Could a vitamin IV drip really make me look more beautiful? That was the question on my mind before I tried one a week ago. Intravenous vitamin therapy is the latest celebrity health fad, and proponents say it can do everything from boost your glow to increase your energy levels. Sounds pretty cool, right? LiquiFusion, a New York City-based company, offers several $200 IV drips; there's one to detox your body, one to cure your hangover, and one to boost your immunity. There’s even a libido-increasing drip if you’re looking to have an extra fun weekend. They gave me an opportunity to undergo one of their treatments, and I decided on the Regenerate, which claims to give skin a healthy, youthful-looking glow, thanks to its mix of essential amino acids, EDTA (a molecule with detoxification properties), and B vitamins. Keep this field blank Enter your email address You may unsubscribe at any time. According to the company, the effects of one drip session last for about a week, and scheduling regular sessions can further optimize results.
The company notes, however, that there are small risks involved, such as bruising at the injection site (ouch!) and possible rupture of the vein wall that can result in a burning sensation that should subside after the IV is moved to a different vein. I’m a freelance beauty writer, and I already take daily vitamins, drink a Vega One green protein shake for breakfast every morning, ingest eight glasses of water a day, and wear sunscreen—so my complexion is in pretty good shape. My biggest concern is my under-eye area, which has dark circles and fine lines that become more pronounced when I’m tired or stressed. I still had to know: Could this drip do an even better job at keeping my skin youthful than all the stuff I already do? RELATED: 3 New Anti-Aging Treatments You Really Oughta Know About Here I am before the treatment: What It’s Like to Get a Vitamin IV Drip After swiping and signing all liability away on an iPad, the smiling nurse first checked my blood pressure to make sure everything was normal.
Then she inserted the IV drip, which felt like a bee sting-like pinch. IV therapy delivers nutrients to the body directly, bypassing the digestive process, which is why it’s supposed to have instant results. "You only absorb about 50 percent of the nutrients you ingest, but with an IV, that’s increased to about 90 percent,” Marissa Fisher, R.N., the registered nurse who administered my IV, explained while we chatted during the treatment. I sat for about 45 minutes as the drip slowly worked its way into my veins. My arm definitely felt a bit funny—like the sensation you get after giving blood. While I waited for the IV to work its magic, Fisher told me she'd just given the same treatment to a model who was about to fly to Miami for a swimsuit shoot on the beach. “She wanted her skin to have that extra glow,” said Fisher. RELATED: One Travelin’ Woman Tested 9 Celeb Skin-Care Tips—Here’s What Happened Here I am immediately following the treatment (does my complexion look any different to you?):
After the infusion was over and the needle was removed, Fisher once again took my blood pressure before releasing me. I looked in the mirror and didn’t detect a change, but Fisher explained that it would take a bit of time for all of the vitamins and minerals to circulate through my system. I headed out for a brisk 15-minute walk and ended up feeling slightly light-headed halfway through. I stopped to take a few sips from the water bottle in my handbag, and luckily the sensation passed in a couple of minutes. How I Looked—and Felt—After the Treatment Honestly, I totally forgot about the treatment until a few hours later, when I realized that my energy hadn’t dipped in the late afternoon. Usually, I need a pick-me-up like a cup of tea or a sweet snack. At this point I still wasn’t sure the concoction was doing anything for my skin, but I definitely felt more energetic and alert than I normally would have at that time of day. RELATED: 5 Foods That Give You TONS of Energy
Here I am 24 hours post-drip: The next morning, I met a publicist for breakfast. “Your skin is glowing!” she said as I gave her a hug. Interesting...given that I had only gotten about four hours of sleep the night before. “I think it’s this beauty IV thing I just tried,” I said. She raised an eyebrow. “How much is it?” she asked, intrigued. The bottom line: 24 hours after I tried the vitamin infusion, I noticed that the fine lines under my eyes seemed smoother, and my cheeks looked rosier and plumper—like I had slept in on a Saturday and had been drinking cucumber water all day. I was even able to use less concealer under my eyes. What’s more, my skin did seem to retain its healthy, rested glow for a solid several days after the treatment—and definitely for longer than the fleeting results I see from a typical spa facial (which can run upward of $100). Although the treatment was pricey, I’d consider getting an IV drip again if I needed an extra boost for a special event—but it definitely won’t replace my regular skin-care routine.
Celeb Trend of 'IV Vitamins' Not a Good Idea Receiving vitamins through an intravenous drip may be the latest Hollywood health craze, but there's little evidence the practice has any health benefits, experts say. In addition, the invasive, IV method poses more risks than taking vitamins by mouth. Last month, the singer Rihanna tweeted a picture of her arm connected to an IV drip, which apparently delivered a solution of vitamins directly into her vein, according to ABC news. Other celebrities, including Madonna, have also reportedly received vitamins this way. The IV solutions can contain a single vitamin, such as vitamin C, or a cocktail of nutrients, including magnesium, B and C vitamins, experts say. Some people say they feel more "alive" after receiving the infusion, ABC reported. While such drips can be beneficial for people with certain conditions, such as those who have trouble absorbing nutrients through their gastrointestinal tract, they should not be used routinely by people who are looking for a quick-fix for their health, said Dr. David Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine.
"We are 'designed' to get nutrients through our GI tract; and absent a clear and compelling reason to do otherwise, that is how we should get them," Katz said. Experts agree the best way to get vitamins is through a healthy diet. When vitamins are delivered intravenously, they reach the blood faster than when taken orally. Many people who receive the infusions report feeling healthy immediately afterward, said Dr. Robert Graham, an internist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Graham said he gave intravenous vitamins to his patients when he worked at another institution, but no longer performs the procedure. The benefit people report may well be due to the placebo effect, the phenomenon in which a person feels better after a treatment because they believe it works, Graham said. Some research suggests vitamin infusions can have benefits for certain conditions. For instance, Katz found in a 2009 study that intravenous vitamin therapy lessened pain for patients with fibromyalgia.
However, the treatment was not more effective than a placebo. Research on the drips is preliminary, and it's not clear whether any reported effects are long-lasting, experts say. "There's no scientific evidence that this has meaningful effects," over the long term, said Dr. Kevin Fiscella, a professor of family medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. Any IV treatment carries a risk of bruising, infection and vein inflammation, Katz said. And although it's very unlikely, there's also a risk that the wrong dose of a nutrient will be infused, which could lead to sudden cardiac death, Katz said. In addition, if the treatment is done outside a hospital, in an environment in which the content of the infusion is not properly controlled, users cannot be sure what's in their IV bags, Fiscella said. "We know that for many herbal and vitamin supplements, the control and purity varies enormously," Fiscella said, and such variation is also seen in shipments of vitamin IV bags.