Tim’s Take: Cameron’s take on Fresh Treatments lands where most first-timers land on vitamin boosters: the energy bump is real enough to notice but small enough to argue with. That’s consistent with what the science actually says about B12. If you’re genuinely deficient, a shot is useful. If your levels are fine, it’s a $50 placebo with a needle.
The more interesting signal in his review is the clinic itself. Fine needles, calm staff, a nurse who’s been there four years, a detailed intake form before you sit down. That’s the stuff that separates a legitimate wellness centre from a strip-mall drip bar, and it matters more than any single booster on the menu.
On Friday, 27 March, I visited Fresh Treatments on Sydney Rd, Brunswick (the longest shopping strip in the Southern Hemisphere) for a five-minute vitamin B12 booster injection.
It goes without saying that a vitamin B12, or any similar, booster is for anyone who is OK with being jabbed with a needle; however, Fresh Treatments says it caters to people who are sensitive by taking ‘a gentle, supportive approach. Our team is experienced in working with nervous clients – we use fine needles, offer a calm environment, and take our time to ensure you feel comfortable throughout the process.’
Fresh Treatments offers a range of boosters, and it says the B12 booster can contribute to people’s ‘overall wellness routine’. According to the centre, the types of people who ask for this booster include individuals with low energy or fatigue, athletes looking for recovery and performance support, vegans and vegetarians (who may lack dietary B12), busy professionals needing an energy boost and people with known B12 deficiencies or absorption concerns.
Vitamin boosters is just one of several services that Fresh Treatments offers. You can also partake in an IV infusion, cryotherapy, an infrared sauna session, oxygen therapy, normatec pants (designed to increase circulation), and a body analysis.
From a quick glance before and after my booster, the rooms at Fresh Treatments looked modern and clean. The booster room was fairly cosy, with just enough room for the nurse and me.
The process itself is fairly straightforward, and you can choose to have the booster injected into your glute, where it will be absorbed more quickly, or into your arm. The nurse will then apply a sticker to the point of injection.
I got my booster in the evening, after another day’s mental labour. For me (and, I suspect, many people), this is when I feel the most careworn, and my energy levels for the day and week have dropped most.
Merve, the nurse who administered the booster, told me that I was going to feel the effect most the following morning. What’s interesting is that once I returned home, I definitely wasn’t as tired as I would have been (possibly not because of the booster but perhaps because of my expectations about my newfound energy), but as the evening wore on (nothing exciting apart from a session at the gym), the usual fatigue claimed its place.
Given I was suffering from the remnants of a self-inflicted stomach ache, it’s possible the booster alleviated my symptoms after 12 hours or so.
Before getting a booster, Fresh Treatments will send you a detailed form that asks about your medical history. One reason for this is to ensure there aren’t any complications from the booster.
Fresh Treatments recommends you speak with a doctor first if you are managing chronic health conditions, taking certain medications, or are unsure about your B12 levels or symptoms.
The room where I received the booster appeared to double as an office and was a little cosy, perhaps, but more than enough room for the nurse and I. My squiz of other rooms before and after showed the usual level of cleanliness that you would expect at any modern wellness centre.
Fresh Treatments says it ‘adhere(s) to medical-grade hygiene standards, including single-use sterile needles, proper skin preparation, clinical waste disposal protocols, and clean, controlled treatment environments.’
Merve was effective in her delivery of the booster. Having worked at Fresh Treatments for four years, she said it was a nice environment to work in, which reflects back in other reviews on Fresh Treatments’ website. Janice Ford wrote, “The staff were friendly” and the “(n)urse was very efficient at giving me vitamin B12 injection”.
‘Most clients are pleasantly surprised by how quick and comfortable the process is, and often say they wish they had tried it sooner,’ Fresh Treatments says.
Another common theme in reviews from customers found on the website was the ease with which bookings can be made. This is thanks to an online booking system that matches with the range of services that are available.
The vitamin B12 booster I received costs $50. This is another one of those wellness services where the benefits are likely to accumulate over time after repeat treatments. Fresh Treatments says, ‘While many clients report increased energy and improved wellbeing, B12 is not a “magic fix”. Results vary depending on your baseline levels and overall health. It works best as part of a broader wellness approach.’
But this booster was still highly valuable in chasing away the remnants of some leftover lurgy.
Cameron is an experienced news writer and consummate media professional, with previous bylines in SmartCompany, The Australian Farmer, Innovation Intelligence and other local outlets. Having completed his bachelor of journalism and master of communication at RMIT – one of Australia’s leading universities for media studies – Cameron uses his cross-disciplinary knowledge and industry experience to source news stories and find unique angles that create impact.
