Simon Cowell says he's ‘aging backwards’ thanks to controversial blood-rinsing procedure
Simon Cowell is opening up about the unconventional wellness procedure that he claims is helping him age backwards — one that "rinses" and "filters" his blood before returning it to his body.
Although the music mogul, 66, didn’t specify which particular procedure he undergoes, the description is similar to apheresis, which is a medical procedure that draws blood from the body, spins it to separate and remove certain elements, then returns it to the body, according to Cleveland Clinic.
"I go to this place, this wellness clinic, where they actually take your blood, they rinse it, they filter it and then they put it back into your body," Cowell, 66, told The Sun in the interview. "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."
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The "X Factor" judge has previously shared other procedures he has undergone, including filler and Botox, but stated in 2022 that he "might have gone a bit too far" and has since stopped getting filler.
"For me now, a lot of it comes down to healthy eating and drinking tons of water," he told The Sun at the time.
EBOO — which stands for extracorporeal blood oxygenation and ozonation — is an alternative wellness treatment in which a person’s blood is circulated outside the body, exposed to medical-grade ozone and oxygen, run through a filter and then returned to the bloodstream, according to clinics that offer the service.
While older forms of ozone therapy have been used to treat autoimmune conditions, the newer EBOO method has been touted for potential anti-aging benefits — although experts warn that evidence of its effectiveness is lacking.
Ralph Montague, longevity expert from The Longevity Clinic in London, shared with Fox News Digital why this procedure is gaining attention as a potential longevity-booster.
"Celebrities have turned to EBOO, which filters the blood using advanced technology, helping them to age backwards," he said. "For many people, it’s not about adding a few years to their life — it's about living healthier and better."
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Montague claimed that EBOO has been shown to increase energy and boost the immune system while improving mood and sleep.
"Many people who do this also describe the improvements in mental clarity, mood stability and general well-being," he added.
Montague noted that the EBOO treatment is not for everyone.
"Those who have blood-clotting or bleeding disorders are typically advised to stay away from this medical method, as there's a potential that it could increase the risk of clotting happening," he warned.
Ozone therapy can also create oxidative stress, which may lead to the breaking down of red blood cells, according to Montague.
People with G6PD deficiency — a hereditary enzyme deficiency that makes red blood cells more fragile and more easily damaged — are especially vulnerable to this, so they should avoid treatments like ozone therapy, he said.
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"Those with heart problems are also advised to get advice from a doctor beforehand, particularly those who have had a recent heart attack or been diagnosed with severe heart failure, as this treatment can shift blood pressure levels," Montague noted.
"There's also insufficient evidence that this is fine to do for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and it's better to be safe than sorry if you're in that category."
The treatment should only be performed in medical environments after getting consent from a doctor.
The Food and Drug Administration only approves apheresis (blood filtering) devices for specific medical indications, such as autoimmune disorders, certain blood cancers and plasma exchange for specific diseases.
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They are not approved for anti-aging, detox, microplastics removal or wellness purposes.
"The device is not FDA-approved for the treatment of any disease or condition," the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Medical experts widely caution that ozone-based blood cleansing procedures remain unregulated, unproven and potentially unsafe.
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, warns against these procedures, calling them "dangerous."
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"The process could hemolyze red blood cells, leading to organ damage, blood clots and other issues," he told Fox News Digital.
"I’m also concerned about metabolic derangements (abnormalities or disruptions) that could occur, including high potassium."
Siegel said he believes these treatments are "ineffective" and don’t have any effect on the pace of aging, noting that the liver and kidneys are designed to naturally filter waste.
Other doctors are proponents of the technique, including Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity expert. At Osborn’s longevity practice, Senolytix, he offers "therapeutic apheresis," which separates and filters blood plasma while returning the red blood cells to the patient.
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"It’s essentially a ‘reset’ for the bloodstream, removing inflammatory proteins, antibodies and other harmful factors," he told Fox News Digital.
Some potential benefits include lower blood pressure, reduced iron load (a powerful oxidant believed to accelerate the aging process) and reduced inflammatory cytokines, according to the doctor.
Osborn agreed that this practice should be performed by physicians to ensure safety.
"The main risk is mild — transient hypotension from a so-called ‘citrate reaction’ — which we monitor for and treat immediately," he said. "Otherwise, modern apheresis is a well-established medical procedure used to treat autoimmune, neurological and metabolic diseases."
While the procedure can remove inflammatory cells that drive aging and chronic disease, Osborn said it’s not a "magic bullet" — and not a replacement for personal responsibility.
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"Nutrition, strength training, sleep and stress mitigation remain the foundation of longevity," he said. "But in a world where Americans increasingly seek proactive, preventive care, plasma filtering represents a modern refinement of an ancient medical instinct."
Fox News Digital reached out to Simon Cowell's representatives for comment.
