What is IV vitamin therapy?
IV vitamin therapy —also called IV drip therapy— is the administration of a solution of fluids, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals and sometimes antioxidants directly into the bloodstream, through a catheter placed in a vein in the arm. By bypassing digestion, the nutrients reach the blood immediately and with greater bioavailability than the oral route.
It is a medical, non-surgical procedure: no incisions, no anaesthesia and no downtime. It is used in an established way to correct dehydration and to replenish documented nutritional deficiencies. It is worth being honest about the rest: the scientific evidence supporting IV therapy as a «detox», anti-ageing or immune-boosting treatment in healthy people is limited, and its benefits in that territory are largely about perceived wellbeing. So nothing is promised here that cannot be supported: the indication is defined in a medical assessment.
Techniques Dr. Arístides Arellano uses
There is no single IV «formula»: the right mix depends on your reason for consulting, your history and, where relevant, laboratory tests. Dr. Arístides Arellano indicates the protocol case by case, always starting from the principle that less is more and that no formula replaces medical treatment when one is needed:
- Hydration drip with electrolytes: fluids and salts to restore hydration after intense exercise, heat, a gastrointestinal episode or a hangover. It is the clearest and best-supported indication.
- B-complex and vitamin C formula: intended for cases with documented deficiencies or higher demand; the dose is matched to what the body can use, not to unfounded megadoses.
- Glutathione antioxidant formula: used for its antioxidant role; its cosmetic effects are communicated with caution because the evidence is still preliminary.
- Mineral supplementation (magnesium, zinc and others as indicated): reserved for specific situations and always within safe ranges.
- General wellness protocol: a mild combination of hydration and vitamins for someone seeking an occasional complement, understood as support and never as a cure.
How is it performed?
The session is simple and outpatient. It begins with a brief assessment reviewing your history, allergies, medications and the reason you are seeking treatment; that information decides the appropriate formula and volume, or rules the procedure out if it is not indicated.
A catheter is then placed in a vein in the arm, the drip bag is connected, and the solution is infused by gravity over 30 to 60 minutes while you sit or recline under the medical staff’s watch. You can read or rest during the infusion. When it ends the catheter is removed, the puncture site is compressed for a few minutes, and you can resume your day. The only usual discomfort is the initial needle prick and, occasionally, a small bruise on the arm.
IV therapy is not risk-free: it can cause pain or inflammation at the puncture site, bruising, and —less often— infection, fluid overload or reactions to a component. That is why it must be performed by qualified medical staff, with sterile material and under supervision, never at home without an assessment.
Every medical treatment —topicals, peels and energy-based devices included— carries risk and requires a prior assessment. In darker skin (Fitzpatrick IV–VI, the most common phototypes in Mexico) a poorly indicated procedure can darken the patch instead of lightening it. Results may vary according to each patient, their phototype and their individual triggers.
Who is a good candidate?
A good candidate is a healthy adult with a specific, concrete need: dehydration after exertion or a mild illness, hangover recovery, or a confirmed nutritional deficiency. The prior assessment is what confirms the procedure is appropriate and safe for you:
- People with dehydration from intense exercise, heat or a recent gastrointestinal episode.
- Those with documented nutritional deficiencies on lab work who want to complement —not replace— the treatment indicated by their physician.
- Healthy adults wanting occasional hydration and vitamin support, with a realistic view of what it does.
- It is not suitable, or requires strict medical clearance, in people with kidney or heart disease, conditions that limit fluid handling, pregnancy, or a known allergy to a component. Nor should it be used as a substitute for medical care when a symptom needs diagnosis.
Recommended aftercare treatments
After an IV session the aftercare is minimal: keep pressure on the puncture site for a few minutes, drink water through the day and avoid lifting with that arm for the first few hours. If you notice spreading redness, pain or warmth in the area, let us know. IV therapy works best as support within sustained habits —sleep, nutrition and physical activity—, not as a substitute for them. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
A session starts at approximately $3,000 MXN, depending on the protocol indicated for your skin and the number of sessions. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related patient guide
IV therapy is a medical procedure, and who indicates and supervises it matters as much as the formula. Before choosing where to be treated, read How to choose your plastic surgeon in Puebla: the same criteria of licensing, facilities and honesty apply to any aesthetic treatment.
Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.
Recovery · step by step
- Immediately afterThe catheter is removed and the arm is compressed for a few minutes. You can leave on your own and resume activities; there is no downtime.
- First few hoursA slight discomfort or mild bruise may remain at the puncture site. Stay hydrated with water and avoid lifting with that arm.
- Following daysAny bruise settles within a few days. If you notice spreading redness, pain or warmth in the area, report it to rule out a complication.
Frequently asked questions
What is IV vitamin therapy actually good for?
In an established way it corrects dehydration and replenishes documented nutritional deficiencies, with immediate absorption by bypassing digestion. Its use as detox, anti-ageing or immune support in healthy people has limited evidence, and there the benefit is mainly perceived wellbeing. The indication is defined in a medical assessment. Results may vary.
How long does a session take?
Between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the formula and the volume infused. It is an outpatient procedure: you sit or recline during the infusion and can resume your day afterwards, with no downtime.
Is it safe?
Performed by qualified medical staff, with sterile material and after an assessment, it is a low-risk procedure. It is not free of complications —pain or bruising at the puncture and, less often, infection, fluid overload or reactions—, so it should not be given without an assessment or, without medical clearance, in people with kidney or heart disease.
Does IV therapy replace a good diet or medical treatment?
No. IV therapy is occasional support, not a cure or a substitute for a balanced diet, sleep or the treatment your physician indicates. When a symptom needs a diagnosis, the right step is a medical consultation, not a drip.
How much does IV therapy cost in Puebla?
There is no single price: it depends on the formula indicated, the number of sessions and the volume infused. It is set at the consultation, with a written quote before starting.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.