Did Han lose a year of his life?

When Han Solo was placed in carbonite, did it preserve him or did he age for however long he was in there?

 

Interesting question. Since he wasn't really "frozen" (like in ice or something), but rather "in perfect hibernation," I'd say he still aged. Especially since he does look slightly older than when we last saw him in ESB.

 

I don't know the similarities between carbonite hibernation and animal (And really, how can I? )

But when animals hibernate cell division is much slower which means the effects of aging are dimmed. I don not know at what rate.

 

The rate is probably different due to two factors:

1) Human versus a bear for example. Since they are two seperate species of mammal entirely, it's safe to say hibernation rates may have some difference.

2) Internal biologically induced hibernation versus chemically induced hibernation. I would think the carbonation process would be far more effective than a biologically induced hiberation. For one thing, bears consume rough materials to cork up some bodily openings, and someone in carbonite wouldn't have to worry about that. Heck, someone in carbonite wouldn't even be able to breathe! Thus carbonite hibernation is much more effective and much more invasive than internal biologically induced hibernation.

 

I have to go with the opinion that Han did not lose a year of his life. If his bodily functions were still going on while in hibernation, he would have died from a natural poison. With no way to urinate or deficate, he would've died from the buildup of such toxins.

 

I know when humans sleep aging is also slowed down. Meaning you are not as old as the world says you are. For example if your 20 you may only be 16.

 

Dammit, I don't wanna be 16 again.

Wait, that could mean that I never was 16 when I thought I was.

Aaaarrgghhh.

And if he was frozen it would be like being in stasis and he shouldnt have aged.

 

He changed his shirt too. Just what was happening to Han while he was "frozen" in the carbonite? He ages, gains weight, changes his shirt? Hmmmm

 

He also loses the binders within seconds of being frozen, too

 

Yes and no.
He was perfectly preserved, so he did not age.
Yet he was asleep for a year straight so yes.

 

He must have had to go to the bathroom REALLY bad! He aged. He was 41 in ROTJ.

 

Han Solo 41 years old in ROTJ ?

 

I have to agree with E_V's view. Not only would Han have been poisoned by his own body, but he also lacked oxygen and some sort of sustenance. Considering basic human biology one could assume that he was in a state where his functions were drastically slowed down.

That being said he actually gained a year of life by not aging.

So rather than being 33 by ROTJ (4 yr span from ANH to ROTJ) he was actually only biologically 32.

 

So that made him less of a cradle-snatcher when he got together with Leia

 

Harrison Ford was 41 at that time.

 

wouldn't it have been closer to something like cryogenic freezing? I dont' know alot about it, but that seems a little more like it than hibernation. So while he did lose a year out of his life, he techinally wouldn't have aged (even though Harrison did), and thus would have had an extra year at the end of his life.

Though one still has to wonder how he managed to change his shirt while he was basically a human popscicle. He must be quite the talented man.. no wonder Leia fell so hard..

 

It's often mistaken as a goof, his shirt was the same, go study the pics, and the videos. Whoever said that was a goof needs to watch the movies closer.

 

Harrison Ford's age doesn't mean that was the actual age of his character, Han Solo. I mean, Mark Hamill was 31 while filming ROTJ, does that mean Luke Skywalker was that old. From my understanding, Luke was 24.

BTW, Ford was 40 when he filmed ROTJ and 41 when the movie was released. I hope that clears up any confusion.

 

Though one still has to wonder how he managed to change his shirt while he was basically a human popscicle. He must be quite the talented man.. no wonder Leia fell so hard..[/]

Han's the man!

 

The shirt is the same, go watch again.

 

wouldn't it have been closer to something like cryogenic freezing? I dont' know alot about it, but that seems a little more like it than hibernation

Cryogenic freezing is only done on those who are dead...specifically, those who died, and had enough money and an unhealthy dose of insanity to assume that sometime in the future, their dead carcasses can be reanimated.

No, carbon-freeze is more akin to a coma, probably the highest level of coma one can be in before going into brain-death.

 

It depends if you are talking about objective time or subjective time.

 

I compare carbon freezing to the hypersleep tubes in the Alien movies. You can be in there for a long time and not age.