Music mogul Simon Cowell has made the extraordinary claim that he has managed to reverse the ageing process through an extreme blood filtering treatment that's becoming increasingly popular among Hollywood's elite.
The £10,000 Anti-Ageing Procedure
The 66-year-old America's Got Talent judge recently disclosed to The Sun that he visits a wellness clinic where medical professionals extract, rinse, filter and reintroduce his blood in a bid to maintain youthfulness. This controversial procedure, known as therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), has been gaining traction among celebrities willing to pay substantial sums for potential longevity benefits.
Cowell isn't alone in embracing this trend. Orlando Bloom, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman and Star Trek actor Paul Wesley have all publicly shared images of themselves undergoing similar treatments. The process typically costs between $10,000 to $12,700 per session, with patients encouraged to undergo the procedure twice annually, bringing the total yearly cost to approximately $20,000.
How The Blood Filtering Process Works
During the TPE procedure, patients are connected to a specialised machine that filters out approximately 75% of their blood plasma - roughly two of the 2.7 litres an average adult possesses. The removed plasma, which can contain inflammation-causing proteins, microplastics and 'forever chemicals', is replaced with albumin, the blood's most abundant protein that doesn't contain these potentially harmful substances.
The entire process takes between two to three hours, requiring patients to sit with IV lines in both arms. Medical practitioners claim the benefits become apparent in the days following treatment, potentially supporting longevity, immune function and cellular health.
Cowell attributes his remarkable transformation to a combination of factors, stating: 'You do all these tests, and they tell you your age, so I've actually aged backwards by eating better, more exercise, less stress and certain supplements. My brain is still there, I still have the energy.'
Scientific Scrutiny and Potential Risks
Despite celebrity endorsements, TPE's anti-ageing effects lack rigorous scientific backing. Some research even suggests the procedure might inadvertently increase microplastic levels in the bloodstream due to plastic components in the filtering equipment.
Microplastics and persistent chemicals typically enter the human body through ingestion or inhalation, accumulating in tissues and potentially causing inflammation, gut microbiome disruption and hormonal imbalances. Doctors warn these factors can accelerate ageing by promoting damaging cellular mutations.
In a particularly revealing aside, Cowell shared that he previously considered cryogenic preservation but abandoned the idea after discovering the process involves decapitation. 'I found out they chop your head off, so you come back in 2,000 years as a floating head,' he remarked.
As the pursuit of youth continues to drive innovation in wellness treatments, Cowell's experience highlights the extraordinary measures - and expenditures - some are willing to undertake in their quest to turn back time.
