Performance & RecoveryIV Nutrient Therapy
Built for active bodies — replenish amino acids, magnesium, and B12 to support your next training cycle.
SkinArtMD's Performance & Recovery IV is formulated around the demands of athletic training. Each infusion delivers pharmaceutical-grade amino acids (BCAAs, glutamine), magnesium, B12, electrolytes, and antioxidants directly into circulation. Dr. Sharon Fong designs every protocol around your training load and recovery phase — whether you're a competitive endurance runner, a weekend cyclist, or deep in a strength block.
Training-Cycle Recovery Support
Performance Recovery IV at SkinArtMD Burnaby is designed specifically around the nutritional demands of athletic training — not general wellness. It targets amino acids, minerals, and cofactors that active individuals deplete through hard training blocks and competition.
Intense exercise accelerates turnover of key nutrients including magnesium, B12, glutamine, and branched-chain amino acids. Oral repletion is limited by digestive absorption capacity — particularly post-exertion, when GI blood flow is redirected to working muscles. IV delivery places these nutrients directly in circulation, sidestepping absorption rate-limiting steps entirely. At SkinArtMD, Dr. Sharon Fong customizes every blend to your training phase, health history, and recovery goals using ingredients sourced from Health Canada licensed compounding facilities. Individual response varies — this is an adjunctive service, not a replacement for sound training and nutrition.
Targeted Athletic Nutrient Repletion
Amino acids, magnesium, and B12 are preferentially depleted during high-intensity training. IV delivery replenishes these directly, bypassing the GI absorption limits that slow oral repletion post-exertion.
Post-Exertion Recovery Window
The first hours after intense effort are critical for muscle repair. IV delivery may accelerate nutrient availability in this window when oral absorption is physiologically constrained. Individual response varies.
Training-Phase Customization
Dr. Sharon Fong adjusts blend composition to your current training phase — competition prep, peak load, taper, or off-season each have distinct nutritional priorities.
How IV Therapy Works
Why intravenous delivery is particularly relevant for active individuals — and what distinguishes it from post-workout nutrition and oral supplementation.
Post-Exercise GI Redistribution
During and immediately after intense training, blood flow shifts away from the gut toward working muscles. This impairs oral nutrient absorption at precisely the moment demand is highest — IV delivery bypasses this limitation entirely.
Amino Acid Availability for Muscle Repair
BCAAs and glutamine are the primary amino acids consumed during and after hard training. Intravenous administration achieves plasma concentrations that oral protein intake alone may not match in the acute post-exertion window.
Magnesium and Neuromuscular Recovery
Magnesium is lost through sweat during prolonged exercise. Suboptimal levels affect muscle contraction, sleep quality, and recovery rate. IV magnesium repletion may help restore normal neuromuscular signaling — individual response varies.
Pharmaceutical-Grade Ingredients
All components are sourced from Health Canada licensed compounding pharmacies, prepared to pharmaceutical purity and consistency standards — the same level used in clinical settings.
Is This Treatment Right For You?
Performance Recovery IV is designed for active individuals, but physician screening is required before every first session. Dr. Sharon Fong will assess whether IV nutrient therapy suits your health profile and training demands.
You May Be Suitable If You
- +Are training for or recovering from endurance events such as marathons, triathlons, or competitive cycling
- +Follow a high-volume or high-intensity program and struggle to recover adequately between sessions
- +Are a weekend warrior who trains hard on weekends but experiences prolonged weekday fatigue and soreness
- +Want adjunctive support during a peak training block to complement proper programming, sleep, and nutrition
- +Experience recurring muscle cramps, persistent soreness, or disrupted sleep that may be linked to magnesium or micronutrient depletion
- +Are managing reduced performance and energy during periods of accumulated training load or overreaching
You May Not Be Suitable If You
- –Have kidney disease or significantly impaired renal function — IV amino acid and fluid load requires healthy kidney clearance
- –Have congestive heart failure or conditions impairing fluid regulation — additional IV volume may be contraindicated
- –Are allergic to any ingredient in the planned formulation — a complete allergy review is conducted at consultation
- –Have not been screened for G6PD deficiency if high-dose Vitamin C is included in your protocol
- –Are pregnant or breastfeeding — consult your primary care physician before any IV nutrient therapy
Physician-Led Recovery Wellness
IV therapy is a medical procedure. At SkinArtMD Burnaby, every Performance Recovery IV protocol is prescribed and supervised by Dr. Sharon Fong (CPSBC), with mandatory pre-treatment screening and individualized sport-informed blend formulation.
CPSBC Physician Oversight
Dr. Sharon Fong holds full licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. Performance Recovery protocols are prescribed and supervised by her — not operated as spa services without qualified medical oversight.
Sport-Informed Blend Design
No off-the-shelf drip menus. Every infusion is formulated after a consultation accounting for your training load, event calendar, current medications, and health history — adjusted as your season progresses.
Pharmaceutical-Grade Compounding
Amino acids, glutamine, magnesium, B12, and all other IV components are sourced exclusively from Health Canada licensed compounding facilities, ensuring consistent dosing and pharmaceutical purity with every session.
Mandarin & Cantonese Service
Dr. Sharon Fong and the SkinArtMD Burnaby team provide consultations in Mandarin and Cantonese alongside English — ensuring Burnaby's active Chinese community receives accurate, unambiguous medical communication.
What You May Experience
The following outcomes are commonly reported by active clients following Performance Recovery IV sessions. Individual response varies — these represent commonly observed benefits, not guaranteed results.
Muscle Recovery Support
BCAAs and glutamine are primary substrates for muscle protein synthesis after training. IV delivery may support faster recovery between hard sessions — individual response varies and this is adjunctive to proper nutrition and rest.
Energy & Training Endurance
B12 and NAD+ are central to mitochondrial energy production. Replenishing these via IV may help address fatigue accumulation during prolonged training blocks or post-competition recovery periods.
Electrolyte & Hydration Balance
Sweat losses during endurance training deplete sodium, potassium, and magnesium. IV electrolyte repletion works alongside rehydration to restore neuromuscular balance more rapidly than oral fluid intake alone.
Immune Function During Training Loads
Intense training transiently suppresses immune function. Vitamin C and zinc may support immune resilience during peak training periods. G6PD screening is required before any high-dose Vitamin C protocol.
Sleep & Overnight Recovery Quality
Magnesium plays a direct role in muscle relaxation and sleep architecture. Athletes with suboptimal magnesium levels may notice improved sleep quality and overnight recovery following IV repletion.
Cellular Repair & Antioxidant Defence
High-intensity training generates oxidative stress. Glutathione and Vitamin C may support natural antioxidant defence and cellular repair processes — effects are adjunctive and individual response varies.
Your IV Therapy Experience
Here is what to expect at your Performance & Recovery IV session at SkinArtMD Burnaby — from intake through post-infusion monitoring.
Pre-Treatment Preparation
Schedule your session on a rest day or light training day — avoid high-intensity workouts on infusion day for optimal comfort and absorption
Hydrate well in the 24 hours before your appointment — adequate fluid intake improves vein access and infusion comfort
Eat a balanced meal 1–2 hours before arriving — arriving in a training-depleted state can amplify lightheadedness during infusion
Bring your full medication, supplement, and allergy list for Dr. Sharon Fong's review — include all sports supplements and protein powders
Wear loose clothing with easy sleeve access to the inner arm or elbow crease
During Treatment
Physician Intake & Protocol Confirmation
Dr. Sharon Fong reviews your current training load, recovery goals, and health history. Your custom blend is finalized before the IV is started.
IV Catheter Placement
A small catheter is placed using sterile technique by our clinical team — sensation is comparable to a routine blood draw, brief and mild for most clients.
Infusion Session
Standard recovery blends infuse in approximately 30–60 minutes. Protocols including NAD+ require a slower drip rate to minimize flushing and nausea — NAD+ sessions run 90–240 minutes depending on prescribed dose.
Post-Infusion Monitoring
A brief observation period confirms you feel well before leaving. The clinical team reviews post-session care guidance and any scheduled follow-up protocol with you.
Post-Treatment Care
Continue drinking water throughout the day — amino acid and IV fluid clearance require adequate kidney function and ongoing hydration
Rest or perform only light movement for 2–4 hours post-infusion before resuming training
Combine IV recovery support with proper post-workout nutrition — protein and carbohydrate intake remain essential and IV therapy does not replace them
Monitor the infusion site for unusual redness, swelling, or pain and contact the clinic if concerned
Treatment frequency is established by Dr. Sharon Fong based on your training cycle and recovery response — self-scheduling unlimited sessions is not recommended
**Results may vary. Performance Recovery IV is an adjunctive wellness service and does not replace appropriate training periodization, sleep, or nutrition. Individual response depends on health status, blend formulation, and treatment frequency. Athletes subject to anti-doping regulations are responsible for verifying all specific ingredients against their governing body's current prohibited list prior to treatment.
Common Questions
Is IV therapy painful?+
IV placement involves a brief needle stick — most clients compare it to a routine blood draw. Once the catheter is seated, the infusion itself is painless for the majority of people. A mild coolness or faint sensation traveling up the arm as the drip begins is normal and usually resolves within a minute or two.
How long does a session take?+
Standard Performance Recovery blends — amino acids, B12, magnesium, electrolytes, Vitamin C — infuse in approximately 30–60 minutes. Protocols incorporating NAD+ require a deliberately slower drip rate to reduce side effects like flushing or chest tightness; these sessions typically run 90 minutes to 4 hours depending on the prescribed dose.
Is it safe? What are the side effects?+
Physician-supervised IV therapy has a well-established safety record when patients are appropriately screened. Minor side effects include mild vein irritation at the insertion site and occasional flushing, most commonly with NAD+ or high-dose Vitamin C. G6PD deficiency screening is required before high-dose Vitamin C protocols. Dr. Sharon Fong performs a full medical intake before every first session to identify contraindications specific to your health profile.
How often should I get treated?+
For acute recovery — post-race, post-competition, or during illness — 1–2 targeted sessions are often sufficient. Athletes in sustained peak training blocks may benefit from monthly adjunctive sessions. Dr. Sharon Fong establishes your treatment cadence based on your training phase, recovery response, and health baseline — not an open-ended infusion schedule.
Is IV therapy suitable for competitive athletes?+
The core ingredients in Performance Recovery IV — amino acids, B12, magnesium, electrolytes, Vitamin C, glutathione — are not prohibited substances under WADA or most sport governing body codes. However, athletes subject to anti-doping testing are solely responsible for verifying every ingredient against their specific governing body's current prohibited list. SkinArtMD does not administer hormones, peptides, or any substance appearing on WADA's prohibited list.
What is the difference between standard IV vitamins and NAD+?+
Standard Performance Recovery blends replenish amino acids, electrolytes, and vitamins depleted by training — addressing the immediate substrate deficit from physical exertion. NAD+ works at a deeper level: as a mitochondrial coenzyme central to cellular energy metabolism, it declines with age and accumulated physical stress. NAD+ infusions take longer to administer safely and are typically recommended for athletes managing significant fatigue accumulation, cognitive performance concerns, or extended recovery from overtraining.
Fuel Your Recovery With Physician Guidance
Book a consultation with Dr. Sharon Fong at SkinArtMD Burnaby. We'll assess your training load, health history, and recovery goals — then formulate an IV protocol built around your active lifestyle. Mandarin and Cantonese consultations available.