While most transhumanists are quite convinced that life extension will be possible, most agree that it will take several years (or decades/centuries) before immortality becomes practical. And in the meantime there is a non-zero chance that you die from accidents or disease, regardless of how healthy your lifestyle is.

One answer to this problem is cryonics, or rather cryonic suspension; the technique of freezing the body to so low temperatures that it does not decay significantly. If misfortune strikes, you could be suspended until medical techniques have been developed far enough to revive you and cure you.

Cryonic suspension is a (currently non-standard) medical technique for attempting to prevent the permanent cessation of life in individuals on the brink of death. It involves the use of low temperatures to halt metabolic decay. A person who is cryonically suspended can not be revived by current medical technology. The freezing process does too much damage. What is accomplished is that once frozen the person’s biological state does not change. The reason for performing a cryonic suspension is the belief that science, technology, and society will advance to the point where revival of the person is both possible and desirable.

Cryonics is currently a big gamble, and even the enthusiasts acknowledge that there are many unsolved problems. But there is little to loose by choosing cryonic suspension: either it will work and restoration methods will be developed and used in the far future, or it won’t.