Can hypnotherapy make your boobs bigger? The Green Party, Zack Polanski and Hypnosis: Separating Fact from Faction.

The UK’s Green Party has recently elected Zack Polanski as its new leader, securing an impressive 85% of the vote. Before politics, Polanski worked as a hypnotherapist. His election has brought a new spotlight to the Green Party, but it also reignites curiosity — and some scepticism — about the claims he made during his previous career.

As a practising hypnotherapist, I have to admit I worried about what this could do to the reputation of hypnotherapy. The story (you can read the 2013 article in The Sun here) sounds tacky, sensationalist and exploitative. Polanski’s past statements make the media’s job far too easy. Headlines practically write themselves: “What a Boob!”, “Titnotiser Leads Green”, and the like. It’s the kind of coverage that makes hypnotherapy sound frivolous.

Surely you can’t increase your breasts through hypnosis?

Yet, in 2013, a journalist from The Sun tried Polanski’s techniques and reported something remarkable. Over a short period, her bust measurements increased from 32 inches to 36 inches within ten days, following the hypnotherapy sessions. She described the process as follows:

“Over the next couple of days, I feel relaxed. I’m eating foods I’ve never really liked, such as bananas.

I email Zack to ask if this is related to the therapy. He says it is part of the process, drawing me to high-energy foods to encourage tissue growth.

I measure my bust after three days. I’ve grown from a 32in chest to 34in. Three days later, my chest measures 35in. Another three days and I’m 36in.

I’m still wearing a B-cup but it is a lot more snug and I realise I should have been wearing an A-cup before.

Panic sets in. What if my breasts don’t stop growing? But after ten days the growth grinds to a halt and my usual eating habits resume.”

The journalist concluded that the hypnosis appeared to work and that she was “stunned”.

So how could this happen?

Hypnotherapy has an excellent track record in supporting habit change. It works well for weight management because it can help people modify eating habits, make healthier choices, and stick to behavioural goals. In theory, it can also encourage a shift in dietary intake or lifestyle that could result in overall weight gain, which may include changes in breast size. The report did not specify whether weight gain was localised to the bust or more general, but gaining weight in response to behavioural cues is entirely plausible.

Beyond habits, hypnotherapy can influence confidence, self-esteem, and self-image. It helps people feel more accepting of themselves, more optimistic, and more comfortable in their bodies. These psychological shifts can translate into tangible behavioural changes and overall wellbeing.

So, The Sun journalist’s experience is credible, even if the claim that hypnosis can increase breast size alone, seems incredible.

The subconscious, however, can sometimes create surprising physiological effects. For instance, studies show that hypnotherapy can:

• Increase prolactin hormone and breast milk production in women after caesarean birth¹

• Promote clearance of warts²

• Improve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms³

• Reduce the perceived unpleasantness of pain⁴

• Alter colour processing in the brain⁵

• Boost immune function in students under exam stress⁶

• Increase blood flow through vasodilation⁷

  
  

These are just some random examples from a wealth of studies that demonstrate that hypnosis can produce measurable changes in the body, not just in the mind, emotions or behaviour.

But can hypnotherapy make your breasts bigger?

I remain unconvinced that a purely localised result is achievable. The anecdote from Polanski’s former practice is ‘intriguing’, let's say, but scientifically, there is no robust evidence that hypnotherapy can target one part of the body for growth. The mechanisms involved — habit change, dietary shifts, hormonal responses — likely affect the whole body rather than a single area.

If it worked, there would be legions of hypnotherapists enlarging breasts and  — you know it would be the case  — penises. But there aren't.

Polanski’s past claims may have inflated the public critical perception of hypnotherapy more than anyone’s bust size. Yet, the story also highlights a key point for anyone considering hypnotherapy: choose a practitioner who is evidence-based, does not make unsubstantiated claims, and is a member of a recognised professional body, such as the General Hypnotherapy Register or the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council. Hypnotherapy is a self-regulated industry and you should choose your practitioner with care.

Hypnotherapy is a powerful tool, capable of supporting real behavioural, emotional, and even physiological changes. Its reputation deserves to be grounded in science, not sensational headlines. And while it won’t turn you into a different cup size overnight, it can help you feel more in control, healthier, and more confident in your own body.

References

1. Mardiyono M, Anuhgera D, Kuncoro T, Sumarni S, Suwondo A. “Hypnotherapy is more effective than acupressure in the production of prolactin hormone and breast milk among women having given birth with caesarean section.” Medicine Science | International Medical Journal, 2017.

2. Spanos NP, Stenstrom RJ, Johnston JC. "Hypnosis, placebo, and suggestion in the treatment of warts." Psychosom Med. 1988 May-Jun.

3. Various papers on hypnotherapy and IBS at South Manchester Functional Bowel Service.

4. Rainville P, Duncan GH, Price DD, Carrier B, Bushnell MC. "Pain affect encoded in human anterior cingulate but not somatosensory cortex." Science. 1997 Aug.

5. Kosslyn SM, Thompson WL, Costantini-Ferrando MF, Alpert NM, Spiegel D. "Hypnotic visual illusion alters color processing in the brain." Am J Psychiatry. 2000 Aug.

6. Gruzelier J, Smith F, Nagy A, Henderson D. Cellular and humoral immunity, mood and exam stress: the influences of self-hypnosis and personality predictors. Int J Psychophysiol. 2001 Aug.

7. Casiglia E, Rossi A, Tikhonoff V, Scarpa R, Tibaldeschi G, Giacomello M, Canna P, Schiavon L, Rizzato A, Lapenta AM. Local and systemic vasodilation following hypnotic suggestion of warm tub bathing. Int J Psychophysiol. 2006 Oct.