Seeking treatment for a chronic wound, diabetic ulcer or another slow-healing condition can feel frustrating and exhausting. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) offers a proven, non-invasive way to enhance your body’s natural healing process, helping you recover faster and with fewer complications.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a non-invasive treatment that promotes healing in chronic wounds, diabetic ulcers, radiation injuries and other complex conditions. By delivering 100 percent oxygen in a pressurized chamber, HBOT allows oxygen to reach damaged tissues at higher levels than normal breathing can provide. This increased oxygen flow supports the body’s natural healing process, reduces inflammation, fights infection and stimulates new blood vessel growth. HBOT is particularly beneficial for chronic wounds due to diabetes, poor circulation or persistent infection.
How HBOT Works
During HBOT, you breathe pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which increases your bloodstream’s oxygen levels. This elevation allows oxygen to be delivered more efficiently to damaged tissues, supporting their healing.
The pressurized environment promotes blood vessel growth through a process called angiogenesis, where new vessels form to improve circulation and deliver more oxygen to the injured areas. By creating a steep oxygen gradient—a significant difference between oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor areas—HBOT encourages blood vessel growth in damaged tissues, which speeds up healing.
HBOT also helps stimulate the body's natural healing processes by:
- Reducing swelling and inflammation, promoting faster wound healing
- Boosting the immune system, improving the body’s ability to fight infections
- Stimulating tissue regeneration and repair, aiding in the recovery of chronic wounds
Types of HBOT
Monoplace HBOT: Individual clear chambers allow you to lie comfortably while breathing pressurized oxygen. You can relax, watch television or rest as our technicians monitor your progress.
What to Expect When You Have HBOT
HBOT treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation, where your care team will assess your condition and develop a personalized plan. This evaluation ensures the therapy targets your needs, whether you're dealing with chronic wounds, diabetic ulcers or other complex conditions.
During each session, you’ll lie comfortably in the hyperbaric chamber while breathing 100 percent oxygen in a pressurized environment for about two hours. Throughout the session, a trained technician will monitor your progress, ensuring your comfort and safety.
After each session, you can resume your normal activities immediately. While some benefits of HBOT are immediately noticeable, the full effects—such as improved circulation, reduced swelling and enhanced tissue repair—build throughout treatment. Your doctor will continue to monitor your progress, adjusting your care plan as needed to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
