Frequently Asked Questions

It's a way of getting fluids, vitamins, minerals or amino acids straight into your bloodstream through a small cannula in your arm, rather than swallowing them. Because it skips your digestive system, everything in the bag reaches your blood directly, instead of the smaller share your gut would normally absorb from a tablet or drink.

A booster shot is a quick injection into the muscle, over in under a minute, ideal for a fast top-up of one or two nutrients like B12 or vitamin D. A drip runs through a vein over roughly 30 to 45 minutes and can carry a bigger, more varied mix plus fluid for hydration. It's a quick top-up versus a full session, essentially.

There's a small pinch when the cannula goes in, similar to a blood test, then nothing. Most people just relax or scroll their phone for the rest of the session. If needles genuinely aren't your thing, tell your clinician, and we can talk you through each step and keep you comfortable.

Budget 30 to 45 minutes for the drip itself, plus a few minutes either side for your check-in. Booster shots are much quicker, usually under 10 minutes start to finish.

It depends on the drip you choose, but the base is usually saline for hydration, with B vitamins, vitamin C, minerals like magnesium or zinc, or amino acids added depending on what you're going for: energy, recovery, immunity, or a general reset. Every formulation is reviewed and signed off by a clinician; nothing is added without clinical approval.

For clinic sessions, yes: book online so we can allocate a clinician and a slot. At our gym and partner locations we run both walk-up availability and pre-booked appointments, so you can grab one around your training, subject to a clinician being free.

It is when done properly, meaning a clinician screens you first, a trained professional inserts the cannula, and every piece of equipment is single-use and sterile. That is the standard we hold ourselves to. It is still a clinical procedure though, so like any clinical procedure it carries small risks, which is exactly why we screen every client individually rather than treating it as routine.

We don't treat anyone who is pregnant, and clients who are breastfeeding need a quick conversation with our clinician first. Certain conditions, such as kidney or heart problems, uncontrolled blood pressure, some allergies, or particular medications, can also rule a drip out or change what goes in it. This is exactly why every client, first-timer or regular, is screened by a clinician before anything is prepared. It's the actual safety mechanism, not paperwork for its own sake.

Genuinely, they're low. Mild bruising or tenderness at the cannula site is the most common thing, and it settles within a day or two. Rarer risks include infection at the site, a vein reaction called phlebitis, or an allergic response to an ingredient. That's why we use sterile, single-use equipment, proper aseptic technique, and always have a clinician present who can act immediately if anything looks off.

Every cannula, giving set and needle is sterile, single-use, and opened in front of you. Nothing is ever reused between clients, full stop.

Tell your clinician immediately. They're trained to recognise and manage reactions, and will stop the infusion straight away if needed. If you feel unwell after you've left, call the number on your aftercare card. If it's serious, treat it as you would any medical emergency: call 999 or go to A&E.

Possibly. Tell your clinician exactly what you're taking, including supplements, at your screening. Some medications, particularly blood thinners or anything affecting kidney function, change what we can safely give you, so this isn't something we guess at. It's a direct question in every screening.

A qualified clinician assesses you and decides what is clinically appropriate before anything is prepared. No one at vFlow selects a treatment on your behalf without that assessment happening first.

A trained, registered healthcare professional signed off in IV cannulation, typically a nurse or paramedic, inserts the line and runs the infusion, working to the same infection-control standards you'd expect in a clinical setting.

Your first visit always includes a full health screening. After that, returning clients get a shorter check-in each time, covering current health, medications and anything that has changed, because your clinician needs an up-to-date picture, not a one-off assessment from months ago.

It is held securely and confidentially under UK GDPR, used only to give you safe care, and never sold or passed to third parties for marketing. You can ask what we hold on you, or ask us to correct or delete it, at any time.

We carry appropriate insurance, and we have a formal complaints process if you're ever unhappy with your care. Any adverse reaction gets logged and reviewed so we can keep improving how we screen and treat future clients.

Eat something beforehand, drink water, and try to avoid a heavy night of alcohol the day before, because dehydration makes veins harder to find and the whole thing less comfortable. Wear something with easy arm access, short sleeves or something you can roll up.

You'll check in, run through a short health screen with your clinician, then get settled while the cannula goes in. The drip runs for around 30 to 45 minutes while you relax, with your clinician checking in periodically. Afterwards the cannula comes out, a small dressing goes on, and you're free to go.

Keep the cannula site clean and dry for a few hours, drink normally, and if you notice redness, swelling or pain that's getting worse rather than better, get in touch straight away rather than waiting it out. Most people go straight back to their normal day, including light exercise, unless your clinician has told you otherwise.

Some people notice a difference within a few hours, others say it's more like the next day. It genuinely varies by person and by what's in the drip. Hydration effects tend to be the quickest to notice.

That's a clinical decision for your clinician, based on what you're having and your own health, not a fixed number we apply to everyone. As a general guide, most reputable providers space treatments a few days apart and cap frequency over a few months; your clinician will set the right interval for you specifically.

Generally yes, and plenty of our gym clients do exactly that. But timing and volume matter, and a large infusion right before a hard session isn't something we'd recommend. Your clinician will talk you through what makes sense for your training day.

This one actually matters, so read it properly. Under the WADA Prohibited List, any IV infusion or injection over 100ml in a 12-hour period is a prohibited method for tested athletes, in and out of competition, regardless of what's in the bag, even plain saline. If you're a competitive athlete subject to testing (UK Anti-Doping, a national governing body, or similar), check your status and any Therapeutic Use Exemption requirements with your governing body before booking, and tell our clinician you're a tested athlete so we can keep any infusion within the threshold or advise you accordingly. We're not your anti-doping authority, but we'd rather flag this clearly than bury it in small print.

Light movement is usually fine, but we'd suggest holding off anything maximal for a few hours and keeping the cannula site protected during exercise. Ask your clinician on the day, as it depends on the drip and how you're feeling.

Yes, and that's a core part of how vFlow works. We operate inside partner gyms and venues so you can fit a drip around your training rather than around a separate clinic visit. Every location is held to the same clinical standard as our main clinic: clinician-led, properly screened, nothing watered down because it's on a gym floor.

Honestly, for most healthy, well-hydrated people, a good electrolyte drink and food will do much of the same job for a fraction of the cost, and we'd rather tell you that than oversell it. Where a drip earns its place is faster, higher-dose delivery when you're significantly dehydrated, struggling to keep fluids down, or want a specific formulation a clinician has assessed as useful for you.

Pricing depends on the drip and location. Full details are on each treatment page, and your clinician will always confirm cost before you commit to anything.

You secure your appointment with a deposit when you book, and the balance is due on the day, after your on-the-day suitability check. Card, contactless and Apple/Google Pay are accepted at every clinic and partner location.

Cancel or reschedule more than 24 hours before your appointment and your deposit is refunded. Within 24 hours, or a no-show, the deposit is retained. If treatment is declined at the on-the-day suitability review, your deposit is refunded in full.

You need to be 18 or over for any IV treatment with us. No exceptions.

At most partner locations, yes, subject to a clinician being available, though booking ahead guarantees your slot.