This Barbie doesn't want to age

Influencer wishes to have son's blood to look younger

Self-proclaimed "human Barbie", otherwise known as Marcela Iglesias, wishes to remain young and will therefore be receiving a blood transfusion from her 23-year-old son, Rodrigo Iglesias. In her pursuit to stay "ageless", Marcela has spent almost $100,000 on cosmetic procedures, reported British tabloid Daily Mail.

The 47-year-old influencer, who resides in Los Angeles, would previously go for treatments that can be injected. However, this year, she will be taking a step further with blood transfusion. According to her, an intake of blood from a younger donor rejuvenates the recipient's cells.

"Blood transfusion is the new era of maintaining young cells in your system especially when it comes from your own son or daughter," Marcela shared. Rodrigo, who is happy to comply with the procedure, will be doing the same for his grandmother, 75-year-old Graciela.

"Since I tried stem cell therapy, I started to dig more into healing from the inside out," Marcela revealed. "There can be many benefits from the cells of a younger donor, especially if the donor is my own son."

She is currently on the lookout for a doctor who will be able to perform the treatment in Los Angeles. Claiming that her son is informed on the procedure and all the "benefits" tied to helping his mother and grandmother, she continued, "Blood transfusions bring fresh red blood cells to carry oxygen through your body. Plasma carries proteins and clotting factors, perfect for helping with bleeding or healing."

She equated the body's acceptance of this "boost" to the first sip of water after a traveller returns from a long journey. "At the end, I should be left feeling stronger, steadier, and more supported," she hoped.

As per another claim, the procedure, which can last anywhere between one to four hours, is beneficial for internal organs. It reportedly aids cell repair and inflammation reduction, as well as improving kidney, heart, and lung function. "It's not just a procedure – it's a gift shared by a quiet moment of healing in your own personal story," said the businesswoman.

Marcela is also careful when it comes to her health, following a rigorous diet and exercise to stay in shape, as well as getting the required hours for sleep. "People constantly ask me what I do to stay looking so young. I have to tell them the truth – even though they may do all the treatments that I have done, sometimes plastic surgery is the only solution," she added.

With this news spreading across social media, Instagram users were compelled to weigh in on the matter. Scepticism ranged from a direct "I don't get it" to a reluctant "Well, it will serve the purpose, I guess".

Pop culture references also entered the mix, with one user invoking the name of Harry Potter's Dark Lord and another comparing the ordeal to vampirism. "This reminds me of the film The Substance," a different user noted.

Suffice to say, netizens were unable to warm up to the news. "Science doesn't support this. Ageing is natural. Going against nature is not justified. Just foolishness," a user firmly stated. "She should do yoga instead… [this is] a really foolish thing to do," another said.

Earlier, famed biohacker Bryan Johnson garnered popularity on the internet for his pursuit of the fountain of youth. Injected with the blood plasma of his teenage son and elderly father, he described the transfusion as winning the lottery.