How Hyperbaric Medicine Optimizes Recovery Before and After Cosmetic Surgery

By Dr. Beth Meneley, DAOM, L.Ac., Founder of OxygenWell

For over 10 years, plastic surgeons have trusted us at OxygenWell in Los Angeles, CA to help optimize their patients' recovery before and after cosmetic surgery. Whether it's a facelift, breast augmentation, or reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) plays a crucial role in enhancing healing, reducing complications, and achieving the best possible outcomes.

Why Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery?

Cosmetic surgery and reconstructive procedures place significant demands on the body. Surgery involves cutting, repositioning tissues, and often requires the skin and underlying structures to heal together harmoniously. Postoperative complications, such as swelling, bruising, inflammation, and delayed wound healing, can impact the recovery process and the final results of surgery. This is where Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy makes a difference.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves breathing 100% oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure inside a specialized chamber. By delivering high levels of oxygen to the bloodstream, HBOT helps promote faster healing, reduces inflammation, and encourages tissue regeneration. Here's why plastic surgeons have been sending their patients to us for pre- and post-operative support for more than a decade:

1. Enhanced Pre-Surgical Preparation

HBOT can be used before surgery to optimize tissue health. By increasing oxygen levels in the body, hyperbaric therapy helps improve circulation and ensure that tissues are in the best possible condition for surgery. Better oxygenation means better tissue resilience, reduced infection risk, and enhanced wound healing—all critical factors for a successful surgery.

Patients who undergo HBOT before cosmetic surgery are essentially priming their body for healing, which leads to a smoother recovery process with fewer complications. This is especially important for individuals undergoing extensive procedures, such as facelifts or breast surgeries, where optimal blood flow and oxygenation to the tissues are critical.

2. Post-Surgical Recovery and Healing

After surgery, the body needs oxygen to repair tissues, promote collagen formation, and reduce swelling. However, surgery itself can compromise circulation, resulting in areas with poor blood flow that don’t receive adequate oxygen for healing. HBOT helps overcome these challenges by delivering high levels of oxygen to the tissues, even in areas where blood flow is reduced.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is highly effective for:

• Reducing Swelling and Inflammation: HBOT helps reduce postoperative swelling and inflammation, which can significantly shorten the recovery time and alleviate discomfort.

• Accelerating Wound Healing: HBOT supports the growth of new blood vessels and collagen, promoting faster and more effective wound healing. This means incisions heal more cleanly, scars are less pronounced, and the final aesthetic results are enhanced.

• Reducing the Risk of Infection: High levels of oxygen help support the immune system and inhibit the growth of bacteria, reducing the risk of infection at the surgical site.

Supporting Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction

Reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy—such as flap reconstruction or implant placement—requires healthy tissue to successfully heal and integrate. Radiation therapy, which many breast cancer patients undergo, can leave tissues fragile and susceptible to poor healing. This makes optimizing the healing environment even more important.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is particularly beneficial before and after mastectomy and breast reconstruction because:

• Pre-Surgical Tissue Optimization: HBOT helps improve tissue oxygenation and resilience, which is important for reconstructive surgeries, especially for women with compromised tissue from radiation.

• Post-Reconstruction Healing: After breast reconstruction, the body needs to integrate the flap or implant, which requires healthy tissue with a good blood supply. HBOT enhances blood flow, promoting angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation), which helps ensure that the flap or implant successfully integrates and heals.

• Addressing Necrosis and Flap Failure: Sometimes, after reconstructive surgery, tissue may not receive adequate blood flow, leading to necrosis (tissue death) of the flap. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can help salvage tissues in these cases, improving oxygen delivery and supporting tissue repair. Importantly, many insurance plans will cover HBOT for treating necrosis of a flap after breast reconstruction surgery, making it an accessible option for those who need it.

Why Plastic Surgeons Trust Hyperbaric Therapy for Their Patients

Plastic surgeons understand the value of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as an adjunct to both cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries. HBOT supports their work by optimizing tissue health, reducing complications, and enhancing aesthetic outcomes. For over 10 years, we have proudly collaborated with surgeons to support patients in achieving optimal healing and beautiful results—whether they're undergoing a cosmetic enhancement or reconstructive procedure.

Our Approach at OxygenWell

At OxygenWell, we understand that every patient is unique, and we tailor our hyperbaric therapy protocols to meet your specific needs, whether you’re preparing for surgery or recovering afterward. We’ve seen firsthand how HBOT can reduce recovery time, improve the quality of scars, and help patients feel like themselves again—sooner.

Our billing team is here to help you navigate your insurance coverage, especially in cases where HBOT may be covered for medical complications like necrosis. We’re dedicated to making this process as smooth as possible so that you can focus on your recovery.

Take the Next Step in Your Healing Journey

If you’re considering cosmetic surgery or reconstructive surgery, or if you’re a plastic surgeon looking for ways to optimize your patients’ recovery, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy may be the answer. At OxygenWell, we’re committed to helping you achieve the best possible outcomes—reducing downtime, minimizing complications, and supporting a healthy, beautiful recovery.

Schedule a consultation today to learn more about how Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can support you on your journey to recovery. Our experienced team is here to guide you every step of the way, helping you heal, recover, and thrive.