From fish nibbling at the feet to snakes moving across a client’s back, some beauty and spa treatments are designed to be as startling as they are pampering. The ten unusual services below were reported by TIME in 2009, so they are historical examples—not confirmation that the spas still offer them or that the treatments deliver their advertised effects. Current medical evidence matters too: some modern procedures marketed as beauty treatments carry risks that regulators say deserve careful attention.
Ten extreme treatments reported by TIME
TIME published its “Top 10 Odd Spa Treatments” list on December 14, 2009. Its examples range from animal-based services and unusual baths to facials using unexpected ingredients. The descriptions below reflect that historical account; they should not be read as a current directory or proof of benefit. Read the TIME list.
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Bird-poo facial
The lead example in TIME’s feature was a facial using bird droppings. The unusual ingredient is the draw; the historical account does not establish that it improves skin.
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24-carat gold facial
TIME described a treatment that applied a sheet of liquid gold to the face. The gold was part of the experience, not evidence of a lasting cosmetic effect.
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Snake-venom facial
This facial was presented as a beauty service involving snake venom. A spa description is not the same as clinical evidence that a venom-based product safely or reliably changes skin.
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Placenta facial
The list included facials using placenta as an ingredient. The article’s inclusion of the service does not establish how it was sourced, what it contained, or whether it was effective.
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Fish pedicure and body treatment
In the account, Garra rufa fish nibbled dead skin. The treatment’s animal-based novelty should be weighed against infection concerns: a 2020 review of reported fish-pedicure infections concluded that the practice is not risk-free and should be discouraged by health workers. That conclusion does not mean every session causes infection. See the 2020 review indexed by PubMed.
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Caviar pedicure
Caviar appeared in the historical list as a pedicure ingredient. The account offers no clinical basis for treating it as a proven foot-care intervention.
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Hay bath
A hay bath was another spa experience on the list. Its place in a roundup of unusual services is not evidence of a medical or cosmetic benefit.
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Beer bath
The beer bath paired bathing with beer as the defining feature. TIME’s report records the novelty, not a verified skin outcome or present-day availability.
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Snake massage
TIME described nonvenomous snakes being placed on clients during a massage. That is a historical description of the service, not evidence that it is therapeutic or that a named venue still offers it.
Extreme does not mean equally risky
These services cannot be ranked on one simple scale. An animal-based novelty spa treatment, an unusual bath, and a procedure that punctures or heats skin are different kinds of exposure. The useful questions are what happens to the body, whether the skin barrier is affected, what evidence exists for the claimed result, and what a regulator or qualified professional says about the risks.
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Whole-body cryotherapy is not cryosurgery
Whole-body cryotherapy chambers are not the same procedure as dermatologist-performed cryosurgery. The American Academy of Dermatology says benefits promoted for whole-body cryotherapy remain unproven and reports injuries including frostbite, a frozen limb, and rashes. The AAD also says the FDA has not cleared or approved whole-body cryotherapy to treat any medical condition. Read the AAD’s cryotherapy guidance.
RF microneedling is a medical procedure
Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling uses needles and heat. In an October 15, 2025 safety communication, the FDA reported injuries associated with certain aesthetic uses, including burns, scarring, fat loss, disfigurement, and nerve damage. The agency states: “RF microneedling is a medical procedure, not a cosmetic treatment, and these devices should not be used at home.” Read the FDA’s RF microneedling safety communication.
Microneedling clearances have limits
The FDA says certain microneedling devices have been cleared for limited uses, including improving the appearance of certain acne scars, wrinkles, and abdominal scars in patients aged 22 and older. It has not authorized medical microneedling devices for over-the-counter sale. Risks can include skin damage, bleeding, bruising, pigment changes, and infection. The agency advises patients to discuss the procedure with a health care provider and follow the treating clinician’s aftercare instructions; treated skin can be more sun-sensitive. Read the FDA’s microneedling guidance.
Body contouring is not weight-loss treatment
The FDA says non-invasive body-contouring procedures do not treat obesity or produce weight loss, and that results may be temporary. These procedures still carry risks, so the agency recommends discussing them with a provider. Read the FDA’s body-contouring guidance.
Quick Recap
What to check before booking an unusual treatment
- Confirm the service exists now. The spa examples above come from a 2009 article; the continued operation of the named venues and their menus has not been established.
- Ask what the procedure involves. Find out whether it uses animals, punctures or heats skin, or involves another exposure that changes the risk profile.
- Separate claims from evidence. Ask what result is being promised and whether a regulator or relevant professional body supports that claim.
- For device-based or invasive procedures, check the provider’s qualifications. The FDA recommends discussing risks with a health care provider; do not attempt medical microneedling at home.
- Get aftercare instructions from the treating clinician. For microneedling, the FDA notes increased sun sensitivity after treatment; follow the clinician’s directions for sun protection and other care.
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