From Cold Plunges to Peptides: Which Celebrity Longevity Treatments Actually Work?

Cold plunges. Red light beds. IV drips that take four hours. The wellness industry has convinced a generation of A-listers that aging is optional — and the price tag for slowing it down can run from a few hundred dollars to more than $50,000. Before you book a session because Kim Kardashian or Tiger Woods did, here is what doctors actually say about the five most-hyped longevity treatments right now.

Celebrity-approved longevity treatments — including cryotherapy, red light therapy, NAD+ infusions, stem cell injections and peptide therapy — are marketed as ways to reduce inflammation, speed recovery and extend healthspan. The evidence behind them ranges from genuinely promising to almost entirely unproven.

Why Longevity Clinics Charging Up to $150,000 a Year Are Drawing Patients Across the US

How cold plunges and cryotherapy stack up

Lady Gaga, Harry Styles and Gwyneth Paltrow have all publicly embraced ice baths and cold-water therapy, many citing Wim Hof‘s method of pairing breathwork with cold exposure. Styles told Better Homes & Gardens in 2022 that “people who have discovered cold water swimming are just so happy for you that you’ve also found it. That’s the thing with a swim — it’s the one thing you never regret.”

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Cryotherapy chambers expose the body to sub-zero temperatures for two to three minutes. Internal medicine physician Matthew Badgett of Cleveland Clinic told Yahoo Life there is evidence that “cryotherapy helps with mood” and may ease depression symptoms, but evidence for long-term muscle performance is thin. He warned against jumping in immediately after a workout: “You need inflammation to help muscle repair and regrow — that’s part of the process.”

Why red light therapy has the strongest science

Salma Hayek, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Alba and Vanessa Hudgens have all endorsed red light devices. Also called photobiomodulation, the treatment uses red and near-infrared light between 600 and 850 nanometers to stimulate collagen, reduce inflammation and support healing.

Cosmetic surgeon Sheina Bawa told Fortune the light “works directly on the mitochondria, activating many enzymes that allow for cell turnover, cell repair, and inflammation reduction.” Board-certified physiatrist Benjamin Shekhtman added that the technique traces back to NASA research from the 1990s and “has accumulated a meaningful clinical evidence base across sports medicine, dermatology, and rehabilitation.” Of the celebrity-approved treatments on this list, red light therapy carries the strongest evidence and lowest risk.

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What NAD+ drips and stem cell injections actually deliver

NAD+ infusion therapy — backed by Hailey Bieber and a stream of wellness influencers — can cost $200 to $1,500 per session and last up to four hours. NAD+ is a coenzyme tied to energy metabolism and DNA repair, and its levels fall with age. But human research is limited, and the FDA has not approved NAD+ supplements or IVs for anti-aging.

“I’m not gonna yuck anyone’s yum when it comes to what makes you feel good. But I don’t think there’s much evidence to support it,” Sumeet Deogan, PharmD, of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital told Verywell.

Stem cell injections — used by athletes including Tiger Woods, Rafael Nadal, Kobe Bryant and Peyton Manning — run $3,000 to $7,000 per joint, with packages topping $50,000. Dr. James Rickert, president of the Society for Patient Centered Orthopedics, told KFF Health News the celebrity endorsements send “a signal to all the fans out there that stem cells have more value than they really do … there’s no question that this is an unproven treatment.”

Are peptide injections the next big thing?

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Peptides — short chains of amino acids — are the newest injectable in longevity medicine, promoted for muscle growth, skin health and anti-aging. Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow have both discussed using them. Paltrow told Elle: “Injectable B12 is one of my biggest wellness tools; same with NAD+ and peptides.”

Dr. Sabine Donnai, founder of London’s Viavi clinic, told The Times that “where peptides are approved, it’s usually for specific diseases, not for extending lifespan.” She warned that peptides “are being overused and over-promised, and the product quality is a massive concern to medical professionals.”

Her advice for actually living longer? Skip the injections. “Improving your metabolic health, reducing cardiovascular risk, better sleep, stronger muscles and reducing inflammation through diet and exercise” remain the strongest longevity interventions.