Joe Rogan Tries Plasmapheresis at Austin Longevity Clinic — What Is It, and Should You Consider It?

On March 27, 2026, Joe Rogan posted a photo on Instagram clutching three bags of bright orange liquid and sporting a massive grin. The caption? “Went down to @Ways2Well and did plasmapheresis. This is the stuff they pulled out of my blood.”¹

Within hours, the post went viral. Comments ranged from “I thought you discovered the world’s best orange juice” to “Isn’t this what your liver and kidneys do for free?” Ben Greenfield jumped into the conversation on X, noting that most commenters were confusing dialysis, plasmapheresis, plasma exchange, and “young blood” treatments: “These are NOT the same thing. Not even close.”

But Rogan was serious. He described plasmapheresis as “changing the oil in your body” — a medical procedure that filters out inflammatory proteins, toxins, and byproducts from your blood plasma and replaces it with clean fluid.

His rationale? Friends who’d tried it reported better sleep scores and markedly improved recovery. He wanted to see if it would do the same for him.

The kicker: A single session at Ways2Well in Austin, Texas, costs an estimated $10,000+ and takes up to 120 minutes.²

So what exactly is plasmapheresis? Why is it moving from hospital ICUs into high-end longevity clinics? And does the science support using it for anti-aging?

Here’s the full breakdown.

What Is Plasmapheresis?

Plasmapheresis (also called therapeutic plasma exchange or TPE) is a medical procedure that removes blood from your body, separates the plasma (the liquid component) from blood cells, discards or processes the plasma, and returns the blood cells along with replacement fluid (either donor plasma, albumin, or saline).³

How it works:

Blood withdrawal — Blood is drawn from a vein, typically in your arm
Plasma separation — The blood passes through a centrifuge or membrane filter that separates plasma (which contains proteins, antibodies, toxins, inflammatory factors) from red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
Plasma removal — The separated plasma is discarded or selectively filtered
Replacement — Clean blood cells are returned to your body along with replacement fluid (donor plasma, albumin, or saline)
Return — The reconstituted blood flows back into your bloodstream

A typical session takes 90-120 minutes and filters approximately 3-4 liters of plasma (roughly one full plasma volume).

What gets removed:

Inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β)
Autoantibodies (in autoimmune diseases)
Immune complexes
Metabolic waste products
Toxins and byproducts

What stays:

Red blood cells (oxygen carriers)
White blood cells (immune cells)
Platelets (clotting factors)

As Rogan put it:

“That yellow/orange liquid is plasma — it carries a lot of the inflammatory proteins, toxins, and byproducts that build up over time. They separate it out, remove what they don’t want, and replace it so your system can function cleaner.”¹

FDA-Approved Uses: Plasmapheresis in Conventional Medicine

Plasmapheresis is FDA-approved and medically validated for dozens of conditions where harmful substances in the blood drive disease progression.

The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) categorizes indications into four groups:³

Category 1 (First-Line Treatment):

Guillain-Barré syndrome — Acute autoimmune nerve damage
Myasthenia gravis — Autoimmune disorder causing muscle weakness
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) — Life-threatening blood clotting disorder
Anti-GBM disease (Goodpasture syndrome) — Autoimmune kidney and lung disease
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Hyperviscosity in monoclonal gammopathies — Blood too thick due to excess antibodies
Kidney transplant desensitization — Removing donor-incompatible antibodies

Category 2 (Second-Line Treatment):

Systemic lupus erythematosus (severe)
Multiple sclerosis (acute relapse)
Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome
Cryoglobulinemia
Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome

Category 3 (Individualized, Weak Evidence):

Acute liver failure
Hemolytic uremic syndrome
HELLP syndrome (postpartum)
Henoch-Schönlein purpura
Sepsis with multiorgan failure

Category 4 (Not Recommended):

Lupus nephritis
Dermatomyositis/polymyositis

Key takeaway: Plasmapheresis is a proven, life-saving intervention for autoimmune and hematologic diseases. It’s not FDA-approved for general anti-aging or wellness use.

Plasmapheresis for Longevity: The Evidence

So why are longevity clinics like Ways2Well offering plasmapheresis to healthy people seeking to “optimize” their biology?

The rationale comes from animal studies and early-stage human trials suggesting that removing aged or dysfunctional plasma factors can rejuvenate tissues and slow biological aging.

The Animal Data: Young Blood, Old Blood

Several preclinical studies have shown that blood composition changes with age — and that manipulating it can reverse age-related decline:

Heterochronic parabiosis (2005): When old mice were surgically joined to young mice (sharing circulation), the old mice showed improved muscle regeneration, liver function, and neurogenesis. The young mice showed accelerated aging.⁴
Young plasma infusions (2014): Injecting old mice with plasma from young mice improved cognitive function, neurogenesis, and muscle repair.⁵
Dilution studies (2020): Simply diluting old mouse plasma with saline + albumin (no young blood required) was sufficient to rejuvenate liver, muscle, brain, and blood cells. This suggested that removing pro-aging factors matters more than adding youthful factors.⁶

Conclusion: The aging plasma environment contains circulating factors that suppress regeneration and drive dysfunction. Removing or diluting them can restore youthful function — at least in mice.

The Human Data: Biological Age Reversal?

In 2025, researchers published the first controlled human trial of plasmapheresis for anti-aging.⁷⁸

Study design:

18 healthy participants aged 40-74
Intervention: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) + intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) replacement
Frequency: Multiple rounds over several weeks
Outcomes measured: Epigenetic age (DNA methylation clocks), proteomics, metabolomics

Results:

Biological age reduced by 2.6 years on average (GrimAge clock)
Proteomic shift: Global change toward a younger systemic proteome, including restored pro-regenerative and anti-cancer proteins
Inflammatory markers decreased: Reduction in age-associated inflammatory cytokines
Safety: No serious adverse events

Lead researcher commentary (Buck Institute):

“This is one of the first trials examining plasma exchange for anti-aging in humans, offering early evidence that it may be able to slow the biological breakdown that comes with age, even in otherwise healthy people.”⁷

Important caveats:

Small sample size (18 participants)
No long-term follow-up (unknown durability of effects)
Expensive intervention (estimated $10k-$20k per round)
Unclear whether benefits translate to functional outcomes (strength, cognition, lifespan)

Another 2025 study (PMC): A separate trial found that plasmapheresis reduced DNA methylation age and shifted biomarkers toward a younger profile, though the magnitude varied by individual.⁹

What We Don’t Know Yet:

Optimal frequency: How often do you need to undergo plasmapheresis to maintain benefits? Monthly? Quarterly? Annually?
Long-term safety: Are there risks from repeated plasma removal over years?
Mechanism: Is it removal of pro-aging factors, or replacement with fresh albumin/immunoglobulins?
Durability: Do the benefits last, or do they fade within weeks/months?
Functional outcomes: Does biological age reversal improve cognition, strength, disease risk, or lifespan?

Bottom line: The early human data is promising but preliminary. Plasmapheresis appears to reduce biological age markers in the short term, but we don’t yet know if this translates to meaningful health or longevity gains.

What Longevity Clinics Are Offering (and What It Costs)

Several high-end longevity clinics now offer plasmapheresis as part of their “human optimization” programs.

Ways2Well (Austin, Texas)

What Joe Rogan tried
Located in Austin’s “Longevity Lab”
Claims to offer “end-to-end care built for human optimization pioneers”¹
Service: Plasmapheresis + advanced diagnostics, physician-guided treatment plans
Duration: Up to 120 minutes per session
Cost: Estimated $10,000+ per session²
Approach: Removes inflammatory plasma, replaces with albumin or donor plasma
Target audience: Biohackers, athletes, executives seeking recovery and performance optimization

Ways2Well describes plasmapheresis as:

“A medical procedure that removes and replaces plasma while returning your blood cells to circulation… The goal is to reduce certain substances in the plasma that may be contributing to disease or severe symptoms.”¹

Other Longevity Clinics Offering Plasmapheresis:

While Ways2Well gained visibility via Rogan’s post, other clinics are exploring plasma exchange protocols:

Fountain Life (Naples/NYC/Dallas) — Known for advanced diagnostics and regenerative therapies
Next Health (Los Angeles, New York) — Offers IV therapies and blood optimization
Progevita (Valencia, Spain) — One of the most treatment-dense European clinics, with regenerative and biohacking modalities
Clinique La Prairie (Montreux, Switzerland) — Comprehensive longevity programs in an ultra-luxury residential setting (typically $15k-$30k per round)

For a full comparison of clinics by treatment availability, see our interactive directory or use the comparison tool.

Cost range: $8,000 - $30,000 per session, depending on clinic, replacement fluid (albumin vs donor plasma), and add-on diagnostics.

Typical protocol:

Baseline labs: Complete blood count, inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6), liver/kidney function
Pre-procedure assessment: Review medical history, contraindications
Session: 90-120 minutes, IV access in both arms
Replacement fluid: Albumin (most common) or donor plasma
Post-procedure monitoring: Vitals, electrolytes, hydration
Follow-up labs: 4-12 weeks post-procedure to track biomarker changes

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Consider Plasmapheresis

You Might Be a Candidate If:

You have an autoimmune disease where plasmapheresis is FDA-approved (Guillain-Barré, myasthenia gravis, lupus, etc.) — in which case, your insurance may cover it
You’re a high-net-worth individual willing to invest $10k+ in experimental longevity interventions
You have elevated inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, fibrinogen) that haven’t responded to lifestyle interventions
You’re already optimizing the basics (sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress management) and seeking advanced interventions
You understand this is experimental and not FDA-approved for anti-aging

You Should NOT Consider It If:

You have bleeding disorders or are on anticoagulants (warfarin, heparin, etc.)
You have hypotension or hemodynamic instability
You have severe cardiovascular disease or recent heart attack/stroke
You are pregnant (contraindicated)
You expect miraculous anti-aging results based on one session
You haven’t optimized foundational health behaviors (sleep, diet, exercise)

As Joe Rogan himself noted:

“It seems very weird when you do it, but the people that I know who have tried this have experienced better sleep scores and markedly better recovery. We’ll see…”¹

Translation: Anecdotal reports are promising, but this is still unproven for longevity.

Safety Considerations and Risks

While plasmapheresis is safe when performed in medical settings, it’s not risk-free:

Common side effects:

Hypotension (low blood pressure) — due to fluid shifts
Hypocalcemia (low calcium) — citrate used to prevent clotting binds calcium
Paresthesias (tingling) — due to calcium shifts
Nausea, lightheadedness, fatigue
Allergic reactions — to replacement fluids (rare)

Serious complications (rare):

Hemorrhage — if clotting factors are depleted
Infection — from IV access
Thromboembolism — blood clots
Electrolyte imbalances — hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia
Fluid overload or depletion

Long-term concerns:

Immune suppression? — Removing immunoglobulins repeatedly may weaken immune function
Nutrient depletion? — Albumin and binding proteins carry vitamins and hormones
Unknown cumulative effects — no long-term safety data for repeated wellness use

Recommendation: Only undergo plasmapheresis under physician supervision with baseline labs, contraindication screening, and post-procedure monitoring.

Alternatives to Plasmapheresis: Cheaper, Evidence-Based Longevity Interventions

Before dropping $10k+ on plasma exchange, consider these interventions with stronger evidence bases:

1. Optimize Inflammation Through Lifestyle

Mediterranean diet — Reduces CRP, IL-6, oxidative stress (free, proven)
Exercise — 150 min/week reduces systemic inflammation¹⁰
Sleep optimization — 7-9 hours/night regulates inflammatory cytokines
Stress management — Meditation, breathwork lower cortisol and inflammation

2. Senolytics

Dasatinib + quercetin (D+Q) — Reduces senescent cells and SASP factors (see our senolytics deep dive)
Cost: $500-$2,000 per round at longevity clinics
Evidence: Human trials show reduction in inflammatory markers, promising for healthspan

3. NAD+ Precursors

NMN, NR — Boost cellular energy, DNA repair, mitochondrial function
Cost: $50-$150/month (supplements) or $500-$1,500 (IV NAD+ at clinics)
Evidence: Human trials show improved metabolic markers (see our NAD+ review)

4. Rapamycin (Off-Label)

mTOR inhibitor — Proven lifespan extension in animals, ongoing human trials
Cost: $50-$200/month (prescription required)
Evidence: Strong preclinical data, early human trials promising

5. Stem Cell Therapy

MSCs, exosomes — Regenerative capacity, anti-inflammatory effects
Cost: $5,000-$50,000 depending on protocol and location
Evidence: See our best stem cell therapy clinics guide

Cost comparison:

Plasmapheresis: $10,000+ per session
D+Q senolytics: $500-$2,000 per round
NAD+ IV: $500-$1,500 per infusion
Rapamycin: $50-$200/month
Mediterranean diet + exercise: Free

The Bottom Line: Should You Try Plasmapheresis?

The case FOR plasmapheresis:

FDA-approved and safe when performed in medical settings
Early human trials show biological age reduction (2.6 years on DNA methylation clocks)
Animal data strongly support dilution of pro-aging plasma factors
May reduce systemic inflammation and restore proteomic balance
Anecdotal reports (including Joe Rogan’s) suggest improved recovery and sleep

The case AGAINST plasmapheresis:

No FDA approval for anti-aging or wellness use
Extremely expensive ($10k+ per session)
Limited human data — only one small trial (18 participants)
Unknown durability — effects may fade within weeks/months
Risks — hypotension, electrolyte imbalances, infection, immune suppression
Unproven functional outcomes — we don’t know if it improves cognition, strength, disease risk, or lifespan

Who should consider it:

High-net-worth individuals willing to invest in experimental longevity interventions
People with elevated inflammatory markers unresponsive to lifestyle changes
Those already optimizing foundational health behaviors (sleep, nutrition, exercise)
Patients with FDA-approved indications (autoimmune diseases)

Who should skip it:

Anyone expecting miraculous anti-aging results from one session
People who haven’t optimized diet, sleep, exercise, stress management
Those with bleeding disorders, cardiovascular disease, or other contraindications
Anyone not prepared to spend $10k+ on an experimental procedure

Joe Rogan’s approach: Try it, track outcomes, report back. He’s treating it as an n=1 experiment — which is appropriate given the limited data.

Our take: Plasmapheresis is one of the most scientifically intriguing interventions in longevity medicine. The animal data are compelling, the early human trial is promising, and the mechanism makes sense. But it’s expensive, experimental, and unproven for extending healthspan or lifespan in humans.

If you’re interested, find a reputable longevity clinic with physician oversight, baseline labs, and proper monitoring. But don’t expect it to replace the fundamentals: sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress management remain the most powerful longevity interventions — and they’re free.

As Rogan put it:

“Crazy experience. Super curious where this kind of tech is headed.”¹

So are we.

FAQ: Plasmapheresis and Longevity Clinics

Is plasmapheresis FDA-approved for anti-aging?

No. Plasmapheresis is FDA-approved for dozens of autoimmune and hematologic diseases (Guillain-Barré, myasthenia gravis, TTP, etc.), but not for general anti-aging or wellness use. Longevity clinics offering it for “optimization” are doing so off-label.

How much does plasmapheresis cost at a longevity clinic?

$8,000 - $30,000 per session, depending on the clinic, replacement fluid (albumin vs donor plasma), and add-on diagnostics. Ways2Well in Austin charges an estimated $10,000+ per session.²

Does plasmapheresis reverse aging?

One small human trial (18 participants) found that therapeutic plasma exchange reduced biological age by 2.6 years on DNA methylation clocks and shifted the proteome toward a younger profile.⁷ However, long-term effects, durability, and functional outcomes remain unknown.

Is plasmapheresis safe?

When performed in medical settings with physician supervision, plasmapheresis is generally safe. Common side effects include hypotension, low calcium, tingling, nausea, and fatigue. Serious complications (bleeding, infection, electrolyte imbalances) are rare but possible. Contraindicated in bleeding disorders, severe cardiovascular disease, and pregnancy.

How often do you need to undergo plasmapheresis?

Unknown. The 2025 trial used multiple rounds over several weeks. Longevity clinics typically suggest quarterly or biannual sessions, but optimal frequency is not established.

What’s the difference between plasmapheresis and young blood transfusions?

Plasmapheresis removes your aged plasma and replaces it with albumin, saline, or donor plasma (typically not from young donors). Young blood transfusions (popularized by Ambrosia and others) involve infusing plasma from young donors. The latter is controversial and lacks FDA approval. Plasmapheresis for longevity focuses on diluting pro-aging factors rather than adding youthful factors.

Which longevity clinics offer plasmapheresis?

Ways2Well (Austin, Texas) — Where Joe Rogan underwent the procedure
Fountain Life (multiple U.S. locations)
Next Health (Los Angeles, New York)
Swiss and European longevity clinics (select locations)

See our Best Longevity Clinics 2026 Guide for clinic comparisons.

Can I get plasmapheresis covered by insurance?

Yes — if you have an FDA-approved medical indication (Guillain-Barré syndrome, myasthenia gravis, TTP, lupus, etc.). For wellness/anti-aging use, insurance will not cover it.

What does Joe Rogan say about his plasmapheresis experience?

Rogan described it as “changing the oil in your body” and noted that friends who’d tried it reported better sleep scores and improved recovery. He’s waiting to see if he experiences similar benefits.¹

LADbible (2026). “Joe Rogan shares bizarre image as he reveals what has been ‘pulled out of his blood.’” Link ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷
Marca (2026). “The radical $10,000 method Joe Rogan uses in pursuit of eternal youth.” Link ↩ ↩² ↩³
NCBI StatPearls (2023). “Plasmapheresis.” Link ↩ ↩²
Conboy IM, et al. (2005). “Rejuvenation of aged progenitor cells by exposure to a young systemic environment.” Nature, 433(7027):760-4. PubMed ↩
Villeda SA, et al. (2014). “Young blood reverses age-related impairments in cognitive function and synaptic plasticity in mice.” Nature Medicine, 20(6):659-63. PubMed ↩
Mehdipour M, et al. (2020). “Rejuvenation of three germ layers tissues by exchanging old blood plasma with saline-albumin.” Aging, 12(10):8790-8819. PubMed ↩
Buck Institute (2025). “Clinical Trial and Multi-omics Analysis Demonstrates the Impact of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange on Biological Age.” Link ↩ ↩² ↩³
New York Times (2025). “Can This Trendy Anti-Aging Treatment Really Help You Live Longer?” Link ↩
PMC (2025). “Human clinical trial of plasmapheresis effects on biomarkers of aging (efficacy and safety trial).” Link ↩
Petersen AMW, Pedersen BK (2005). “The anti-inflammatory effect of exercise.” Journal of Applied Physiology, 98(4):1154-62. PubMed ↩