Do wellness IV drips work, and what are the risks? Kim Kardashian, Adele and Hailey Bieber are all hooked on the celebrity beauty trend, but experts aren’t convinced about intravenous medication
- The Kardashian-Jenner clan often share their IV sessions and Gwyneth Paltrow champions the therapy through wellness platform Goop – but not all medical authorities are on board
- You can mainline nutrients and hydration at popular US centres like The Well, Reviv, NutriDrip and The Hangover Club – but critics argue the benefits are largely down to the placebo effect
Medical-grade beauty treatments don’t necessarily have to entail the anxiety and even risk associated with surgical procedures or injections. Dangling the promise of stepping into a clinic and emerging with revitalised skin, diminished signs of ageing and a rejuvenated complexion, many of today’s cutting-edge treatments stop well short of anything as invasive as an actual cutting edge.
Take intravenous drips, or IVs. What was once a clinical procedure has become a sought-after elixir promising beauty and vitality, with clients hooking themselves up to receive a blend of nutrients and hydration that promise not only to replenish skin radiance but also boost the body’s energy.
Sarah Giordano, vitamin therapy programme manager at The Well in New York, says that IV therapy entails infusing vitamins, minerals, electrolytes and – sometimes – intravenous medications. “The combination of chosen ingredients is mixed into a bag of fluid, typically normal saline or Lactated Ringer’s [an alternative electrolyte solution], and infused directly into the bloodstream,” she says.
A well-known centre with multiple locations across the US, The Well offers a GMO-free approach to IV therapy focusing solely on infusing vitamins, minerals and electrolytes without additional medications.
Not all doctors are convinced of the benefits of drips. During the pandemic, the US Federal Trade Commission had to caution some clinics offering the procedure for making false claims about its effectiveness in treating Covid-19 and other serious illnesses. More broadly, critics point to the placebo effect: if you really believe it is giving you more energy, it really might do.
Supporters of drips talk about absorption rates, pointing out that when an oral supplement enters the digestive system a significant portion of the supplement may be unabsorbed, depending on your age, health and interactions with food and other substances in your digestive. IV drips take a direct route to the bloodstream.
But it is possible to have too much of a good thing. The body has a limit to how much it can take in of any vitamin or mineral, with any surplus simply excreted by the kidneys into your urine. Those interested are suggested to consult their doctor first to learn of any deficiencies they might address and any potential issues, such as kidney problems, that might preclude them from trying a course of drips.
As is often the case with viral wellness trends, the rise of IV drip therapy owes much to Hollywood’s influence and the reach of social media platforms. Celebrities’ polished, personal testimonies and dedication to self-care have significantly boosted the interest in, and popularity of, IV therapy.