IV Therapy

IV therapy is the direct delivery of helpful nutrients and vitamins into the bloodstream. ⁽¹⁾ IV drips can have numerous benefits for patients who receive them. Whether a patient is seeking to address specific issues like post-surgical recovery or an efficient approach to wellness, IV therapy can be effective in both of these realms. In addition, IV treatments themselves are relaxing and can be considered an act of self-care. By paying attention to the health needs and deficiencies of the body during IV therapy, we may be able to reduce some of the unpleasant effects that coincide with aging.

At Chicago Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Paul Phelps is a double board-certified oculofacial plastic surgeon with two offices in and around the Chicago area. We offer consultations at either of these offices. To contact us about setting up an appointment where you can learn more about IV therapy and what it can do for you, please call (312) 888-5754 or fill out our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!

About IV Therapy

IV therapy, also known as intravenous therapy, is a medical treatment that involves providing vital fluids, vitamins, and micronutrients directly into a patient’s bloodstream through a small tube called an IV drip. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals that help the body carry out certain functions and maintain a balanced state of well-being. Specifically, micronutrients are key in the processes of intermediary metabolism, which encompasses how energy is produced and stored in the body. Micronutrients also help enzymes, which are proteins that help trigger bodily reactions, carry out their duties. They can also include antioxidants, which can reduce the amount of damage that is inflicted upon the cells within the body. ⁽²⁾

Slim IV Drip

The Slim IV Drip is perfectly formulated to boost a patient’s metabolism and stimulate healthy weight loss. The Slim IV Drip is loaded with a perfect blend of L-Carnitine, Vitamin C, B Vitamins, and amino acids that will stimulate metabolic processes, help your body burn extra calories, and increase overall energy. L-Carnitine is a nutrient made from an amino acid that plays an important role in the process of energy production in the body. It is a cofactor, which means it helps enzymes work. As a cofactor, it can help carry out the process of turning fatty acids into energy. It can also help expunge toxins from structures within cells. ⁽³⁾

Myers’ Cocktail IV

The Myers’ Cocktail IV is formulated to help with stress reduction, balance, well-being, focus, and clarity by replenishing nutrients at the cellular level. The Myers Cocktail IV drip contains essential multivitamins and other nutrients designed to hydrate and help alleviate a variety of symptoms. Ingredients include: Magnesium, B Vitamins, Calcium Gluconate, and Vitamin C. Calcium gluconate is a type of calcium salt that can help the body regulate low calcium levels, healthy heart activity, potassium levels, and magnesium levels. ⁽⁴⁾ Meanwhile, magnesium is a key player in many bodily functions relating to muscular and nerve functionalities. This important mineral also plays a role in blood sugar management. ⁽⁵⁾

Beauty Glow

Beauty Glow IV therapy is specifically designed to optimize your overall radiance and natural glow. The Beauty Glow Drip detoxifies the body from within and hydrates your skin cells while promoting healthy collagen and elastin development to fight the signs of aging. The vitamins and minerals in this treatment are also designed to supplement your hair, skin, and nails, making them stronger and healthier. Ingredients include Vitamin C, Glutathione, and Biotin.

Glutathione is an antioxidant, which means it can help defend cells from damage. It also aids in the carrying out of metabolic processes and is helpful for managing a number of cellular events. Cellular events are necessary processes that include but are not limited to, assembling proteins, cell death, and immune system reactions. ⁽⁶⁾ Biotin, on the other hand, is a vitamin that helps to promote healthy hair and nail growth. ⁽⁷⁾

NAD+ Anti-Aging IV Drip

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a coenzyme that helps the body carry out important metabolic processes. Studies suggest that NAD+ may slow the aging process, leading to a healthier and younger version of you. This IV drip allows you to optimize the body to its fullest potential. With a NAD+ Anti-Aging IV Drip, you can experience benefits that sharpen the mind, reverse aging, lower stress, repair DNA, and improve cognitive function. What’s more, you may enjoy the results for weeks.

The coenzyme properties of NAD+ make it integral to the metabolism of energy in the body, immune system functions, and other functions that allow people to age in a healthy way that is characterized by healthy tissues and maintained metabolic homeostasis, which is important for a person’s overall health. Studies have shown that NAD+ that is naturally occurring in the body declines as we age. ⁽⁸⁾ By replenishing the NAD+ supply in the body, we can help prevent or slow the development of some of the negative effects that can be brought on by the aging process, such as brain fog, some age-related diseases, and general weakness. ⁽⁸⁾

Benefits

Depending on the specific IV drip formula, IV therapy can have many different benefits for the patients who receive it. Patients may benefit from IV therapy in the following ways:

Candidates

Candidates for IV therapy can include individuals who:

It is not necessary to have any specific health issues in order to benefit from an IV session–virtually anyone can benefit from IV therapy! However, if you are unsure about your current situation, we will let you know if you are eligible for IV therapy after a personal consultation at one of our offices.

Personal Consultation

During a personal consultation, we will review your medical history and your reasons for seeking out IV therapy. Based on the specific issues you raise, we will choose the IV formula that will be most able to target these issues. We make it our goal to provide our patients with positive experiences and life-improving results. The personal consultation is an important first step toward achieving these goals. Call (312) 888-5754 or fill out our contact form to initiate appointment scheduling today. We offer consultations at our main office in Chicago and at our satellite office in Winnetka.

Procedure

IV stands for “intravenous,” which means that it is administered directly into a vein. In the case of IV therapy, your medical professional will select a vein either in the arm or hand. For the duration of IV therapy, you will be sitting and resting comfortably while the formula is gradually administered into the bloodstream. The length of these treatments can vary depending on the type of formula that you and your medical professional decide to move forward with. Some therapies will be completed within 30-45 minutes, while others may take longer. Our staff will be monitoring the progress of your therapy, and you may find this time relaxing. Your body will absorb the nutrients quickly after the treatment because of the intravenous method.

Results

IV therapy results in the delivery of important nutrients directly into the bloodstream. Because the bloodstream enables the body to absorb these nutrients faster than oral supplements allow, the patients may feel the effects of IV therapy quite soon after their treatment. The nutrients may continue to provide benefits even after the treatment is absorbed by the body.

IV therapy results in the hydration of cells within the body in a quick and effective way. This can be particularly helpful if a patient has been sick, practiced intense exercise, or has dehydrated cells as a result of alcohol consumption. These treatments can also result in boosted energy levels, as the cells can receive the metabolic support they need to create and maintain energy stores. Further, patients may enjoy improved immune functioning, as important antioxidants can help protect cells. Patients may see improvements in their stress levels and experience an overall lightened mood.

Cost of IV Therapy in Chicago

At Chicago Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, we value full pricing transparency. For your convenience, as you consider an IV therapy treatment, we have listed the approximate prices for different IV therapy sessions:

In case you want to combine your IV therapy with another treatment, you may also want to visit our pricing page to view the cost estimates of other procedures we offer. For more specific pricing information, however, it would be helpful to first attend a personal consultation at our office. Call (312) 888-5754 or fill out our contact form to schedule your IV therapy consultation today.

FAQ

References

1. Wells C, Butcher R, McCormack S. Intravenous Multivitamin Therapy Use in Hospital or Outpatient Settings: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK567072/
2. Blaauw R, Osland E, Sriram K, et al. Parenteral Provision of Micronutrients to Adult Patients: An Expert Consensus Paper. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 2019;43:S5-S23. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/jpen.1525
3. National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements – Carnitine. Nih.gov. Published 2017. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Carnitine-HealthProfessional/
4. Chakraborty A, Can AS. Calcium Gluconate. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557463/
5. NIH. Office of Dietary Supplements – Magnesium. ods.od.nih.gov. Published March 22, 2021. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-Consumer/#:~:text=Magnesium%20is%20a%20nutrient%20that
6. Wu G, Fang YZ, Yang S, Lupton JR, Turner ND. Glutathione metabolism and its implications for health. The Journal of Nutrition. 2004;134(3):489-492. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.3.489
7. Bistas KG, Tadi P. Biotin. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554493/
8. Covarrubias AJ, Perrone R, Grozio A, Verdin E. NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology. 2020;22(2):119-141. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-020-00313-x
9. Ernstmeyer K, Christman E. Chapter 23 IV Therapy Management. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK593209/