I Tried IV Therapy For My Skin And Hair And It Might Be The Perfect Pick-Me-Up For A New Year
Is it worth the price tag?
If you hear the words ‘IV Therapy’ and instantly think about a sombre hospital setting where patients are lying on a bed, a needle in their arm, and being given medicines via an intravenous drip, I won’t blame you. That’s the visual most of us would conjure. But what if I were to tell you, that IV therapy is the new buzzword in the beauty industry? Or that getting an IV drip for your skin, hair, even overall immunity is faster than getting a facial? Yep, I was surprised too, but here we are!
What is IV Therapy?
IV is short for intravenous, and IV therapy is a way of delivering nutrients to one’s body directly into the bloodstream via the veins. It is used actively by doctors when a patient needs emergency medicine injected into their blood so the effect can be faster than when the medicine is administered as a pill or local application. For example, if you are severely dehydrated, a doctor would put you on a saline IV drip that rushes to replace the fluids in your body faster than any other method would.
Now, can you imagine this approach being used for beauty and wellness treatments as well?
IV Therapy for beauty and wellness is a popular new trend
IV therapy is no longer just a means for emergency medicine, as seen by the growing popularity of saline IV drips being used for quick hangover cures and so on. The new trend now though is using IV drips to get a leg up on skincare, and haircare, boosting immunity and overall gastro health, or simply replenishing the nutrients that your body is lacking.
These days, we’ve all been taking multivitamins, immunity boosters, etc to counter the negative effects of our unhealthy lifestyle and the fatigue that comes with it. Or to give our wellness goals a little boost. When we pick our skincare, we look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid for hydration. Now, of course, these are all either extraneous applications or consumed in food, drink, etc.
What IV therapy does is get these nutrients to your body, but instead of going the longer route, the IV drip gets them into your bloodstream where they can start working more efficiently. What’s more, the magic juice that goes inside the bag can actually be customised as per your body’s needs. For example, in just one IV drip, you could get something that works for your hair as well as your immunity. Cool, no?
How does IV Therapy work?
I have been curious about IV therapy since I read about them And recently, I had the chance to experience the procedure for myself at the Mumbai clinic of Elixir Wellness. I was advised to have a good meal before walking in for my treatment and not come on an empty stomach. My visit began with a consultation with their in-house expert doctors, who took a detailed lowdown of my medical history, as part of a standard procedure. It’s always assuring to know you’re in safe hands! I was also asked about my lifestyle and what my health and beauty concerns were, so they could understand what needed to be targeted.
I was then given a brochure of the kind of elixirs that the clinic offered and what concerns they targeted. There was a range of wellness elixirs that helped with everything from gut health to PCOS, migraine, and even something for pregnant women. The Beauty elixirs addressed concerns like acne, dull skin, hair loss, and even anti-ageing. There were specific boosters for replenishing particular vitamin or nutrient deficiencies that one might have in their bodies. And finally, there were Recovery Elixirs, a nice list for concerns like hangovers, jet lag, and even something for athletes to help avoid muscle cramps. Quite an impressive list, if you ask me!
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Okay, confession time! As someone who works long hours, I usually end up cheating on skincare and haircare regimes more often than I’d like to admit! And so, my doctor and I decided that something that helped boost my skin and hair health would actually be perfect. But remember when I told you, these elixirs are also customisable, like your favourite cocktail that gives you exactly what you need?
Well, my Ultimate Skin Elixir contained zinc and magnesium which not only helped with skin and hair but also boosted immunity. Which, in the current climate, wasn’t a bad deal at all.
The Procedure: Is IV Therapy Painful?
Once it was decided what IV drip I would be given, the clinic staff took a few minutes to set up the drip. Once it was ready, I was led into a room, with two single couches side-by-side and two drip stands next to each couch. Once seated on one of the couches, a trained staff set me up with my drip. Meanwhile, another lady, who was training for a marathon, was being setup for her own IV drip treatment next to me.
I’m not afraid of needles, but it was barely a prick. I sat there, waiting for the nutrients to get into my system, browsing on my phone, and chatting with my fellow first-timer. And to answer the most burning question, no it is not painful at all. It took a whole of 15-20 mins for the bag to empty. I was warned that I might feel a slight rush, but there was no such feeling. Once done, the nurse took out the needle, patched me up, and that was it. I had considered putting on my headphones and watching an episode of a show but it was all so quick. Just like that, I was ready to leave!
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Is IV Therapy for you?
IV therapies come with a steep price tag. The elixir cocktail administered to me was a combination that could range from anywhere from 8000 INR and above. So if you’re planning to try it out, make sure you map out your sessions and the costing with your doctor before you begin your treatment.
And finally, IV therapy isn’t magic in a drip. Your existing lifestyle plays a major role in how and whether these elixirs can work for you. For example, there’s a weight loss boosting elixir, but that might only show visible results if you’re someone who is already working on losing weight and just needed a boost to speed it up or make the process more efficient. Similarly, while one session could give you visible results, consistency is the key and multiple sessions are recommended, depending on your progress. If you can’t make it to the clinic for your appointments, some clinics, like Elixir Wellness, offer home visits also (with marginal costs).
IV therapy sounds like a trend that is getting popular by the day. It could be perfect for those who want (and can afford) a little pick-me-up to replenish or rejuvenate their bodies after the party season, speed up healing, or get a leg up as they work towards a physical goal in the coming new year. These can make for good gifts for loved ones, as part of a pamper sesh for a bride-to-be or groom-to-be as they prep for their big day!
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