Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Treatments

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a simple and painless treatment that creates high concentrations of oxygen in the bloodstream to enhance the body’s natural wound-healing capabilities.

Dr. Corey Maas has done extensive research into the scientific data and benefits of these treatments. It is his experience and belief that HBOT treatments aid in the surgical recovery process. HBOT is a medical treatment and requires a prescription which will be written by Dr. Maas for candidates who are eligible to receive treatments based on their health, history and other determining factors.

Depending on the procedure performed, patients of The Maas Clinic will have HBOT treatments included as part of the recovery process or be offered HBOT treatments as an add-on. These treatments are performed at two state-of-the-art Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatment facilities in the San Francisco and Marin County Bay Area.

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a medical treatment that is used to treat a wide variety of medical conditions using the high levels of oxygen that can be achieved only under pressure. Most hyperbaric treatments are the administration of 100% oxygen at pressure greater than sea level, usually the equivalent of 30-40 feet underwater.

In these conditions, the lungs can take in significantly more oxygen than is possible when breathing at normal air pressure. The oxygen is therefore dissolved in the bloodstream in a much higher concentration than at sea level pressures. The oxygen-enriched blood can provide oxygen to compromised or deprived tissues, allowing then for proper function and faster healing.

How Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Work?

The body’s tissues require an adequate supply of oxygen to function. When tissue sustains an injury, it requires even more oxygen to repair itself and survive. The body’s natural healing ability is stunted if enough oxygen cannot reach the damaged area.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy increases the amount of oxygen the blood can carry. Over a series of treatments, the temporarily increased oxygen levels help fight bacteria, improve blood circulation and stimulate the release of stem cells and growth factors to promote healing.

FAQs

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Used to Treat?

HBOT rose to prominence as a way to treat decompression sickness experienced by scuba divers. Today, it is also used to treat a range of other conditions, including:

Carbon monoxide poisoning
Specific types of non-healing wounds
Tissue damage from radiation therapy
Gas gangrene
Burns
Compromised skin grafts or flaps
Arterial gas embolism
Severe anemia
Infection of skin or bone that leads to tissue death
Crush injuries

Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Help With the Healing Process?

Healing occurs both faster and more effectively in wounandds/injuries that are treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. This is due to the demands of oxygen availability by the cells tissues responsible for the healing process being met.

Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Increase the Production of Collagen?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy markedly increases the oxygen available within the blood, which in turn enables for a cross-linking or strengthening of the tissues, and fibroblasts to produce increased amounts of collagen required for healing of wounds and tissue damage.

Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Decrease Swelling?

Blood flow increases as the oxygen supply reduces, which will only serve to exacerbate the swelling and impede the inflammatory process that assists the commencement of healing. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy reduces vascular vasodilation and permeability by increasing the oxygen content within the blood.

Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Reduce Edema?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can combat the increased distance for oxygen diffusion from blood vessels to cells by increasing the oxygen content within the blood. This results in an increased oxygen delivery to cells and tissues and a shortening of the inflammatory process, thereby speeding the healing and repair of tissues.

Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Shorten the Inflammatory Process?

Increased oxygen availability promotes vasoconstriction when blood vessels in the body become smaller, which causes fluid retention and helps reduce edema while keeping the tissue well oxygenated. This supports the cells of the inflammatory process in removing cell debris and micro-organisms that impede infection. White blood cells have an increase in cellular energy that speeds up their activity and reduces the time of the inflammatory process.

Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Safe?

HBOT has been used in medicine for many years. The FDA has cleared hyperbaric chambers for a variety of conditions, including burns, severe infection of the skin and bone, skin graft flaps at risk of tissue death and non-healing wounds. HBOT is generally safe, and serious complications are rare, when used for these indications.

Due to the increased pressure and concentration of oxygen during HBOT treatments, potential risks include ear and sinus pain, middle ear injuries and temporary vision changes. All risk factors are evaluated before recommending HBOT for a patient.

What Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Feel Like?

HBOT is not painful. However, the increased air pressure creates a temporary feeling of fullness in the ears, similar to what is sometimes felt in an airplane or at a high elevation, that may feel uncomfortable or unusual. This sensation can be relieved by yawning or swallowing. Afterward, some people feel fatigued, like they do after a workout.

How Long Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Last?

For most patients, HBOT treatments last 1.5 to 2 hours.

How Often Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Recommended?

A patient’s plan of care is based on their individual wound type, health conditions and healing progress. Your healthcare team will inform you of your particular schedule based on your treatment.

Experience Enhanced Recovery With The Maas Clinic

At The Maas Clinic, our team is committed to providing each patient an individual care plan with the goal of helping them achieve their appearance goals, regain function and return to their lifestyle. This includes working closely with our partners in order to deliver the highest quality care. Learn more about how The Maas Clinic can help you heal with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Call (415) 567-7000 or contact us today.