Simon Cowell's Extreme Anti-Ageing Regimen
Music mogul Simon Cowell has disclosed the extraordinary measures he takes in his quest to maintain a youthful appearance, admitting to undergoing a procedure where his blood is literally washed, rinsed, and filtered before being returned to his body. The 66-year-old television personality detailed this unconventional process during a recent appearance on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast.
Cowell explained that he visits a specialised wellness clinic where the treatment, known in extreme wellness circles as 'blood cleaning,' is performed. 'I go to this wellness clinic where they actually take your blood, they rinse it, they filter it, they put it back into your body,' he stated. The former X Factor judge, a father to 11-year-old Eric, credits this regimen, alongside a better diet, more exercise, and reduced stress, for helping him age in reverse.
The Science and Cost of 'Blood Washing'
This burgeoning trend, which has also been adopted by celebrities like Orlando Bloom, promises to purge the body of metals, chemicals, and microplastics from the bloodstream. The procedure, called apheresis, is similar to dialysis and is far from a simple pampering session.
It involves a multi-hour process where two large needles are used to extract blood from a patient's arm. While it has been a established medical practice for decades to treat serious diseases, it is now gaining traction as a luxury wellness treatment for those who can afford the staggering price tag, which hovers around £10,000 per session. Scientists, however, have repeatedly highlighted the significant lack of evidence supporting its efficacy for anti-ageing or general wellness purposes.
Cryopreservation and Reflections on Legacy
Cowell's fascination with longevity doesn't end with blood washing. He revealed that he once gave serious consideration to human cryopreservation – the practice of freezing a body after death in the hope of future revival. 'I actually was gonna freeze myself once because I thought why not?' he quipped. He abandoned the idea after forming the amusing conclusion that 'you basically come back in 2,000 years as a floating head.'
This process, which is reported to have been chosen by approximately 600 people globally, involves preserving bodies in liquid nitrogen at temperatures below -130°C. Thousands more are said to be on a waiting list for the procedure upon their death.
The conversation also turned to legacy and loss. Cowell reflected on the untimely death of One Direction star Liam Payne in October 2024. Payne, who died after a fall from his Buenos Aires hotel balcony while under the influence of drugs, was just a teenager when Cowell helped form his band on The X Factor in 2010.
Addressing those who have sought to blame him for the tragedy, given the long-standing controversies surrounding the treatment of young reality TV contestants, Cowell was resolute. 'I don't read any of this stuff because if I did, you would just torture yourself,' he said. 'The idea that you are essentially responsible for somebody's life, 10 years after you've signed someone? You can't do that.'
He reiterated the heartfelt statement he posted at the time of Payne's passing, remembering the singer as kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, and focused. Cowell concluded by stating his desire to be remembered as a hard worker who was consistently nice to everyone he met, both on and off camera.
