Hypnosis before surgery and dental work: what recent reviews found
Two systematic reviews point to less anxiety and some pain relief, with clear exceptions.
A July 2026 review of hypnosis in anesthesia
Researchers searched four major databases for randomized trials of hypnosis in anesthesia. They found 19 trials with 3,699 patients, covering obstetrics, pediatrics and dentistry.[1]
- Children and dental patients: hypnosis was linked to significantly lower anxiety before and during procedures, and partly reduced pain afterward.
- Childbirth: hypnosis had no benefit on pain.
The authors note the number of high-quality studies is small, but conclude hypnosis could be a helpful addition in specific areas of anesthesia.[1]
A 2025 meta-analysis of invasive procedures
A separate 2025 review pooled 20 randomized trials with 1,250 patients having invasive medical procedures, comparing hypnosis with standard care.[2]
Hypnosis vs standard care during invasive procedures
Standardized mean differences. Negative values favor hypnosis; 0 means no difference.
View the data table
| Group / comparison | Value (SMD) | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety | -0.43 | -0.58 to -0.28 |
| Pain | -0.35 | -0.5 to -0.2 |
Hypnosis reduced both anxiety and pain by a small-to-moderate amount. Heart rate and blood pressure were also lower, and adverse effects were minimal. Hypnosis combined with virtual reality, and approaches tailored to high-anxiety procedures, did best.[2]
If you have a procedure coming up
- Ask your care team whether they offer hypnosis, a recorded session, or VR hypnosis. Some hospitals and dental practices do.
- Use it alongside anesthesia and pain relief, never instead of them. Tell your anesthesia team if you plan to use a recording.
- If you’re anxious about dental work or a procedure, calming practice beforehand is low-risk and fits what these reviews found.
Hypnova was not studied in these reviews. For how hypnosis compared on procedure pain versus long-term pain in another recent review, see hypnosis for acute vs chronic pain.
Sources and further reading
- Waehner et al. — Hypnosis in Anesthesia: A Systematic Literature Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, July 2026. PubMed ID 42520209. We relied on the published abstract.
- Walter et al. — Hypnosis as a non-pharmacological intervention for invasive medical procedures: a systematic review and meta-analytic update
Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2025.112117. We relied on the published abstract.
Evidence checked September 25, 2026. This is an editorial research summary by the Hypnova team, not a systematic review or a clinical assessment. Cited studies evaluate their own interventions; they do not establish that Hypnova produces the same outcomes. This article is educational and does not replace individualized care.
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