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Why is modern arterial embalming not a permanent form of preservation?

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surgeon; American Civil War — embalming An embalming surgeon at work on a soldier's body during the American Civil War.

Modern arterial embalming is not a permanent form of preservation because its primary objective is not long-term storage, but rather to provide a lifelike appearance for the body during the brief period it is viewed by mourners before burial or cremation.12

While the process involves replacing blood with a preservative solution—typically based on Formalin—this treatment is temporary. Even in cases where bodies are prepared with extreme care, such as that of Lenin, the remains require periodic renewal treatments to maintain their condition. Because decomposition is a continuous biological process driven by factors like internal bacteria and environmental conditions, modern embalming serves only to delay these natural changes for a limited time.12