Zerona DOES NOT Work!

Okay, that answers the paper but what about the actual procedure. Work or not??

It sounds to me that you have a vested interested in the Zerona Laser. For your information, the unhappy patient IS qualified to express her opinion, and your reply dismissing her opinion because she has "no medical or legal back round", is HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS. An Informed Consent is intended to advise patients of the possibility of an adverse outcome, or complications, etc, but is NOT normally used to state that "results aren't guaranteed". That sounds like a disclaimer to prevent unhappy patients from pursuing any legal recourse, for lack of results which seem to be quite common.

hi, i am researching the zerona and came across this post. just to be clear i work in the office of an MD in Florida. Our office specializes in weight loss. In Florida it is ILLEGAL to guarantee any results in the weight loss industry. ALL of our patients must sign a waiver that they understand this. We do not own a Zerona. I have just been thinking about adding one to our office. I just wanted to post this so people understand that point regarding guarantees in the medical industry and specifically in the weight loss industry.

But if it really is all that the claim, why isn't it a money back guarantee? Wouldn't that just be good business to give someone their money back if the procedure gave them nothing in return for their money?

SBMI guarantees results, if you don't get atleast 3 inch loss they will give you another set of sessions free, if that wouldn't work, they will give you the money back. I know that for my clinic, we don't work by SBMI way of doing things and we are giving money back if no results. So far the ratio of money back due to no results stands at about 2 out of every 100 people.

I am a patient of Zerona. I can honestly say I see results. I take the reccomended supplements, follow the suggested meal plan, exercise at least 5 days a week, and keep up with my weekly treatments. I've only had 4 treatments, I've lost 5 lbs and about 2 inches. I agree with voicing your opinion on how things work out for you. That is what these forums are for, so that people researching the topic can get different perspectives. One must also realize that everyone's body makeup is different. That lady may have other medical issues that prevent this proceedure from working like a thyroid issue. Also the only safe and most effective way to lose weight is healthy eating habits and exercise. We should not solely rely on quick fix medical proceedures. You have to be mentally prepared to make a lifestyle change. Just remember, what works for one person may not work for another. That is just a risk you take when you agree to pay your money. Me personally I would want to be made aware of any risk or possible complications; also if there was a possibility that this doesn't work. When it comes to this disclaimer, you have the option at that time to decline services. So if you are not satisfied with the results, its your fault.

Dear Nurse

I understand your point about the guarantee. However this is there way out of not refunding your money. They have given you nothing for you money, and I mean nothing. I also followed all the rules, drank the water, took the pills, no coffee or coke. exercised 4 days a week at the gym like I have for the past 7 years. But the belly fat won't leave. So I trusted these people and paid them $2,500 of which I believe they cheated me out of. If that word wasn't in there they would have to refund your money. So it's not a health care issue, it's a fraud. They promised to reshape your body in 2 weeks they did not.

JS

Really, in Pittsburgh they will give nothing back. If your not happy with the out come you should receive a refund. If someone works on your car and it's not done right. They fix it these people just keep your money and put false numbers on the papers. I have 2 copies of there reports, they don't know it. I wrote to the BBB and they sent me the papers. They have written numbers that show a difference. But on the original there isn't. So you tell me these people are out to get your money.

JS

I'm sorry it didn't work for you but there are different issues in your case.

First of all, Zerona works really well for about 95% of the people. And that is a fact.

What you're saying that the clinic gave out 2 different sets of your measurements does sound like a fraud and no way of doing business.

Another problem, the results from my experience for 6 sessions are very inadequate while doing 12 sessions the results are AMAZING.
I noticed that it usually takes around the 9 sessions mark for the body to really kick out that fat.

Again, your problems seems to be around the specific clinic that you went to and should be addressed against them specifically.

did you ever think that you are seeing results are because you are dieting? Tv commercials on zerona never mention dieting. At least not in my area

Patricia is absolutely correct. I've had several cosmetic surgeries and laser procedures as well as Botox. Every single one requires you to sign a form including risks, and that results vary from person to person and there is no guarantee of results. No one can guarantee something like this! EVERYONE is different. I've had laser hair removal. Some people have great results with 6 treatments and no regrowth. It took me 9. If I had stopped and six and complained that this was a scam I would have missed out on the great results I got at 9. I got Botox 2 years ago and it worked on me for 3 weeks! Am I going to get on message boards saying Botox is a scam and it doesn't work? No! It does work, just not on me. My doctor (Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon) even repeated it to see if it was a fluke or something and it was exactly the same thing. He didn't have to do that but I have had many things done in his office so I was a regular client. I had a breast augmentation. Many women experience loss of sensation and capsular contracture. I didn't have either. Different wrinkle creams work great on some people and do nothing for others. Just like some people can eat junk food day after day and never have a weight problem and why others need to go to surgical and cosmetic procedures to lose weight while dieting their entire lives. If it didn't work for you I feel bad. I spent $600 on Botox that lasted 3 weeks. That's just the way it goes. You are fighting your body's natural aging/metabolism etc. Some are more stubborn than others. So to call it a scam when it clearly works on some people (just not on you) isn't fair. If you had a problem with a particular provider then call it that.
As far as the chiropractor issue, they require quite a bit of education. Not as much as an MD but you don't need to be an MD to perform a laser procedure. Nurses and nurse practitioners perform them everyday in very well respected practices.

Telling people that they shouldn't sign these forms and if asked to it's a scam is not an OPINION. That is MEDICAL MISINFORMATION! I am not a doctor nor do I have anything vested in this procedure. I'm just a person who has had many cosmetic and laser procedures and you are required to sign a form saying "Due to the nature of this procedure results can not be guaranteed and vary from patient to patient."
I just quoted that directly for my botox and laser hair removal consent forms. I go to a very highly respected and double board certified surgeon's office for these procedures. If you aren't asked to sign this you should run for the hills! They are likely operating a shoddy practice.

Sounds like you work at one of those offices! I agree that if you are required to sign a waiver that results are not guaranteed than why bother paying! Of course disclaimers are to cover "you" legally so you won't go out of business following a boat load of lawsuits; but think about it... if the fat is melted thru little holes, than where does it go? Just float around the body? If it was excreted, we would notice & see it. I too believe the Zerona laser is a scam

Moreno Valley:
The protocol given to me was to cut down on my fat intake, drink 64 ozs. of water a day and take the supplement and get some exercise--like walking. I did dall of the above and worked out 3xs per week consisting of 30 minutes of cardio and strength training. I didn't loose one inch. I think it's very possible your dieting and workout regime is what made you loose your weight--not the Zerona.

Hi Doctor

I understand your point and most of us would agree with you. However the Zerona is a money making scam. They make you pay up front. Do regular doctor's do that? Would we have to pay for a surgery before you preform it? Plus what they promise you never receive. That's why everyone is upset. Because they lost their money and the people that have it don't care. The people that preform this procedure are not medical doctor's. There is a Zerona on line for sale. So if I bought it and told people how great it works, I could make a lot of money. But i would not do that to hard working people who believe that these people would produce what they promised
.That's the difference.

Irish

Great let's see the results. All the photo's before and after. With no touch ups. Most of us have followed the rules, I myself being one of them. Plus I have been going to the gym for my health and looks. So don't put these people down when you don't know them or what they have gone through. It is not our fault, we did not receive what they told us we would. Plus my dear, they played with the numbers on the measurements. They never showed you what number they started with, which we should have asked to see, then when I was done she asked me to breath in and then she took my measurements, Which as you would know it takes some inches off you waist. We are people that are out of our money, they have lost nothing. But our respect.

Irish

Hi,
My name is Andrea I'm the office manager at a laser Institute. (For reason stated by our lawyer and this website it is in our best interest not to disclose our exact office location, but I didn't want to hide behind a false name)
We have seen over 2,000 patients between our two clinics and have a 98% satisfaction rate over the last 3 years. As well as an acredited business with the Better Business Bureau. We are in high standings on our local and state boards and have had 100's of people post positive stuff about our results as well as become return patients to further their success. As well as bring family and friends.
We've also been featured on our local news for our outstanding results and patient satisfaction.(which our patients sought out to tell the community about, no one is paid, as that is illegal to do, but we are very blessed to have such wonderful patients)

Here's a little insight about how we handle the procedure.

We give out Zerona's basic rules which are to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day ( which in general most people should do anyways for their overall general health)

We have patients cut out alcohol and caffeine. Reason for this as in any surgery, weight loss procedure, or when working out rigorously those two substances dehydrate you. Not 'can' dehydrate you but WILL so if you want your kindney and liver to be functionally optimally you will need to give up those substances in general. And as seeing those organs are what rid your body of toxins and fat it is needed during this program to quit those substances (and again in general they serve no great health purposes)

Secondly it is Zerona's recommendation to take a Niacin pill. 200 mg. twice a day.NOT a water pill (we've had patients not take them for medical reasons and still lose inches) Niacin is just the vitamin B3. and if you did any research on this a lot of MDs and PCP recommend this daily for many people regardless of a weight loss procedure.

Other than that we recommend for patients to get moderate exercise if they can or wear a compression garment to stimulate the fat cells after the laser session.
As far the basic proticol that pretty much sums it up.

Next when ever we are measuring, as in any field when measuring body mass, are some techinques that help to get accurate results.
- one is to have the person relax their arms and put their backs straight.
(a lot of people are selfconsious while being meausred so it is a tendency to hold in your tummy)
So to get an accurate measurement we have the patient breathe in and let out a big breath to relax the stomach muscles so they arent being held in.
- Also during this time we may have them put their hands out at their sides (airplane wing style) so as to force the patient to be in a relaxed stance and not holding in.

We offer our patients a wide range of other things to do at our office, such as diets/cleanses to help rid the body of any visceral fat around the organs (the laser does not effect this fat, its the fatty tissue around the organs can cause a "pregnant" belly look and very often times is hard)
The laser is designed to go 630 n.m. into the skin so it is only effecting the soft fatty tissue. But we try and be well rounded at our clinc and offer people with different issues different options.

We have a wonderful patient base and have had amazing results. I understand you can not please everyone and that some people feel wronged. I am just stating what we have done in our clinic for years and are very proud to support. There is science behind it, it's been studied and approved. It's used not just in the U.S. but world wide as well.
Everyone has different opinions I'm just stating mine.
Seeing as this is my first time being on here, it will also be my last.
I don't like to dwell on things and live my life worrying about what other people say, but I did want to "clear" my name, because apparently in the past people have felt the need to discredit things I've studied for the past 4 years . (this is called fraudulent misrepresentation - basically talking about someone to discredit them with no proof) and The doctors that have spent their entire adulthoods on researching and offering the best ways to help their patients.
I am not saying anyone is right or wrong. or that anyone is not entitled to their opinion but I wanted to state the facts as they are and not as they have been interpreted.
Money I understand causes strong reactions from people. As it is said for 1000's of years. It is the root of all evil.
I know because like everyone else I earn my way through life. I drive a 15 year old car with over 180,000 miles, I have my own student loans that will take me years to pay off, I also take care of my grandmother and pay for her medical bills and housing bills. Not to mention my own expenses. I save, I pay my debt off and work hard.
What I'm getting at is not everyone "rips" people off, Some of us really believe in helping people and giving them best we have to offer. Some of us don't work 50 + hours a week to have expensive things, but do it because seeing people happy and get healthy and feel better is something we take pride in. It's nice to go to work everyday and regardless of what is out there you still believe in what you do and what you have learned, but most of all getting the fullfillment of seeing someone cry happy tears at the end of the day and being proud of themselves for it, and having helped them get there.

I understand everyone has different experiences in life. and obviously not all positive. But What I did learn from reading these reviews is that I'm glad my life isn't filled with anger, resentment, or hate. Because as I can see it can consume some people. Negative energy feeds off of it's self which I guess why sites like these can become so popular.
I only wrote on here so I could do what any person who has been wronged feels like they should do and that's speak out. But I don't have the time and more so the energy to live a life focused on negative things.
I wish everyone the best of luck in whatever endevours you all encounter and I hope everyone learns something like what I did today.
God Bless and take care

Can you post A before and after photo?
Irish

Yes, this is true but you get something for your money. We didn't.

Were you doing the exercises and diet plan prior to the treatments without results? Then with Zerona the pounds and inches started coming off, or did you start exercising after Zerona treatments started?
Also, did they sell you the supplements (B12 shots?) or did the refer you to the healthfood store to purchase them? What type of diet plan did they suggest for you,

Great happy for you. Can we see the before and after photo's We keep seeing the generic photo, same on.

the reason there is no guarantee is b/c the zerona company, sbmi, did away with the 3 inch guarantee. Only the manufacturer of the zerona product guaranteed the three inch loss. our doctors, medical assistants and myself (lpn) all have done the full treatment (we offer 9, i have done 18) in order to understand the product and advise our patients efficiently. this is what we feel as a practice we wanted to do, not was was mandated by the zerona company. the consent covers the dr and the patient for legal and hippa purposes. we advise pt's on their consult of the following: follow 1000-1200 cal diet, drink half your body weight in water per day if you can, 30-45 min per day of cardio, no caffeine, no alcohol, take given supplements twice a day and wear "spanx" to help narrow down the inches and help drain the lymphatic system, all stay on low salt diet b/c salt puts on water weight, no diet soda due to dark colored sodas adherence to fat cells., etc. we counsel our patients through the whole process, we do not just put them on the table and leave. i think you might have to re-look at the facility you went too, money wise and treatment protocol wise. As for the legal recourse, everything is documented in our patient charts,, measurements, when we ask you at every treatment if you are following protocol? if you are drinking water? watching calories? even though we don't have your chart in front of you at the time doesn't mean we do not document it by the end of the day. we have had some unhappy patients who have loss very little, 2-3 inches over the whole body, but they were lacking on the cardio and the calories by not watching what they were eating. so, the chart is admissible in court that's why i advise the girls to make sure they document what the pt's tell them.

FYI: as of this year sbmi changed their protocol and are no longer guaranteeing the three inch loss. we used to give pt's a free round (6 treatments more) if they were under the 3in loss but this had to be ok'd by SBMI. now, they are leaving up to the doctors themselves. we have expanded our treatments to 9 since we are seeing better results after 6.

I also want to add, why are Chiropractor's doing these procedures? Why not medical doctors. I thought it seemed a little strange but when you want something to happen and believe it will, you don't ask questions. One other thing is why do you have to pay up front???
Answer is???????????????

JS

I have not sued. However, I am urging the company to investigate this serious adverse event. There is no reason for me to join a class action suit related to false claims of fat loss. My fat loss was dramatic. As a matter of fact, it was the highest amount of inches lost by any patient in that clinic. I will not sue a physician or clinic. Their application of the device was per standard protocol.

So the Zerona offices claim that 95% works, then are all these complaints just 5%. I don't think so. I should have known it was a scam when I had to pay $2400 for 9 treatments before they started. That should have been a clue that it didn't work.
Why not pay $250 or whateber for each one and then if it doesn' work for you or you see no results you can quit. No, they scam you out of your money and it is just too bad for you. They know there is more chance that it wouldn't work than it would or you wouldn't have to pay ahead.

Soo True. I lost my money and we should get a class action suit for this