Kenko Reflexology & Fish Spa is a relatively new concept spa and reflexology center offering the unique doctor fish treatment for your feet. Doctor fish spas have sprung into popularity last year and a lot of people have been to Kenko Fish Spa, which has outlets throughout the Klang Valley.
I went to the Kenko Fish Spa in Pavilion, KL to experience the doctor fish spa. It costs RM 38 per person for a 30 minute session inside the doctor fish spa pool. I’ve been keen to check out the doctor fish ever since I’ve read about it on several blogs – it sounds interesting.
You are given a tag to clock in the Kenko Fish Spa area, and an attendant will direct you to the pre-treatment area. The tag initiates the start of your timing block, and allows you access to the general doctor fish spa pool. There are also private rooms if you’re more inclined to enjoy the fish treatment in seclusion.
Kenko Reflexology & Fish Spa starts the doctor fish spa session by requesting users to wash their feet first. This is not just for hygiene purposes – chemicals from body lotion and creams can contaminate the pool water and probably cause the doctor fish to float belly up. Body lotion is not exactly sauce to complement the dead flesh the fish eats from your feet. 😉
The fish spa at Kenko in Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur features a central pool with larger species of the doctor fish and a trench bordering the perimeter with smaller versions of the Garra rufa and Cyprinion macrostomus.
I went into the central pool first and the doctor fish swarmed around my feet and started nibbling away at the dead flesh. It felt a little ticklish at first, but after a while, the sensation is actually quite pleasant.
My girlfriend however, nearly screamed when she put her feet inside and quickly jumped out. The attendant kindly told her that the trench surrounding the area has smaller versions of the doctor fish and would probably be suited for the more squeamish ones amongst us.
I joined her at the trench area after feeding the bigger doctor fish in the central pool. I figured it would work better to let the larger doctor fish feast on the larger and hardened chunks of dead flesh on my feet before letting the smaller ones take care of the rest.
The interesting thing about the doctor fish is that it not only feasts on the dead skin and flesh on your feet, but also on your legs. There are signs that warn against putting your hand inside the water, but I did just that and the doctor fish swarmed around it too and started nibbling away at the dead skin. 🙂
Kenko Reflexology & Fish Spa @ Pavilion, KL offers a nice view of the city from the glass panel windows while the doctor fish takes care of the dead skin and flesh from your feet. It’s very relaxing and my feet was noticeably smoother after the treatment.
Due to the popularity of the doctor fish spas, even Sibu has started its very own treatment center…in an inflatable pool right in the middle of a shopping mall. Instead of luxurious wood paneling, you get plastic chairs to sit on.
It’s called “Love Bite Fish Spa Happy Feet” and some enterprising soul charges RM 15 for a 30-minute session inside the stagnant inflatable pool containing a handful of doctor fish. I don’t know about you, but I’m not exactly falling over myself to sit down on a plastic chair and put my feet in an inflatable pool in the middle of the mall.
Give me Kenko Reflexology & Fish Spa any day. 😉
eee~~~
so geli~
I feel very geli too. But will definitely give it a try if I have the chance.
singapore has banned it, right?? lolz..
sibu wan use ‘kon buey hu’ from the longkang wan! tee hee
ahaha must try if i drop by KL
Chewah, double layer chairs so that you can get your knees over the pool hehe.
I’ve been wanting to do that forever! Imagine taking a full bath with the fishes!
Not sure it really clean and to health standard.
Many places else where manicure and pedicure are causing people skin problems. Health Dept are after shops to be of clean standard.
Be careful of spas. How often they change the water? Micro organnism and bacterias in water can cause infestions. Some cases rashs and boils on legs and feets. So many people dipping their feets in it Boy better be safe about it.
Did they pass Health Dept? It may seem like fun but are they sure it clean?
Infections can be pretty bad. Thanks for warning bloggers. It good to be concern for all. San Francisco had it bad from shops all over too. Women suffer rashes and boils on legs and saw it on TV.
Dude, you please be careful. Do they have Health Dept OK?
How interesting but no way I’m going to put my feet into those water and let the fish nibble me. To get rid of dead skin, we can always exfoliate. I’ve heard horror stories about getting an infection! Does the inflatable fish spa pool in the sibu mall provides a place for you to wash your legs before dipping in? If not, eeewww!
have heard so much about it but i have no balls to try =/ traumatized after snorkeling in krabi and being nibbled in the butt!
Huai Bin, both troubled and incredibly creative…ur the van Gogh of blogging.
Glad all bloggers informing each other. Nail fungus cause by wearing sculpture nails too long and as for fishes spas the water can be change once a day for fishes so no matter so many people using it is very unhealthy.
Who know how long fishes live in water? Bacterias grow in water and from fishes which carry in them too. In Taiwan many spas being investigated from reports of nail fungus and skin disorders problem.
Fishes wastes in water every time they feed make water contaminated. Not good ideal at all. Bet they don’t change water till end of day.
Better check or do follow up to see it meet health ordinance.
butterscotch: It’s not that bad once you get used to it. Quite fun, actually. 🙂
Choonie: Yeah, I’ve been wanting to try it ever since I saw the feature. Sounds like an interesting concept. The MidValley one serves drinks and stuff but the Pavilion one doesn’t.
ch: I don’t know. Why would it be banned? Fish drank too much Chinese milk? 😉
wuching: Yeah, I thought it was so unhygienic. It totally put me off. Inflatable tub without a change of water and just a couple of fishes. That’s why I waited until going to KL to check out Kenko.
Darren: You should, it’s fun! There’s three outlets in KL, if I’m not mistaken.
Tan Yee Hou: Yalor. In the middle of the mall with no towels or place to wash your feet somemore. I didn’t want to do it, and I’ve been known to do all sorts of stuff. 😉
jessy: Hmm…there are piranhas in Brazil right? Must get the species right, or it’ll not be fun at all. 😉
Sally: Kenko is pretty reputable with high hygiene standards so I think it’s pretty much okay.
Justin: I’m pretty sure they got all the licenses (Kenko, I mean, not the Sibu one). 🙂
Michale (Mike): Rashes from the doctor fish? It should be relatively safe.
eiling: No, the Sibu one is pretty much a fly-by-night operation. 🙂
I didn’t dare to try it due to hygiene concerns, and I’ve been known to pull all sorts of crazy stunts. 😉
xin: Well, be careful not to insert anything beyond your upper thighs at Kenko and it shall be fine. 😉
Ara: Thanks for the kind comments. Troubled eh? Hmm…doesn’t even scratch the surface of the issues I have. 😉
Vickie: The filtration system at Kenko is pretty good and the fish are replaced often – I saw it replaced once through a side opening during my half hour there. It’s clean, with towels and a place for washing your feet.
Tina: I think they do. Kenko, I can put my trust in. The Sibu inflatable pool, I can’t. 🙂
Nok: The smooth skin after the doctor fish spa makes it all worth it. 🙂
Going to sleep now. Promise I’ll reply the rest of the comments tomorrow. Very busy these days from work and a soon-to-be-announced decision. 😉
Hi M from sandakan sabah. M interested to run a fish spa. I wish someone can deal with me this matter. thank you