Why understanding the risks matters
Cryonics is not a magic solution. It’s a scientific bet on the future. Like any long-term medical strategy, it involves both promise and uncertainty.
By openly acknowledging the risks of cryonics, we not only encourage transparency — we strengthen the foundation of trust and scientific responsibility.
Let’s take a closer look at what those risks actually are.
1. No guarantee of revival
The most obvious and fundamental risk is that revival may never be possible.
While cryonics aims to preserve structure for future treatment:
- No human has yet been revived from cryopreservation
- The technologies required (e.g., full brain repair, organ regrowth) don’t yet exist
- Revival may take decades or centuries — or might never happen
Cryonics is not a promise. It’s an informed possibility, chosen by people who prefer hope over certainty of decay.
2. Damage from the cryopreservation process
Despite advancements in vitrification and cryoprotectants, biological damage still occurs, such as:
- Cryoprotectant toxicity at the cellular level
- Thermal stress during cooling
- Fractures at very low temperatures
- Incomplete perfusion of protective agents in some areas
These risks are minimized with high-quality protocols — but they are not eliminated entirely.
3. Legal and regulatory uncertainty
Risks include:
- Conflicts between family members and cryonics providers
- Bureaucratic delays that interfere with timely preservation
- Changing national laws that could restrict cryonics over time
This is why having solid documentation and choosing a legally stable provider is essential.
4. Institutional failure
Cryonics requires long-term care — potentially for hundreds of years. Risks include:
- Cryonics companies or foundations going bankrupt
- Mismanagement of storage facilities
- Natural disasters or political instability
Tomorrow.bio mitigates these risks by partnering with the European Biostasis Foundation (EBF) in Switzerland, which is designed for multi-century security and political neutrality.
5. Cost and accessibility
Cryonics isn’t cheap. Whole-body preservation typically costs around €200,000, and while most members use life insurance to fund it, some may still find it unaffordable.
Planning ahead is critical to avoid surprises — and to ensure the procedure is carried out properly.
6. Social and emotional risks
Choosing cryonics can cause tension within families, especially if:
- Relatives don’t understand or accept the choice
- Decisions must be made quickly in moments of grief
- Cultural or religious values clash with the idea of preservation
Open communication with loved ones and early documentation can reduce these conflicts. Some people also choose to involve their family in membership planning.
7. Ethical risks
Cryonics raises ethical questions that may evolve as technology progresses. These include:
- Future consent and personhood — who decides when and how to revive?
- Equality — will revival be accessible, or limited to the wealthy?
- Identity — will a revived person still be the same individual?
- Rights of revived individuals — legal and societal treatment of “post-mortem patients”
While these risks don’t impact preservation today, they shape the broader conversation about the future.
8. Misunderstanding the science
Perhaps the most common risk is public misunderstanding:
- Confusing cryonics with freezing
- Expecting instant revival
- Believing exaggerated media portrayals
- Assuming cryonics is anti-death or anti-religion
At Tomorrow.bio, we commit to education and transparency, because understanding the science helps people make better choices — whether or not they choose to sign up.
Informed hope — not blind faith
Understanding cryonics risks doesn’t mean giving up on the idea. It means choosing cryonics rationally:
- With eyes open
- With safeguards in place
- With trust in science, not fantasy
Tomorrow.bio exists to give people and pets the chance to be preserved with dignity, responsibility, and clarity — so the door to the future stays open.
About Tomorrow.bio
At Tomorrow.bio, we are dedicated to advancing the science of cryopreservation with the goal of giving people and pets a second chance at life. As Europe’s leading cryopreservation provider, we focus on rapid, high-quality standby, stabilization, and storage of terminal patients — preserving them until future medical technologies may allow revival and treatment.
Our mission is to make cryopreservation a reliable and accessible option for everyone. We believe that no life — human or animal — should end because current medical capabilities fall short.
📧 Contact us at: hello@tomorrow.bio
🌐 Visit our website: www.tomorrow.bio
🤝 Schedule a consultation: Book a call
