What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy – or HBOT – involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, typically at pressures higher than sea level atmospheric pressure.
Overall, the hyperbaric oxygen chamber creates an environment where the increased pressure and concentration of oxygen can facilitate the delivery of oxygen to tissues, enhance healing processes, and provide therapeutic benefits.
HBOT is over 350 years old with the first chamber being built in the 1600’s. Some modern medical indications have been used for over 50 years!
The specific protocols, pressures, and treatment plans may vary depending on the individual’s condition. The providers at The IO Clinic can assess your needs and determine the appropriate treatment plan for you.
What to Expect during the Procedure
In normal conditions, the normal air we breathe consists of 21% oxygen. In HBOT, we are able to increase that to 100% pure oxygen in a pressurized environment. The pressure + high concentration of oxygen allows blood plasma to become oxygen-rich and reach tissues that may need more oxygen for healing (“tissue hyperoxygenation”). Surgery and injuries damage the body’s blood vessels which release fluid causing swelling. Swelling can deprive damaged cells of oxygen. HBOT increases oxygen which = more energy for the cells in our body to repair damaged tissues and regenerate new tissues. More oxygen also increases essential bodily functions (mobility, brain function, immunity, stamina, and metabolism).
In the hyperbaric chamber, the pressure you will experience will be up to the pressure you’d experience if you were to scuba dive 33 feet below the surface of the ocean. This means that the pressure is up to 2 times greater than that at sea level.
why choose the io clinic?
Our goal is to build a long-term relationship with you, guiding you on the journey to change your look and your life…far beyond the surface! We focus on personalized programs of care for optimal results, in an environment of unmatched luxury and comfort.
At The IO Clinic, we offer the best in skincare, alongside an ever-expanding range of medically sound, evidence-based wellness treatments to help you become your “Optimal Self” – both inside and out.
Recovery and Beyond
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy FAQs
Our HBOT chamber is a sealed environment within a treatment room in which you can receive the therapy.
- Preconditioning
- HBOT can increase circulating stem cells by eightfold prior to surgery
- Incision healing
- Scars have been shown to heal better with HBOT due to improvement in collagen production and skin elasticity
- Reduces pain, inflammation, swelling and bruising
- Plastic surgeon Dr. Jacono did a study and found that doing HBOT before & after deep-plane face-lifts decreased bruising by 30 and 35% on post-op days 7&10
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20855782/ - Increases anti-inflammatory response
- Plastic surgeon Dr. Jacono did a study and found that doing HBOT before & after deep-plane face-lifts decreased bruising by 30 and 35% on post-op days 7&10
- Fights free radical damage & toxins
- Promotes antioxidant activity
- Improves cognitive function
Here’s a general explanation of how the chamber works:
- Sealed chamber: The hyperbaric chamber is designed to be airtight and sealed once the person enters it. This allows the pressure inside the chamber to be controlled and increased to levels higher than atmospheric pressure at sea level.
- Compression: The chamber is gradually pressurized with compressed air or a mixture of gases, typically 100% oxygen, which increases the overall pressure within the chamber. The pressure can range from 1.5 to 3 times higher than normal atmospheric pressure.
- Breathing pure oxygen: Once the desired pressure is reached, the person inside the chamber breathes pure oxygen through a mask or a hood. The increased pressure allows higher amounts of oxygen to dissolve in the bloodstream and be delivered to the body’s tissues.
- Treatment session: The duration of a hyperbaric oxygen therapy session can vary depending on the specific condition being treated. Sessions typically last between 60 and 120 minutes, and multiple sessions may be required over a period of days or weeks.
- Monitoring: Throughout the session, the individual is monitored by trained healthcare professionals who remain outside the chamber. They can communicate with the person inside the chamber through an intercom system.
- Decompression: After the treatment session is completed, the pressure inside the chamber is gradually reduced in a controlled manner. This allows the person to safely return to normal atmospheric pressure without experiencing any negative effects, such as decompression sickness.
