In the vanguard of biomedicine? The curious and contradictory case of anti‐ageing medicine

The rise of anti‐ageing medicine is emblematic of the current conditions of American biomedicine. Through in‐depth interviews with 31 anti‐ageing practitioners, we examine how practitioners strive for—and justify—a model of care that runs counter to what they see as the ‘assembly line’ insurance‐managed industry of healthcare. Their motivation, however, is not merely a reaction to conventional medicine. It is derived from what they see as a set of core beliefs about the role of the physician, the nature of the physician‐patient relationship, and the function of biomedicine. We analyse this ideology to underscore how anti‐ageing medicine is built on a ‘technology of the self’, a self in need of constant surveillance, intervention, and maintenance. The ultimate goal is to create an optimal self, not just a self free of illness. A fundamental irony is that, despite their self‐presentation and the perception of the public, anti‐ageing providers do not use practices that are especially ‘high‐tech’ or unconventional. Instead, the management of ageing bodies rests on providers’ perceived knowledge of their patients, tailored treatments, and a collaborative pact between the provider and patient.