Fish Spa for Feet

For an unknown reason, I have tried to stay away from salon and spa procedures of every sort. Yours truly has been a DIY girl, right from threading eyebrows to doing her own pedicures. Friends who knew this decided it was time for my first spa visit and took me to a Fish Spa. It was a very refreshing and relaxing experience.
fish spa
First, some gyaan about fish spa. This is a new concept which was brought to India only a couple of years ago. Essentially, your hands or feet are immersed in a small pool of water which contains a rather large school of fish, known as ‘doctor fish’. These fish have their place in Oriental medicine and are known for their exfoliating properties. What happens in the fish pedicure is that these fish nibble away dead skin cells, leaving behind soft, smooth skin. The fish are like combfishes in that they only consume the affected and dead areas of the skin, leaving the healthy skin to grow, with the outdoor location of the treatment bringing beneficial effects. The spas are not meant as a curative treatment option, only as a temporary alleviation of symptoms, and patients usually revisit the spas every few months. This process also tingles your feet, thereby improving blood circulation.

I was taken to a Spa in Bangalore which was the first to offer fish spa in the city. Since it was a Monday afternoon (the joy of being in college..you can relax in a spa while the rest of your class is in session :P), the place was nearly empty. We had taken appointments earlier and were led to the spa area with no fuss. The assistant carried out the preliminary procedure of cleaning our feet thoroughly to remove all traces of skincare products which can accidentally poison the fish. Here’s what the spa looks like (it has low lighting)
fish spa
Next came one of the most fun experiences ever. As soon as I placed my feet in water, a hundred fish swam swiftly and surrounded my feet. Some practically fought to have a nibble of skin and it was extremely ticklish; I kept giggling non-stop for the entire session. If fish creep you out, I suggest you close your eyes or read one of the magazines they keep handy. Please don’t freak out because you’ll only be wasting your money – the fish are practically harmless and you get used to the tickle pretty soon. Here’s how my feet looked –

They had a really good collection of fashion and lifestyle magazines to read while you’re being treated. After 5-6 minutes, we were told that we can immerse our legs in water as well (up to the knee). So we did and the fish feasted on our legs!

A clever way to make the best out of this procedure is to immerse only your ‘problem’ areas or rough spots for a while. For instance, my friend who had trouble with callus formation kept only her toes in for half the session. The fish chewed up all the rough skin instantly! Likewise, if you have rough heels, let the fish work on your heels for 3-4 minutes. Also, make sure a maximum of two people occupy a fish tank. The more fish at your feet, the better.
fish spa
Results: We came out refreshed with baby soft feet, tan considerably reduced due to the exfoliation. All the tingling had acted like a massage and my feet felt very relaxed.

Pros of Fish Spa

Quick pedicure – a 10 minute session is all you need.
Value for money – Exfoliation AND massage for Rs. 200 is a decent deal
Fun experience.

Cons of Fish Spa

Not something you can do alone or in a hurry.

Rating: 5/5. Definitely recommended!

IMBB RECOMMENDS

69 thoughts on “Fish Spa for Feet

  1. I’ve tried this…. I had exima now I don’t I do this every 3 months 😀 :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2: :jiggy2:

  2. haiya…i tried this when i went to singapore :yahoo: …. :yahoo: :yahoo: …initially it was like tickling but then got used to it….

    Rads try this…its very good…

    Nice post Akshatha :victory:

  3. hehehehe I SOOOOOOOOOO WANT TO TRY THIS …. we have it here in INORBIT MALL .. SAD THING IS ALL OF MA FRENDS N RELATIVES R CREEPED OUT !!! NO ONE READY TO ACCOMPANY ME !!! 🙁 🙁

  4. i have been wanting to do this since soooo long .. it just never works out :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:

  5. hi akshatha,

    nice review… I have got it done and literally rolled over laughing becoz of the tickling feeling…. I am very very ticklish…. one simple hand movement and i go all gigly laughy…
    :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: 😆 😆 :haanji: :clap2: :rotfl: :laugh: :lashes:
    Hi rids, rads, varshini, shugraa, naina, rati and sanjeev…. and also all those who would join in… Hope u guys had a wonderful holi…

      1. 😆 :lol2: arre sanjeev,

        I toh can’t even wear socks without gigling…. can’t go for pedicures because of this….

        The worse came when me and my ‘close friend’ went to watch a movie. Poor guy kept his hand on my shoulder and I started giggling… it was a very emo scene going on and everyone started staring at me… :lol2: :lol2:

    1. Hi Tarry…hw ru ??? Hwz holi?? btwn in south ppl dont celebrate holi 🙁 ….we used to do it during school days…since i studied in a punjabi school :yahoo: :yahoo:

      1. Varshini………………in hyderabad holi is celebrated with so much craziness…..but I don’t celebrate holi myself

      2. Hi Varshini

        me fyne… Where in a punjabi school?

        Yeah! south mein holi no fun… my uncle stays in Hyderabad and we went thr for Holi once… it was such a boring holi… we ended up splashing colours only with family member…

  6. wow.. this sound more fun than actual spa :yahoo: :yahoo: … hav seen it here in GVK once but didnt kno at tht time wht it was :toothygrin: :toothygrin: … njoyed readng ur post Akshatha..nice name u hav :rose: :rose:

  7. OMG it actually got published?! This was my first post..thanks Rati di for publishing it on IMBB. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    @ Varshini, Tarry, Nids: Thank you soooo much. 🙂

    Nids, you absolutely have to try it out..can’t describe the feeling. Also, you get laughter therapy too. :toothygrin: :toothygrin:

    1. Rati….

      Akshatha got blue box …. waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh….

      I also want one….

      I agree with u on the laughter therapy thing Akshatha…

  8. sanjeeeeeeeevvvvvvvvv !! what conspiracy u did against all of us … why only some get bloo box and some of us dont get … me no likey :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:

  9. Wow….Akshatha……I wanna do the fish spa too……I feel very ticklish in my leg area….I don;t know why if anyone touches my neck or feet, I feel giggly piggly….same pinch tarry :wilt: :wilt: :wilt: :wilt: :wilt: :wilt: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

        1. yess varshini.. i’m frm hyd :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: .. but not a hyderabadi.. :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo:

      1. sacchi nids….i will get a fish spa when I go there…..can’t wait :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

  10. @ Jomol: Oh I am JUST like you! I start giggling even if someone says ‘I’ll tickle you’. :toothygrin: :toothygrin:
    Just close your eyes and put your feet in the fish tank. :silly:

      1. Gold fish…..good idea rati….I will then take the fish home after the spa and fry it in olive oil :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :plate: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

          1. Rati…………fish is non-gaseous….no acidity….no gas……….aap tho bas aloo ki sabji kaake :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart: :fart:

  11. I tried this at the same place! It was nice! But then i was wondering if it will cause any kinda infection! 🙁

  12. Thr was ths fish pedicure in a renowned parlour near my place and I always wanted to do that. One day when I went to the parlour for the fish pedicure they said they no longer have it for 2 reasons.. 1-fishes were dieing 😯 😯 😯 2-they banned ths pedicure [ dono who banned] :suspense: :suspense:

  13. I have been longing to try this since so long but i was always scared..what if the fishes bite me :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin: :toothygrin:
    May be now i’l give it a try

      1. You are scaring me now 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐 😐
        What if some of the fishes have teeth and they bite,nobody checks each and every fish :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:

            1. No Ritika….there doctor fish dont have teeth,….they jusst nibble the dead skin….I have done this twice…trust me it so much fun :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

          1. :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble:
            Me not going for any fish spa ever now :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick:

  14. I have done this pedicure twice at City Centre mall here…..I love the tingling feel….hehe
    I could just not control my laughter,….and then others who looked at me could not contrrol theirs :yelo: :yelo: :yelo: :yelo:
    then afterwards it felt nice….. :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

  15. Thank you for the kind words, girls. Glad you liked it. 🙂

    What’s this thing about a blue box? I’m new on IMBB..would somebody explain? 🙂

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