for a treatment that can eradicate skin cancer without invasive surgery.

9 Rebirthing Therapy

Rebirthing therapy aims to recreate the sensations of birth by having a client squeeze through a tightly bound set of pillows that simulate a birth canal. Practitioners claim that reliving this cramped, oxygen‑deprived environment can “reset” a person’s psyche, offering a fresh perspective on life.

The method has sparked legal controversy; several deaths have been linked to the practice, primarily due to the breathing difficulties it can cause. Consequently, the therapy is illegal in Colorado and North Carolina, where authorities consider it a dangerous and unregulated procedure.

8 Symphysiotomy

Symphysiotomy involves manually widening a pregnant woman’s pelvis—often with a surgical saw—to allow a baby to pass through when a Caesarean section isn’t feasible. Though it sounds medieval, Irish doctors routinely performed the operation from the 1940s through the 1980s, frequently without informing the women of what was being done.

Victims suffered severe long‑term effects: chronic back pain, infections, and limited mobility. Survivor groups have recently brought the practice to light, prompting medical bodies to issue apologies and sparking ongoing legal battles for compensation.

7 Tooth In Eye Surgery

Osteo‑odonto‑keratoprosthesis (OOKP) is a daring surgery for patients whose corneas are beyond repair. Surgeons extract a healthy tooth, along with a piece of the surrounding jawbone, and sculpt a channel through the tooth to house a prosthetic lens, which is then implanted into the eye.

Because the body recognizes the tooth as its own tissue, it is less likely to reject the implant. Once the tooth‑based scaffold integrates, the original tooth can be replaced with an artificial holder. Although still rare, OOKP has restored sight for several blind individuals and may become more common in the future.

6 Malaria Injections

Julius Wagner‑Jauregg, a Nobel‑winning psychiatrist, pioneered a biologically‑driven cure for neurosyphilis by deliberately infecting patients with malaria. The fever induced by malaria appeared to halt the progression of the syphilitic infection, offering a dramatic, if risky, therapeutic avenue.

His work predated Freud’s psychoanalytic dominance, yet despite early successes, malaria therapy fell out of favor as safer antibiotics emerged. Nonetheless, Wagner‑Jauregg’s daring approach remains a fascinating footnote in medical history.

5 The G‑Shot

G‑Spot Activation therapy, colloquially known as the “G‑Shot,” involves injecting a chemical cocktail into the female G‑spot after local anesthesia. The goal is to enlarge the area, making it easier for partners to locate and stimulating more intense orgasms.

Eligibility is strict: candidates must be sexually functional, know the location of their G‑spot, and have no allergies or pelvic laxity. Studies report an 87 % satisfaction rate, with participants noting stronger climaxes, heightened libido, and overall sexual improvement.

4 Laughter Therapy

In the 1970s, Dr. Madan Kataria introduced “laughter yoga” in Mumbai, encouraging groups to laugh together while performing simple breathing exercises. Today, roughly 5,000 laughter clubs span the globe, gathering people to giggle, chortle, and guffaw in unison.

Research suggests that genuine laughter boosts the production of immune‑enhancing cells, helping the body fend off disease. The practice is far from a gimmick; participants report reduced stress, improved mood, and tangible health benefits.

3 Bee Sting Therapy

Apitherapy harnesses the power of bee venom by deliberately allowing live bees to sting patients. Practitioners hold a bee with tweezers and coax it to deliver its sting—sometimes up to 80 times a day—for therapeutic effect.

Bee venom contains anti‑inflammatory compounds that have shown promise in treating arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and tendonitis. The practice traces back to ancient Egypt, where it was used for joint pain, and modern patients continue to report relief after regular sessions.

2 Desert Sand Therapy

In Siwa Oasis, Egypt, locals believe that the scorching desert sand possesses curative powers. They dig a sun‑baked pit in the morning, let it absorb the day’s heat, and then lie buried up to the neck in the warm sand around 2 p.m., covering everything except the head with a shaded blanket.

If sweat dampens the sand, practitioners swap it out for fresh, dry, hot sand to maintain the therapeutic temperature. Believers claim the method can soothe skin ailments and cleanse the body of toxins.

1 Three‑Parent Babies

Three‑parent IVF, also known as mitochondrial replacement therapy, merges genetic material from three individuals to prevent mitochondrial diseases. A donor egg, stripped of its defective mitochondria, receives the mother’s nuclear DNA, and the father’s sperm completes the embryo, resulting in a child with DNA from all three parties.

The technique targets diseases passed down through mitochondrial DNA, which accounts for only a fraction of a person’s genetic makeup. By swapping out faulty mitochondria, doctors aim to give families a chance at a healthy child while preserving the mother’s and father’s traits, such as eye and hair color.

Critics argue the approach treads on ethical boundaries and could pave the way toward more controversial genetic modifications, like cloning. Proponents, however, stress its potential to eliminate debilitating hereditary disorders for countless families worldwide.

When we talk about 10 shocking procedures done to animals, the list reads like a horror‑movie script. Some of these practices are meant to improve animal health, yet the methods are so extreme they make you wonder why we even bother. Others are purely cosmetic, driven by human vanity, and involve cutting, drilling, or inserting devices that cause needless pain. Below we dive into each of these jaw‑dropping techniques, keeping the tone lively yet factual.

10 Shocking Procedures Overview

10 Bile Bears

Bear bile has been used in Chinese medicinal remedies for hundreds of years, with believers claiming that it can cure a wide range of ills. (It cannot.) Even for what limited benefits it can have, there are better alternatives.

Nevertheless, bile bear farms are big business in countries that have not outlawed the practice. There are many ways that bile is extracted from a bear’s gallbladder, but none of them are pleasant for the animals.

Some bears undergo regular extractions. This involves immobilizing them, often with physical restraints, and then extracting the bile surgically (although the term “surgically” is being used rather loosely in this case).

Other bile farmers eliminate the need for regular “procedures” by leaving a catheter inserted into the bear’s gallbladder at all times. Some give the bears “torture vests,” as the rescuers of one bear called them, that constantly drain the bile into a box for easy recovery. Other farms do away with the need for restraining the bears by keeping them in “crush cages” where they live their entire lives without the freedom to move.

Bile farming has been banned in some countries, but the practice continues throughout many nations in Southeast Asia. As bears are captured in the wild, poaching and habitat destruction is leading to a population decline of wild bears in the region that experts fear will only get worse.

9 Holey Cows

To better understand what is happening in a cow’s digestive tract and increase the health of an entire herd, some researchers and farmers drill holes in their cows’ sides to create permanent portholes to their stomachs. The procedure is done under anesthesia, so it’s said that the cows don’t feel any pain.

A rubber plug is inserted into the hole, which can then be removed to monitor the cow’s digestive system. (It’s large enough to stick a human hand in.) As far as keeping the hole free from infections, agriculturists claim that the cow’s own gut microbes protect it from “bad” bacteria because the “good” bacteria prevent any from taking hold.

Animal rights activists call cannulating cows, which is the term used for this procedure, animal abuse. Agriculturists claim that it is done for the welfare not only of the cannulated cow but of the entire herd. As researchers can observe the cow’s stomach directly and insert or remove matter being digested, they can analyze it to create more nutritious diets for the cow.

Also, the material in its digestive microbiome plays an extremely important part in a cow’s health. When a cow is sick, the digestive system is often the last area to recover. But when farmers give material from a healthy cannulated cow’s gut to a sick cow, it dramatically speeds up the sick cow’s recovery.

8 Ear Cropping

To the surprise of many dog lovers, the upright ears of some breeds, like the Doberman pinscher, are not their ears’ natural shape. These dogs are not born with small, erect ears but receive them from a procedure known as “ear cropping.” It’s performed to make them have a more desirable look—to humans. (The dogs don’t seem to care one way or the other.)

Ear cropping is controversial among veterinarians and animal rights activists because they claim it has no value except cosmetic (again, to humans) and that the animal must endure pain and possible complications from cutting large sections of their ears off.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, no medical evidence confirms the claims of adherents who say that dogs benefit from ear cropping because it lessens the likelihood of ear infections. Assertions that the procedure improves hearing or can help the dog avoid future ear injuries are likewise not proven.

In fact, one of the problems with the procedure is that a dog’s ears can get infected as a postoperative complication. The ears must also be taped upright to remain in the desired position, and retaping can cause pain for the dogs. If the ears fail to remain upright, further cropping must be done, increasing the risks of infection and producing more pain for the dog.

7 Cutting Off Sheeps’ Butt Skin

Flystrike is one of the worst things that can happen to a sheep. The animal’s wool is thick all over its body, including the area around its anus, and its feces can start to build up around the area. This attracts flies. It’s such an inviting area to the insects that they can lay their eggs in the skin of the sheep, leading to them being eaten alive by maggots.

A sheep with flystrike can die in just a few days. To prevent this, sheep farmers came up with a procedure known as mulesing (after John Mules who invented it) in which they cut away the skin that grows wool around a sheep’s anus. This keeps the area free from feces and urine buildup.

Activists object to this procedure because the farmers actually cut away the animal’s butt skin, often without anesthetics or any postoperative procedures. Mulesing did not receive much attention until PETA found out about it and began posting videos and images of a sheep getting mulesed.

The sheep itself shows no indication of feeling any pain, But the blood from mulesing and further tests which show the animal’s astronomical increase in stress hormones tell a different tale. (As sheep are prey animals, it’s believed that they do not show pain.) PETA organized a boycott on Australian wool to combat the practice.

6 Tail Docking

Many breeds of dogs with short tails do not receive them from genetics but from a procedure known as tail docking. Basically, it’s a partial amputation of a tail. As with ear cropping, the main reasons are purely cosmetic, like when a dog’s breed standard has the image of a short, stubby tail.

Tail docking has been shown to have some value in rare cases. In working dogs, such as guard dogs and hunting dogs, tail docking can have some positive effects. It can keep the dog from getting injured when it travels through brush that could harm its tail. A guard dog could likewise avoid getting its tail yanked by an intruder.

However, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) stresses that tail docking rarely has justifiable benefits even among working dogs. The organization does not support the practice. It is not so much that tail docking is harmful to the animal (aside from the pain of the procedure), but there is usually no benefit for the animal itself. So the AVMA does not believe it is necessary. It is illegal in countries like the UK.

Tail docking is not confined to canines, however. Docking cows’ tails, once routine in the US dairy industry, has likewise shown no benefit to the animal or dairy worker. It only adds to discomfort during fly season as the animals have more flies and a harder time dealing with them because the cows cannot swish their tails to swat the flies.

As a result, US dairy industry manuals discourage it. Young lambs and some horses also have their tails docked to prevent situations like flystrike or getting entangled in equipment. Unlike with other animals, tail docking in these situations has been proven to have some benefit to the lambs and horses.

5 Shoving Ginger Up Horse Butts

Different styles of show horses are held to different standards. In some categories, a “lively” tail is seen as a qualification to compete. The horse is supposed to keep its tail up and at the ready to be considered at the peak of its breed.

However, not all horses are as enthusiastic about keeping their tails up as their owners would like. So, some humans take the situation into their own hands, as it were, by shoving ginger up their animals’ butts.

The ginger acts as an irritant that makes the horse lift its tail. “Gingering” is the term used because the original technique was to pack horse buttholes with raw ginger, but other substances have been administered as well. Cayenne pepper or even kerosene is likewise applied to the horse’s anus and perineal/vaginal region to give the animal’s tail that extra perk.

Naturally, the practice of gingering has been banned at shows. It is harmful to the animal, and it doesn’t give a real representation of the breed. Swabbing for ginger and any other substance that might irritate a horse’s nether regions is a common practice. For testers who don’t want to get up close and personal with horse butts, thermal imaging is another option.

But some horseshow people have opted to cheat not with chemicals but with a practice called “nicking.” This cuts certain ligaments in the horse’s tail and then resets them at a higher position. Anything for a win.

4 Getting High (Steps)

Horses have more to worry about than their owners putting chemicals up their butts. As the Tennessee Walking Horse is known for its leg movements, some unscrupulous breeders in competition have been artificially producing the hallmarks of these horses by searing their legs with chemicals.

“Soring” a horse is harming the animal’s legs, often by putting chemicals on or around a horse’s hooves/leg area to make stepping painful. The irritant is put on the front legs and causes the horse to recoil in pain when it walks. This creates a much higher step that looks pleasing to an audience.

Officials have been critical of Tennessee Walking Horse shows for soring their horses. They clamped down on these practices in accordance with the Horse Protection Act of 1970, but then the officials ran into another issue. After a horse is sored, the practice can be covered up by adding even more chemicals to numb the pain until the horse enters the show.

At the 2013 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, 67 percent of horses tested positive for chemicals that could have covered up evidence of soring. A spokesman for the Performance Show Horse Association said that the findings were incorrect. He added that the information did not come from USDA veterinary inspectors but from other outside organizations.

According to a veterinarian representing the organization, there was no scientific support for the findings and it was unreasonable to think that a horse’s legs wouldn’t have trace amounts of the substances. They say their goal is full compliance and that they don’t want the “Big Lick” competition ruined by cheaters.

3 Nose Rings Hurt (That’s Why They’re There)

Nose rings are placed in the nostrils of animals for several reasons. But whatever the endgame of the farmer is, nose rings were meant to cause pain. For animals like cows, a nose ring can be used to control an animal that is in close proximity to humans.

The cow can be led around by a rope tethered to the nose ring, or pulling on the ring can cause pain which discontinues the undesirable activity. Temporary nose rings are also placed on calves to wean them. The rings prevent them from nursing but allows them to eat food like adult cows.

Perhaps the most common images of nose rings in animals involve pigs, but they are also the most discouraged. The rings are seen as harmful to the pigs’ welfare. While nose rings can be used to lead a pig somewhere, the main purpose of nose rings in these animals is to stop them from rooting.

A herd of pigs rooting can destroy the plant life around an entire farm. However, many animal researchers believe that rooting is a behavioral need in pigs and to prevent that activity would be harmful to their welfare. Given that, other methods of rooting prevention are recommended. Nose ringing pigs is discouraged or even banned in several countries.

2 Chickens With Rose‑Colored Glasses Or Blinders

Many people agree that chicken makes a very tasty meal, but unfortunately, that sentiment is shared by the birds themselves. They are cannibals. Each year, chicken farmers can lose up to 25 percent of their stock to chickens killing each other.

When one chicken draws blood, the sight of the blood draws other chickens to the injured bird. They attack it, too. So when a chicken bleeds, it often dies quickly at the beaks of its flock.

Chicken farmers use a range of methods to avoid losing their stock this way. Interestingly, this includes giving spectacles to their birds. These rose‑colored glasses make it difficult for the chickens to see blood, which prevents mobs of them from attacking a lone bird.

Some glasses were designed to swing open when the chicken ate so that it had a normal view of its food. Then the spectacles would swing back down once the chicken lifted its head again.

Other kinds, called blinders, are opaque and prevent the chicken from seeing in front of its head. The chicken can’t see to attack another chicken, so deaths are prevented. There were even attempts to give the chickens permanent red‑colored contact lenses. However, these only harmed the chickens and made some go blind.

Although some blinders and spectacles are temporary clip‑ons, others are permanent. These are pinned directly into the nasal cavities of the birds and are listed as “mutilations” by the UK government. The practice is illegal there because it is deemed detrimental to the welfare of the birds.

1 Cutting Off The Eyes Of Prawns

Female prawns only like to reproduce under the right conditions. They want everything to be perfect when they lay their eggs. But their tendency to only reproduce when they’re satisfied with their little prawn lives poses a huge problem for most farmers.

Prawns in farms are generally under more stress than in the wild, so their bodies prevent them from sexually maturing. However, farmers need the prawns to reproduce. One way to encourage them is to create conditions where female prawns feel safe enough to allow their ovaries to mature. Another method is cutting their eyes off. (Or just slicing them open.)

Female prawns have a gland in their eyestalks that control the maturation rate of their ovaries. If females won’t reproduce, then farmers simply have to remove this gland. Without it, the prawn’s ovaries begin to mature.

As the gland is in the prawn’s eyestalk, gland removal is generally done in one of two ways. Complete amputation of the eyestalk extracts the gland with it, and the prawn starts making babies.

But blinding a prawn is not necessary in the procedure known as eyestalk ablation. Farmers only need to slice the eye open and then squeeze the eyestalk to get rid of the gland. The eye will heal, but we don’t know how the prawn’s vision fares after having their eyes sliced in half. Science says it probably hurts, too.

If you think you’ll glide through life without ever needing a doctor, you’re probably living in a fantasy novel. The truth is that every human eventually bumps into a health snag—whether it’s a minor scrape or a full‑blown emergency. Even the healthiest among us will, at some point, call on a professional medical procedure. In this roundup we’ll highlight ten of the most out‑there, jaw‑dropping treatments that sound like pure fiction but are, in fact, very real. These are the “10 medical procedures” that will make you question what you thought was possible.

Why These 10 Medical Procedures Matter

10 A Bogota Bag Involves Sewing a Urine Bag Over an Open Wound

Imagine a surgeon reaching for a sterile urine collection bag and turning it into a life‑saving shield. That’s exactly what the Bogota Bag does: it acts as a makeshift cover for a traumatic opening in the stomach or abdominal cavity. The technique originated in Bogotá, Colombia, and earned its name because it was first employed there on patients whose guts literally burst open after severe injury or complex surgeries.

When a surgeon confronts a massive abdominal wound, they have a few options—mesh grafts, internal packing, or direct suturing—but each carries a risk of infection or further tearing. The Bogota Bag offers a simpler, safer alternative: a sterile plastic sheet, often the kind used for urine collection, is cut open, draped over the exposed organs, and then meticulously sewn to the surrounding skin, creating a temporary barrier that keeps the wound clean and protected.

This makeshift “plastic flap” provides the body with precious time to heal while preventing external contaminants from entering the cavity. It also allows doctors to monitor the wound without having to constantly re‑open it, buying critical hours—sometimes days—until a more permanent repair can be performed. In short, the Bogota Bag is a clever, low‑tech solution that saves lives when high‑tech options are too risky.

9 Rectal Prolapses Can Be Treated With Sugar

Few medical terms inspire as much cringe as “rectal prolapse,” the uncomfortable condition where the rectum slips out of its usual position and protrudes through the anus. While surgery is the gold‑standard fix for chronic cases, a surprisingly simple home remedy exists for a one‑off episode: granulated sugar.

When the prolapse can’t be coaxed back in gently with a gloved finger, a doctor may advise sprinkling the exposed tissue with ordinary white sugar. The sugar acts like a desiccant, drawing moisture away from the delicate mucosa. By drying the tissue, the swelling subsides, making the protruding segment shrink enough to be nudged back into place without causing further trauma.

Because sugar is non‑toxic and readily available, the method offers a low‑risk, do‑it‑yourself bridge between the onset of symptoms and professional medical care. It’s a quirky, yet evidence‑backed, stop‑gap that can spare patients from an unnecessary trip to the operating room—provided the prolapse isn’t severe or recurrent.

8 Osteo‑Odonto‑Keratoprosthesis Involves Sewing a Blind Patient’s Tooth Onto Their Eyeball

When traditional corneal transplants fail, doctors sometimes turn to an astonishingly literal solution: a patient’s own tooth becomes the centerpiece of a new, artificial eye surface. This intricate operation, known as osteo‑odonto‑keratoprosthesis (or OOKP), essentially stitches a harvested tooth, complete with a small plastic lens, onto the eye’s surface.

First, a dentist extracts a healthy tooth and drills a tiny chamber into it. Inside that cavity, a custom‑shaped acrylic lens is placed. The tooth‑lens combo is then implanted into a pocket created in the patient’s cheek, allowing blood vessels and tissue to grow around it, establishing a robust blood supply. Next, oral mucosa is harvested and used to line the eye, after which the tooth‑lens assembly is carefully sewn onto the corneal defect, effectively acting as a new, transparent window.

The result? Patients who were once completely blind can regain functional vision, sometimes achieving 20/20 acuity. Though the procedure sounds like something out of a sci‑fi horror flick, it offers a lifeline for those whose corneas have been ravaged by disease, injury, or repeated transplant failures.

7 Laser Surgery Can Turn Brown Eyes Blue

Laser eye surgery has long been celebrated for correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, but a lesser‑known off‑shoot of the technology targets something far more aesthetic: eye color. For individuals with brown irises, a specialized laser can vaporize the pigment‑laden layer of the iris, leaving a clear, colorless window that reveals the underlying blue hue.

The procedure, performed in a single, swift session, takes only a few seconds to burn away the melanin. However, the full effect doesn’t become visible until a couple of weeks later, as the eye heals and the new color settles. It’s worth noting that this technique isn’t approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so patients must travel abroad—often to clinics in South America or Asia—to undergo it.

Another, more invasive option involves implanting a custom‑made silicone iris prosthesis. While this method can permanently change eye color, it carries significant risks, including inflammation, glaucoma, and potential vision loss. Both approaches highlight the lengths some will go to achieve a new look, even when it means altering one of the body’s most defining features.

6 InstaBreasts or Vacation Breasts Give a Patient Bigger Breasts for a Day

Breast augmentation is a staple of cosmetic surgery, with roughly 300,000 procedures performed annually in the United States alone, averaging around $4,500 per surgery. Yet not everyone is ready to commit to a permanent change. Enter InstaBreasts, also dubbed “Vacation Breasts,” a fleeting alternative that simulates the look of implants for just 24 hours.

During the InstaBreasts session, a surgeon injects a sterile saline solution directly into the breast tissue, causing it to swell dramatically. The result is an immediate, noticeable increase in size that mimics the effect of traditional implants. After a full day, the body naturally reabsorbs the saline, and the excess fluid is expelled, returning the breasts to their original state.

Because the procedure is temporary, the price tag reflects its short‑term nature—typically ranging from $2,500 to $3,500. It offers a risk‑free way for patients to “test drive” larger breasts before deciding whether to invest in permanent implants, or simply enjoy a day of amplified confidence without long‑term commitment.

5 Rotationplasty Turns Your Foot Into Your Knee

When a malignant tumor strikes the knee area of a child, surgeons sometimes resort to a radical yet remarkably functional operation called rotationplasty. The procedure involves excising the diseased portion of the femur and tibia, then rotating the lower leg 180 degrees before reattaching it to the remaining thigh bone.

In this upside‑down configuration, the ankle assumes the role of a new knee joint, while the foot points backward, effectively becoming the “foot‑hand” of the reconstructed limb. After the bone is secured, a specialized prosthetic attaches to the ankle‑now‑knee, enabling the patient to walk, run, and even engage in sports with a surprisingly natural gait.

Although the visual outcome can be startling at first glance, rotationplasty offers a functional advantage over above‑knee amputation: patients retain active control of the joint, experience fewer energy losses, and often report higher satisfaction and quality of life. It’s a prime example of surgical ingenuity turning a dire diagnosis into a manageable, active future.

4 EPR Involves Removing a Patient’s Blood and Replacing It with Cold Saline

Emergency Preservation and Resuscitation (EPR) reads like a plot twist from a sci‑fi thriller, but it’s a genuine medical technique designed to buy critical time for patients who have suffered catastrophic trauma. By inducing profound hypothermia, doctors can essentially pause the body’s metabolic clock, extending the window for life‑saving surgery.

During EPR, a patient’s blood is swapped out for a chilled saline solution, cooling the core temperature to a frigid 10 °C–15 °C (50 °F–59 °F). This drastic drop slows cellular activity, especially in the brain and vital organs, reducing oxygen demand and preventing irreversible damage. The process can stretch the survivable period from a few frantic minutes to up to two hours—a monumental gain when dealing with severe hemorrhage or cardiac arrest.

After the surgical repair is completed, the patient’s blood is re‑infused, and their temperature is gradually raised back to normal. First attempted on a human in 2019, EPR remains a cutting‑edge, highly specialized intervention reserved for the most dire emergencies, where conventional resuscitation offers only a 5% chance of survival.

3 Defecography Requires You To Get an X‑Ray While You Poop

When doctors need to peer into the mechanics of a patient’s bowel movements, they turn to a specialized imaging test called defecography. Unlike standard X‑rays that capture static snapshots, defecography records the act of defecation itself, offering a dynamic view of how the rectum, pelvic floor, and surrounding muscles coordinate.

To make the process visible on imaging, patients are given a barium‑based paste that mimics the consistency of stool. Once the rectum is filled, the individual sits on a specially designed scanning toilet and, well, does their business while a series of radiographic images are captured. The resulting footage reveals any abnormalities—such as rectocele, intussusception, or pelvic floor dyssynergia—that might be causing chronic constipation or incontinence.

By visualizing the entire evacuation sequence, physicians can pinpoint the exact source of dysfunction and tailor treatments ranging from biofeedback therapy to surgical correction. Though the idea of being X‑rayed while you poop can feel a bit mortifying, the diagnostic payoff often outweighs the embarrassment.

2 The Krukenberg Procedure Can Turn Your Forearm into a Pincer

If a traumatic accident results in the loss of a hand, the most common recourse is a prosthetic device. However, when financial constraints or lack of access make prosthetics unattainable, surgeons sometimes employ a century‑old technique known as the Krukenberg procedure, which transforms the forearm into a functional pincer.

During the operation, the radius and ulna—the two bones of the forearm—are surgically separated and fashioned into two distinct, claw‑like extensions. These “fingers” retain the skin, nerve endings, and blood supply of the original forearm, granting the patient a degree of tactile sensation that most prosthetic hands cannot replicate.

Although the resulting grip lacks the finesse of a natural hand, the procedure offers a pragmatic solution for individuals who need to perform basic tasks—like gripping tools or holding objects—especially in occupations where tactile feedback is crucial. It remains a rare, but life‑changing, option for those who cannot otherwise afford or access modern prosthetic technology.

1 Pokertox Is a Botox Procedure to Hide a Gambler’s Tells

Botox is widely known for smoothing wrinkles, but a niche off‑shoot called Pokertox takes the injectable a step further by freezing the facial muscles that betray a gambler’s emotions. The concept hinges on the classic “poker face”: a player who can conceal joy, fear, or disappointment gains a strategic edge.

In a Pokertox session, a cosmetic surgeon administers minute doses of botulinum toxin into the frontalis, corrugator, and other expressive muscles of the forehead and eyebrows. The result is a deliberately “frozen” visage—smooth, unreactive, and almost statue‑like—making it far more difficult for opponents to read micro‑expressions during high‑stakes games.

While the scientific community debates the efficacy of such a targeted facial freeze for competitive advantage, the procedure has carved out a small, enthusiastic market among professional poker players and high‑roller gamblers seeking any legal edge they can afford.

When you hear the phrase 10 barbaric medical procedures, you probably picture a medieval torture chamber, not a sleek hospital corridor. Yet, many of today’s lifesaving techniques still involve gritty, almost primitive actions that would make a horror‑movie director shiver. Below we count down the ten most unsettling yet still‑used practices, explaining why they’re necessary and what actually happens when doctors pull them off.

10 barbaric medical procedures explained

10 Scraping The Womb

The obstetrics and gynecology arena is arguably one of the bloodiest specialties. Most women, at some point, face a procedure called “curettage” – essentially a surgical mop‑up of the uterine lining. A sharp instrument called a curette is slipped inside the uterus to scrape away tissue, which is then sent to pathology to rule out early‑stage cancer, especially in women with irregular menstrual issues.

Beyond cancer screening, curettage is also performed after a miscarriage to ensure no fetal remnants linger. While the technique is undeniably cringe‑inducing, it remains the most reliable way to clear the cavity when less invasive options simply don’t exist.

9 Drilling A Hole Through A Skull

The ancient art of “burr‑hole” surgery dates back to Hippocrates, when physicians believed headaches stemmed from excess “water” in the head. Modern neurosurgeons still perform a refined version of this age‑old trick, but now the goal is to relieve life‑threatening blood pools that accumulate after severe head trauma.

Today’s burr‑hole procedures are carried out under deep anesthesia, often involving removal of a small bone flap to access bleeding or to place drains. Though the concept sounds barbaric, the precision and safety of contemporary tools make it a vital, if still gruesome, lifesaver.

8 Burning Off Flesh

When you think of surgery, you might picture a scalpel and sutures, but another indispensable tool is cautery – the controlled burning of tissue. Surgeons wield a handheld electrode that delivers a precise electric current, searing tiny layers of protein and instantly sealing blood vessels.

This “burning off flesh” technique stops bleeding in its tracks, preventing patients from exsanguinating during complex operations. The faint smell of singed tissue is a badge of honor for any surgeon who’s ever mastered the art of cauterization.

7 Sticking A Tube Through Your Brain

The brain is often treated as untouchable, yet in cases of hydrocephalus doctors must insert a tiny tube – a ventriculoperitoneal shunt – to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid. The tube threads through a tiny drilled opening, navigating the brain’s ventricles before exiting into the abdomen.

Despite sounding like a sci‑fi nightmare, the procedure is performed under strict sterile conditions and full anesthesia. It relieves dangerous pressure buildup, buying patients precious time and often a normal life.

Because the tube remains permanently implanted, patients live with a discreet, life‑saving conduit that quietly does its job day after day.

6 Shoving A Tube Down Your Windpipe

When breathing stops, a mechanical lifeline steps in: the endotracheal tube. A sturdy plastic tube is guided down the trachea after the mouth is held open with a laryngoscope blade, allowing doctors to ventilate the lungs directly.

The process sounds brutal, but it’s a swift, controlled maneuver performed in seconds during cardiac arrests or severe respiratory failure. Once in place, the tube connects to a ventilator that does the heavy lifting of oxygenating the blood.

Although the image of a tube forcefully shoved into a throat can be unsettling, it remains one of the most heroic interventions in emergency medicine.

5 Rotting Radiation

Cancer treatment still relies heavily on radiotherapy – a focused beam of high‑energy radiation that essentially “rots” malignant cells. The beam is aimed precisely at the tumor, causing DNA damage that forces cancer cells to self‑destruct.

While the term “death ray” evokes comic‑book villains, modern radiotherapy is a meticulously calibrated procedure. Still, surrounding healthy tissue can be affected if targeting isn’t perfect, underscoring the delicate balance physicians must maintain.

4 Cavity Exploration

Even with CT scans and MRIs, there are moments when imaging fails to reveal the culprit behind a patient’s agony. In those cases, surgeons resort to exploratory surgery – opening the body to directly observe organs and obtain tissue samples.

This hands‑on detective work is often employed in emergencies like gun‑shot wounds, where a rapid diagnosis and simultaneous treatment are crucial. Though invasive, it provides the definitive answers that non‑invasive tools sometimes cannot.

3 Gouging The Knee

When veins are collapsed or inaccessible, clinicians turn to intraosseous (IO) cannulation – a dramatic‑sounding technique that involves thrusting a large‑bore needle straight through the knee’s bone to deliver fluids and medications directly into the marrow.

The knee’s rich vascular network makes it an ideal entry point in critical situations, serving as a lifesaving shortcut when traditional IV lines fail. Though it looks like something out of a video‑game, the procedure is swift, sterile, and often decisive.

2 Snapping Joints Back Into Place

Anyone who’s watched a dramatic TV rescue knows the moment a dislocated joint is “cracked” back into alignment. In real life, physicians perform a similar maneuver called closed reduction, where they gently manipulate the bone back into its proper position before muscles tighten.

This technique is essential for injuries where the joint is out of place but the bone itself isn’t fractured. Prompt reduction restores function and reduces pain, making it a staple of emergency orthopedics.

1 Amputation

When a limb becomes irreversibly infected, gangrenous, or crushed beyond repair, amputation remains the final, life‑preserving option. Surgeons meticulously remove the affected segment, often after exhausting all attempts at revascularization and tissue salvage.

Modern amputation techniques focus on preserving as much healthy tissue as possible, ensuring optimal prosthetic fitting later. Despite advances, the act of cutting off a limb still carries a profound psychological and physical impact.

Dr. Keith Andrew Chan, an internist known for his quirky humor and love of milk‑tea, contributes regularly to medical publications. Follow his witty insights on Twitter for a lighter take on the serious world of health care.

Most plastic or cosmetic surgery is apparent to the naked eye: Her breasts look bigger (or smaller or higher). His nose looks straighter. But some plastic surgery results are visible only to the recipient (and perhaps their significant other).

Requests for plastic surgery on genitalia are on the rise, motivated by desires for an improved self-image or increased sexual satisfaction. And while most plastic surgery procedures are performed on women (about 80 percent, in fact), it turns out that more men than women request work on their private parts.

This list reveals some of the procedures that are currently on the menu. Would you consider going under the knife down there?

10 Monsplasty

The mons pubis, or mons, is the triangular fatty pad covering the pubic bone, running from the top of the pubic hair down to the genitals. Both men and women have it, but it’s more obvious in women. The surgery is more popular with women, but men can also receive the benefits.

Fat accumulation and loose skin—from weight gain/loss, aging, C-section, hormones, even genetics—can lead to an enlarged mons. Monsplasty removes excess skin and fatty tissue to give the mons a firmer, flatter appearance.

While many cosmetic procedures involve liposuction to remove fat, monsplasty is surgery that uses a scalpel to remove the offending skin and fat. The procedure often accompanies a tummy tuck because a bulging mons pubis is often more noticeable after removing fatty tissue and tightening the skin on your abdomen.

While the procedure delivers aesthetic improvements, it has other benefits as well, making intercourse, urination, and even hygiene easier.^[1]

9 Labiaplasty

A labiaplasty is a vaginal rejuvenation (or “designer vagina”) procedure. Vaginal rejuvenation often involves lasers, ultrasound, or other energy devices to tighten the vaginal area. But a labiaplasty is surgery that reduces the size/shape of a woman’s genitalia.

The labia can become enlarged due to childbirth, aging, sexual activity, or genetics. The condition, when revealed by form-fitting clothing, is sometimes referred to as “camel toe” or “crotch cleavage.” An enlarged labia can cause difficulties with exercise, sex, and hygiene and may lead to urinary tract infections. It can also interfere with wearing clothes like yoga pants and swimsuits.

There are different ways to reduce the size of the labia (e.g., trim procedure, wedge procedure). The overall goal is to remove the excess part of the labia minora (the inner tissues of the female genitalia), so it lines up with the labia majora (outer part).^[2]

8 Clitoral Hood Reduction

The skin fold that covers and protects the clitoris is called the clitoral hood. The clitoris contains thousands of sensory nerve endings and is extremely sensitive. The clitoral hood protects the clitoris from friction and clothing that could irritate it. It also makes a lubricant (sebum) that helps the hood glide over the sensitive clitoris. When a woman is sexually aroused, the clitoris becomes engorged. This swelling pulls back the clitoral hood (much like the foreskin of a penis) and aids in a woman’s ability to achieve orgasm.

Some women may want to reduce their clitoral hood to eliminate discomfort. Women who’ve had the above-described labiaplasty may find their clitoral hood looks top-heavy. Other women may simply want to increase sexual clitoral sensation by exposing more of their clitoris. Each of these things can be addressed with a vaginal rejuvenation procedure called a clitoral hood reduction.

The clitoral hood reduction (aka clitoral hoodectomy, clitoral hoodoplasty, clitorial unhooding) reduces the excess tissue in the folds of the clitoris. The outpatient procedure involves trimming the skin and suturing with disposable stitches. The surgery should result in better-looking and more comfortable genitals.^[3]

7 Hymenoplasty

The hymen is the thin membrane that partially covers the vagina. In many cultures, an intact hymen is thought to be a sign of virginity, but penetrative sex isn’t the only cause of a torn hymen. The membrane can be torn by exercise, horseback or bicycle riding, tampon insertion, masturbation, or a pap smear.

Women who want to restore their hymen can opt for a hymenoplasty, also known as hymenorrhaphy or temporary hymen reconstruction. The desire to do so isn’t always cosmetic. It might stem from the cultural or religious belief that a woman must prove her virginity on her wedding night. For women who have been sexually abused or traumatized, the procedure may provide psychological and emotional relief.

With this surgery, a thin layer of tissue is taken from the vaginal wall and placed in the location of the torn hymen. The restored hymen will tighten the vaginal opening and—like the original hymen—may or may not bleed upon penetration.

This procedure, which is illegal in some European countries, provides no greater medical or physical benefit.^[4]

6 Labia Majora Augmentation with Fat Grafting

A woman who wants to plump up her labia might opt for dermal fillers like those used to make lips larger. But there’s also a longer-lasting surgical alternative: labia majora augmentation with autologous fat transfer.

This outpatient surgery liposuctions fat from the patient’s abdomen, hips, or flanks and transfers it to the labia majora. The intent is to improve the fullness and firmness of the labia majora and eliminate sagging skin for a more youthful-looking appearance.^[6]

5 G-Spot Amplification

G-Spot amplification is another surgical procedure that aims to improve a woman’s self-esteem, sensation, and libido. It also involves using autologous fat transfer. This method seeks to magnify the G-Spot up to four times and is also known as G-Shot or G-Spot augmentation.

A German doctor named Dr. Gräfenberg was the first to describe the concept of the G-Spot, an area on the front inner wall of the vagina. The procedure includes an injection of hyaluronic acid or collagen filler to this erogenous area. It is believed that this procedure increases the sensitivity, the duration of female orgasms, and their frequency.^[6]

Don’t worry, guys. We haven’t forgotten about you. The rest of this list is dedicated solely to you…

4 Penis Lengthening Surgery

A man’s perception of his genitals is directly related to his self-esteem and sexual identity. That may be why men are all-in on this cosmetic trend.

There is rarely a medical need for penis enlargement surgery. The Urology Care Foundation says it’s only necessary in cases of micropenis—an abnormally small penis caused by hormonal or genetic issues. The average penis size for an adult is 13.24 centimeters (5.21 inches) when stretched. A stretched penile length of less than 9.3 centimeters (3.66 inches) is considered a micropenis. However, the majority of men seeking this type of surgery have a penis of “normal” size.

Penis elongation surgery is a bit of a misnomer. In this procedure, the suspensory ligament that attaches the penis to the pelvic bone is cut. The enables the flaccid penis to hang lower and look slightly larger even though its size has not been altered. Sometimes a skin graft is necessary to complete the surgery. Complications are a concern. Wound separation, scarring, pubic depression, or hairlessness may occur. The penis may develop an unnatural hump at the base, while a change in the angle of erection may also result.

The penile length gained may increase by a centimeter (less than ½ an inch) or so, but it’s possible that no lengthening results. Using weights or stretching devices postoperatively—and for a period of months to years—may allow additional length gain. Removing the fat from the area around the penis can also make it look bigger than it is.^[7]

3 Penile Girth Augmentation

Increasing penile girth is another sought-after cosmetic procedure. Achieving good results (i.e., symmetrically increased girth) is difficult. Girth surgery can lead to severe complications and deformities.

The patient’s own fat is injected into the penis. If the injections are irregular or too much fat is injected, unsightly nodules may occur. Asymmetry and loss of penile rigidity due to excess fat are other complications.

Alternatively, skin grafts can be used to increase girth by up to 4 centimeters (1.5 inches). The grafts are secured around the circumference of the penis with sutures. Severe complications (scar formation, penile shortening, penile curvature) may result if the grafts do not survive completely.

Some practitioners inject synthetic materials, such as liquid silicone or hyaluronic acid, to enhance girth. Injections may provide a good short-term appearance, but long-term results are unlikely.^[8]

2 Testicular Implants

There are many medical conditions that can contribute to the size and symmetry of testicles: infections, tumors, medication, or genetics. Some men are simply born with one testicle, uneven testicles, or testicles that fail to descend. And some men are sensitive about these “abnormalities.”

A testicular prosthesis is an artificial testicle implanted in the scrotum to provide the appearance of the real thing. Like saline-filled breast implants, testicular implants can be made to the size and consistency desired by the patient.

This minor outpatient surgery can be completed in about 30 minutes. Pain meds and antibiotics are typically prescribed, and the surgical stitches eventually dissolve on their own. Gentle manipulation of the area will help the implant settle in a natural position. Regular exercise and activity can resume around two weeks after the procedure.^[9]

1 Scrotoplasty

A man’s scrotum can become stretched and loose due to genetics, aging, trauma, or injury. Many men, both young and old, struggle with scrotums that are sagging, large, or low-hanging. In extreme cases, a stretched scrotum can cause painful chafing, interfere with sexual intercourse, or even reach the water when the toilet is being used. Men with stretched scrotums complain of discomfort, hygiene concerns, sexual problems, and overall embarrassment and low self-esteem. Nonsurgical treatment involves wearing supportive underwear or a jockstrap, which may slow but not stop the sagging.
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Scrotoplasty (aka scrotum reduction, scrotal lift) removes excess skin from the scrotum to improve appearance and comfort. The result is a tighter, smaller, rejuvenated scrotum. It’s a fairly simple procedure that can boost a man’s self-confidence and pleasure during sex.

The outpatient surgery does not interfere with the testicles or fertility. The majority of men undergoing this procedure are over age 40. Consider rest, scrotal elevation, and ice compresses for several days after the operation to help with healing. Avoiding constipation, straining, and heavy lifting are encouraged. Most patients return to regular activities and sexual intercourse within three weeks.^[10]