Rich People Spend Thousands to Clean Their Blood to Stay Young—Does It Work?
In a time when youth and longevity are sought, wealthy people are interested in therapeutic plasma exchange, sometimes known as “blood cleaning.” This therapy, traditionally reserved for major medical disorders, is now being promoted to improve health, reduce inflammation, and slow aging.
One of the first medical centers in New Jersey to offer plasma exchange for lifespan is Aesura Health at The Shops at Riverside in Hackensack. This luxurious treatment costs $8,000 a session, with discounts for multiple sessions. Despite the hoopla, the procedure’s anti-aging advantages are unproven, and scientists advise more research before claiming to reverse aging.
What’s Plasma Exchange?
Traditionally, therapeutic plasma exchange treats autoimmune and inflammatory illnesses. The patient’s blood is centrifuged to separate plasma and red blood cells during treatment. A fluid solution, usually albumin, saline, or specific electrolytes, replaces plasma, which may include hazardous chemicals or aberrant antibodies.
Some clinics use plasma from younger donors, whereas Aesura Health uses a replacement solution to restore blood. Patients can also retain plasma for future joint pain, hair thinning, or chronic discomfort therapies.
Science Behind Longevity Claims
Scientific evidence is lacking on “cleaning” blood to stay young. Plasma exchange may enhance biological age markers, although researchers warn that these findings are premature. Microplastic removal and lifetime extension claims are hypothetical and have not been validated in clinical research.
Medical professionals also warn about risks. Low blood pressure, body temperature, and uncommon infections may occur. This is why these treatments must be done under physician supervision.
The Rise of Longevity Medicine
Therapeutic plasma exchange is part of biohacking, a trend in which people use modern medical techniques to improve their health and possibly lengthen life. Public personalities including entrepreneurs and celebrities have tried the surgery. Some inject themselves with plasma from younger people to rejuvenate their cells, while others pay tens of thousands of dollars every session at wellness centers.
Costs aside, the appeal is evident. Many clients want to slow aging in a safe, therapeutic setting. Dr. Jijoe Joseph and Dr. Nancy Nguyen, co-founders of Aesura Health, highlight that they want to offer physician-supervised longevity care to people seeking advanced medical choices, not wellness hacks.
Healthcare Professionals Are Wary
Plasma exchange is only medically established for multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and kidney transplant problems, say experts. Off-label use as an anti-aging or preventative medication is lawful but unproven.
“People need to understand that while some early results are promising, it’s experimental for longevity,” said Rutgers New Jersey Medical School hematologist and oncologist Dr. Ankit Shah. “Patients should weigh benefits against risks and costs.”
What Patients Can Expect
One plasma exchange can take three hours. Monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels ensures patient safety during the surgery. Most people tolerate it well and can resume normal activities, but those with heart or blood pressure concerns should avoid it.
Co-founders Joseph and Nguyen report a rise in clients requesting weekly sessions, although they still screen out unsuitable individuals. “It’s not about money; we are physicians first,” Joseph said. “Our goal is to offer a legitimate medical option for longevity while educating the public about its limitations.”
The Verdict
Therapeutic plasma exchange may slow aging, although its efficacy is unknown. It is expensive and time-consuming, and while early studies reveal hopeful indications, doctors warn that it is not a definite path to a longer life. For now, anyone interested in “blood cleaning” must weigh the risks and advantages against the hype. Science has not caught up.
One thing is evident as longevity medicine evolves: wealthy people want to slow aging and are willing to invest handsomely in cutting-edge operations. Plasma exchange remains a youth-promoting medical experiment till additional proof arises.
