When it comes to wound care, most people think of dressings, antibiotics, and surgery - but what if oxygen itself could dramatically accelerate healing? That’s exactly the promise of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). This advanced medical treatment harnesses the power of pure oxygen under pressure to help the body repair itself in ways traditional therapies can’t.

In this article, we’ll explore what HBOT is, how it works, and why it’s becoming a game changer in wound healing.

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves breathing oxygen inside a specially designed pressurized chamber. Normally, we breathe air that contains about 21% oxygen. In HBOT, the pressure inside the chamber is increased to 1.5–3 times the normal atmospheric pressure, allowing your lungs to absorb significantly more oxygen than they would under normal conditions.

This extra oxygen dissolves directly into the blood plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and even bone tissue - delivering a supercharged dose of healing potential throughout the body.

The Science Behind HBOT and Wound Healing

Oxygen is essential for life and for healing. Every cell in your body requires oxygen to produce energy and regenerate. When wounds are slow to heal (like diabetic ulcers or radiation injuries), it’s often because the affected tissues are starved of oxygen. That’s where HBOT comes in.

Here’s how HBOT supports the healing process at a cellular level:

1. Boosts Oxygen Delivery to Tissues

Under pressure, oxygen dissolves directly into the bloodstream, increasing the oxygen available to tissues even with compromised blood flow. This helps revive “sleeping” or damaged cells that would otherwise die from oxygen deprivation.

2. Stimulates New Blood Vessel Growth

Chronic wounds often suffer from poor circulation. HBOT triggers angiogenesis — the formation of new capillaries — improving long-term oxygen delivery to the damaged area.

3. Enhances Collagen Production

Oxygen is a key ingredient in collagen synthesis, which is crucial for rebuilding skin and connective tissue. HBOT accelerates fibroblast activity (cells that produce collagen), helping wounds close faster and stronger.

4. Reduces Swelling and Inflammation

HBOT reduces inflammation by constricting blood vessels and lowering oxidative stress, which helps minimize tissue damage and pain in injured areas.

5. Fights Infection

Oxygen-rich environments are hostile to anaerobic bacteria — the kind that thrive in oxygen-poor wounds. HBOT not only inhibits bacterial growth but also enhances the effectiveness of certain antibiotics.

6. Improves Immune Function

White blood cells (the body’s infection-fighting heroes) become more efficient in high-oxygen environments, improving the immune system’s ability to destroy harmful pathogens.

Conditions That Benefit from HBOT Wound Therapy

HBOT has been FDA-approved and clinically supported for several types of wounds, including:

• Diabetic foot ulcers

• Pressure sores (bedsores)

• Chronic non-healing wounds

• Radiation-induced tissue damage (osteoradionecrosis, soft tissue radionecrosis)

• Crush injuries and compartment syndrome

• Skin grafts and flaps at risk of failure

• Burns

Research continues to expand HBOT’s potential applications, with promising results for surgical recovery, traumatic injuries, and even long COVID-related tissue damage.

What to Expect During HBOT Treatment

A typical HBOT session lasts around 60 minutes . Patients sit or lie comfortably inside the chamber while breathing pure oxygen. Some people experience a mild popping sensation in their ears (similar to airplane takeoff) as pressure increases, but the treatment itself is painless.

The number of sessions varies depending on the condition — for chronic wounds, patients may need 20–40 sessions to achieve full benefits.

Why Oxygen Is Truly a Game Changer

Traditional wound care focuses on treating the surface — cleaning, dressing, and medicating. HBOT, on the other hand, works from the inside out. By flooding tissues with oxygen, it unlocks the body’s natural regenerative power, turning stubborn wounds into healing success stories.

For patients who have struggled for months (or even years) with chronic wounds, HBOT can mean the difference between healing and amputation, or between persistent pain and restored mobility.

Final Thoughts

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy represents a powerful, science-backed advancement in wound care. Whether you’re dealing with a diabetic ulcer, radiation injury, or post-surgical complication, HBOT offers a safe and effective pathway to faster, deeper healing.

Oxygen isn’t just a gas we breathe - it’s a vital medicine when used correctly. With HBOT, that medicine is finally being delivered where it’s needed most.

Book your HBOT session today!