The concept of head transplantation, once relegated to the realm of science fiction, is experiencing renewed interest from life-extension advocates and Silicon Valley startups, despite skepticism surrounding its feasibility. Italian neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero, who gained notoriety in 2017 for claiming a successful head transplant between two corpses in China, has long championed the procedure as a potential solution for aging and conditions that cause total body failure.

Canavero's proposed technique involves severing the head of a recipient and attaching it to a donor body, fusing the spinal cords with polyethylene glycol, a process he calls "GEMINI spinal fusion." This would theoretically allow the recipient to control the new body. He argues that no other solution to aging is currently on the horizon. "It's become absolutely clear over the past years that the idea of some incredible tech to rejuvenate elderly [people] is not going to happen," Canavero stated.

However, the medical community remains largely unconvinced. Critics cite the immense technical challenges involved, particularly in reconnecting the spinal cord and preventing immune rejection. The Chicago Tribune previously labeled Canavero "the P.T. Barnum of transplantation," reflecting widespread doubt about his claims and methods.

Canavero's pursuit of head transplantation has not been without personal cost. After publishing his surgical ideas a decade ago, he says he was dismissed from Molinette Hospital in Turin, where he had worked for 22 years. "I'm an out-of-the-establishment guy. So that has made things harder, I have to say," he explained.

Despite the controversy and setbacks, Canavero maintains that the procedure is not only possible but necessary. He believes that advancements in microsurgery, nerve regeneration, and immunosuppression are paving the way for successful head transplants in the future. While the prospect of a "head-transplant surgeon" remains speculative, the renewed interest suggests that the underlying scientific and ethical questions will continue to be debated and explored.