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Will IV drips become a beauty and wellness trend?


The use of intravenous drips or IV drips as a wellness therapy and in aesthetic treatments has been gaining ground here and abroad in recent years. It positions itself as a “specialized therapy treatment that reaches the body’s circulation immediately, resulting in faster results in terms of skin improvement and healthier body function,” per dermatologist Dr. Jean Marquez (of GMA's Pinoy MD), an adherent of the method.

To IV or not to IV

Makati Medical Center dermatologist Dr. Sherwin Llego describes IV drips as "a method of introducing fluids, medicines, nutrients and supplements to the body via the intravenous route using a cannula in a specified time frame."

For a patient suffering severe dehydration due to diarrhea, for instance, "an IV drip is needed to correct the fluids and electrolyte loss," he says.

The use of IV to introduce a mixture of nutrients into the body was devised by a US physician, Dr. John Myers.

Llego says that according to his research, the most widely used mixture of nutrients and supplements is the Myers cocktail, named after the doctor himself. "It is composed of vitamins C and B and is supposed to treat fatigue, enhance immune system, improves asthma and allergies," he says.

However, IV drips for purposes of aesthetic treatments, detoxification and supplementation are not offered in hospitals.

"As a general rule in medicine and medical institution, supplementation is only warranted if there is deficiency. Other than that indication, it becomes off-label, meaning no proven therapeutic effects," says Llego.

IV available in beauty clinics

The IV drip treatment is widely available in skin and aesthetic centers and independent medical clinics like the Belo Medical Group and the Aivee Clinic. I have been a patient of Dr. Marquez for years and opted to go to her clinic, D.A.R.E., to try it out.

At the clinic, a patient can choose from several "boosts", as D.A.R.E calls its IV therapies: boosts to increase blood flow to the nerves; to combat inflammation; to hydrate and rejuvenate the skin; and to augment the detoxification process for smokers and those with unhealthy diets, to name a few.

"IV therapy ensures 100-percent absorption rate, allowing us to deliver high concentrations of vitamins which is unattainable with the oral route,” said Marquez. "Better energy, mental clarity, improvement of sleep and skin conditions will also be felt after at least six sessions of regular treatment."

It is important to note that all the ingredients in their drips—"a mixture of different kinds of vitamins and minerals, electrolytes, essential and non-essential, organic acids, some of which includes vitamin C, vitamin B complex, electrolytes, L-carnitine, glutathione, calcium, magnesium, etc.," said Marquez—are Philippine Bureau of Food and Drug (BFAD)- and US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA)- approved.

The author tried the IV vitamin therapy at her dermatologist's clinic. Photo: China Jocson

The procedure

I was led to a small room and sat comfortably in one of the reclining, cushioned armchairs. A nurse armed with sterile medical tools—needles, fluids, and so on—located my vein for the injection.

After the vein was accessed, a catheter served to pass the drip to my bloodstream. The IV bag containing the solution was suspended from a stand and my injected hand had to stay still until the bag was emptied.

The process is painless and it took around 45 minutes to finish the supplement. However, on one occasion, despite my dedication to keep still, the fluids stopped flowing and the procedure had to be repeated.

According to the nurse, since veins are active, there is a tendency for the catheter to be misplaced, thus the need to re-administer the boost. Because of such incidents, nurses are not allowed to leave the room until the treatment is finished.

Personal assessment

I opted for the Brain Boost drip because I had experienced an ordeal recently which caused a disruption in my concentration and other cognitive functions. After three injections, administered every other week, my sleep improved and I was able to return to my normal schedule of falling asleep at 9 p.m.  I also noticed that my sleeps were deeper and uninterrupted.

Cost

The drips range from P3,500 to P7,500 per bag at D.A.R.E and around P5,000 to P9,000 in other clinics. There are also package deals for patients who wish to avail of a prolonged engagement.

Doctors say

Patient responsiveness is not always guaranteed, says Dr. Marquez, "but we have positive testimonies from our clients which we use to support our claims."

She adds, "I take special precaution with pregnant patients and those with pulmonary congestion before I administer the drip. I also explain that results are very different per person because our bodies react differently to any kind of nutrients."

Dr. Llego is more skeptical of the treatment's benefits, saying that at the moment any testimony of its effect "is purely anecdotal for now." He adds, "[R]ecommending it is tough; if you look at the premise of both schools of thought they are almost opposite. For the mainstream [school of thought], only those proven to have a deficiency should have supplementation regardless of age and gender. For the alternative [school of thought], everyone can do procedure, healthy and the sick, any age. So take it with a grain of salt and consider it as an alternative medicine for now.”

As always, consult with your doctor first before beginning any procedure or treatment. — BM, GMA News

Read some of the author's other articles on skin care here:

The quest to slow down skin aging

FNT: Skin treatment aims needles at wrinkles, acne

Dimple dilemma: Cellulite and how to treat it

Skin care picks for the summer

Tags: skincare
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