HBOT for Surgical Preparation & Recovery
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a well-established tool for supporting tissue healing, and it is increasingly used before and after surgery, especially cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. Breathing concentrated oxygen under pressure floods your tissues with oxygen, supports the growth of new blood vessels, calms inflammation and swelling, and strengthens the body’s natural defenses against infection, all of which play a role in a smoother recovery.
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Surgery asks a great deal of the body. Anesthesia, blood loss, pain medication and the stress of the procedure itself all draw on your reserves. Preparing with HBOT is designed to help your tissues go into surgery well oxygenated, with healthier circulation and calmer inflammation. In one study included in a 2024 review, patients who received HBOT before abdominoplasty had far fewer complications than those who did not (8.4% vs. 32.6%). We always coordinate with your surgeon’s instructions.
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Even a few sessions before surgery can be worthwhile, and we understand that many procedures come up quickly or unexpectedly. When there is time to plan, we typically suggest 2–3 sessions per week for the 3–4 weeks leading up to your procedure.
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After surgery, HBOT supports the healing environment around incisions and grafts by increasing oxygen delivery to tissue, encouraging new blood vessel growth, and helping to reduce swelling and bruising. A 2025 meta-analysis of aesthetic surgery patients found HBOT was associated with faster healing and high patient satisfaction. Courses of 10–20 sessions are common, beginning once your surgeon has cleared you.
Research on HBOT for Surgery & Recovery
Interest in HBOT as a companion to surgery has grown quickly, particularly in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. Recent systematic reviews point to faster healing, fewer wound complications and high patient satisfaction, while also calling for larger, standardized trials. Here are the most current and relevant reviews.
Efficacy of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as an Adjunct in Aesthetic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Postoperative Outcomes and Complications
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, May 2025
Hatan Mortada, et al.
This meta-analysis combined 11 studies including 734 patients undergoing procedures such as abdominoplasty and breast surgery. HBOT, used mainly after surgery, was associated with faster healing (an average healing time of about 11 days) and early patient satisfaction rates of up to 88%. The authors describe HBOT as an effective adjunct in aesthetic surgery, while encouraging larger randomized trials to standardize protocols.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Surgical Wound Healing and Tissue Salvage: A Structured Narrative Review
Cureus, 2026
José Emiliano González Flores, et al.
This 2026 review brings together more than two decades of research on HBOT and surgical healing. It describes how HBOT supports new blood vessel growth, fibroblast activity, collagen production and immune function, and summarizes reported benefits for compromised grafts and flaps, traumatic soft-tissue injuries and breast reconstruction, including better tissue survival, less tissue loss and reduced infection risk.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Aesthetic Medicine and Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, May 2025
Sean M. Fisher, et al.
Reviewing 15 studies, this systematic review explores how HBOT may improve oxygen delivery to tissue, reduce swelling and limit secondary tissue damage after aesthetic procedures, with the goal of better healing and less downtime. It is also the first review to discuss HBOT’s role in anti-aging. The authors conclude that HBOT may be a valuable adjunct in aesthetic surgery and medicine, and call for larger trials to confirm its value.
The role, safety, and efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in aesthetic practice: An evidence-based review
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, June 2024
Juanita Parnis, et al.
This review of 17 human studies looked at HBOT in aesthetic medicine and skin rejuvenation. Findings included greater collagen density and healthier elastic fibers in the skin, reduced inflammation, less shedding after FUE hair transplant, and a striking drop in complications when HBOT was given before abdominoplasty (from 32.6% to 8.4%). The authors note that most studies were small and that higher-quality research is still needed.