Before surgery (pre-surgical benefits)

1.        Optimises tissue oxygenation

Breathing oxygen under pressure saturates the blood and tissues with oxygen, preparing them for better healing after the operation.

2.        Reduces inflammation

HBOT helps reduce inflammation and improves circulation in the surgical area.  Repeated HBOT sessions upregulate ‘vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)’ and other mediators that promote new capillary formation.

3.        Supports immune function

HBOT boosts white blood cell activity, lowering infection risk.

4.        Improves tissue viability

HBOT dissolves 10-18x more oxygen into plasma, this saturates tissues with oxygen, even those with compromised blood flow, ensuring they are well oxygenated before surgical trauma occurs.

After surgery (post-surgical benefits)

1.        Accelerates wound healing

After surgery, swelling and microvascular injury can limit blood flow to the wound.  HBOT delivers large amounts of oxygen directly into the plasma allowing oxygen to reach even poorly perfused or swollen tissues.  This ensures that the cells responsible for repair – fibroblasts, macrophages, and endothelial cells – have the oxygen they need to function optimally.

2.        Reduces swelling and bruising

At high pressures, HBOT causes blood vessels in swollen tissues to constrict which reduces fluid leakage and swelling.  Normally, vasoconstriction would limit oxygen delivery, however under HBOT, the plasma is saturated with oxygen therefore tissues remain well-oxygenated despite reduced blood flow.  This means less oedema but no tissue hypoxia.

3.        Decreased infection risk

Neutrophils – the immune cells that destroy bacteria – rely on oxygen to kill bacteria efficiently.  HBOT improves their ability to engulf and destroy pathogens.  It also enhances macrophage activity, helping clean up wound debris and dead tissue.

4.        Improves scar outcome

Collagen is the main structural protein in scar tissue.  HBOT increases the activity of fibroblasts (the cells that produce collagen), leading to stronger, more flexible collagen fibres; a smoother, flatter scar appearance;  and reduced risk of hypertrophic or keloid scarring.

5.        Enhances recovery from anaesthesia and fatigue

HBOT helps flush residual anaesthetic gases from the bloodstream and tissues faster.  Increased oxygen levels improve liver metabolism and kidney clearance of anaesthetic drugs, helping patients feel more alert and less groggy sooner after surgery. 

HBOT enhances brain metabolism and cellular repair, reducing post-operative fatigue, confusion, or ‘brain fog’.  HBOT restores oxygen to the mitochondria, promoting faster energy production, helping the body recover strength and mental clarity.

Hyperbaric oxygen for non-healing wounds (2020)

A general overview of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (2021)

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the compromised graft or flap (2017)

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy:  Anti-microbial mechanisms and clinical applications for infections (2019)

Hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning can reduce postabdominoplasty complications: a retrospective cohort study (2019)

HBOT indications (2020) Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society

Effectiveness of hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy compared to surgical free tissue flap for osteoradionecrosis of the jaw:  a meta-analysis (2023)