Quick Facts

• Joe Rogan underwent plasmapheresis, a blood filtering procedure that costs around $10,000 and takes up to 120 minutes
• Medical experts warn the treatment has serious side effects and no proven anti-aging benefits for healthy people
• The procedure removes antibodies and suppresses the immune system for months afterward

Joe Rogan recently shared his experience with plasmapheresis on Instagram, describing the blood filtering procedure to his 20 million followers as “changing the oil in your body.”

The 58-year-old UFC commentator and podcast host underwent the treatment at Ways2Well, a wellness clinic in Austin, Texas. The procedure draws blood from the body, separates and filters the plasma, then returns it after removing what the clinic calls harmful components.

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

The procedure costs thousands of dollars at the Austin clinic and around $10,000 at regular medical facilities nationwide.

Medical Experts Sound Alarm

Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, a toxicologist at MedStar Health, warns against the treatment for healthy people. “There is currently minimal scientific evidence supporting the use of plasmapheresis as an anti-aging intervention,” she said.

Dr. Walcott notes the procedure “helps people who are sick, not people who are well.” Plasmapheresis is an established medical treatment for autoimmune diseases and neurological disorders like Guillain-Barre syndrome.

The risks are significant. Side effects include dangerously low blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, bleeding, and allergic reactions. A study found complications occur in 53.4% of patients, with 15.9% being major complications including shock and sepsis.

Immune System Concerns

The procedure removes antibodies and clotting factors from the blood. “The immune system doesn’t bounce back right away,” warns Dr. Walcott. This suppression can last for months.

Mortality rates from plasmapheresis are estimated at 0.05% based on systematic reviews.

Rogan reported that friends who tried the treatment “have experienced better sleep scores and markedly better recovery.” However, these remain anecdotal claims without clinical validation.

Limited Research on Benefits

A 2025 study found plasmapheresis removed microplastic-like particles from blood in 21 patients. The research was funded by a company that uses plasmapheresis as treatment and didn’t measure total body microplastic levels.

“Microplastics are in more than your blood. It’s in your tissues, too,” explains Dr. Walcott. “No one knows if this decreases the total amount in your blood.”

Ways2Well describes itself as providing “advanced, preventive care” and calls plasmapheresis “one of the most talked-about treatments in longevity.” The clinic claims the procedure reduces immune system overactivation.

Rogan called the experience “very weird” and “crazy” but expressed curiosity about future developments. He mentioned the clinic is “working on some next-level approaches using biologics alongside the plasma replacement.”

Read more: Joe Rogan is Taking What Out of His Body?