Hyperbaric oxygen therapy places you in a chamber pressurised to 1.3 to 3 times normal atmospheric pressure while you breathe oxygen-rich air. The extra pressure dissolves far more oxygen into your plasma, which reaches tissues that normal circulation struggles to supply. It is an established hospital treatment for non-healing wounds and a growing adjunct to cosmetic surgery recovery and wellness programs.
Overview
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment in which you breathe oxygen at higher than normal atmospheric pressure inside a sealed chamber. At sea level your red blood cells are already nearly saturated with oxygen; under pressure, oxygen also dissolves directly into the plasma, raising tissue oxygen levels many times over. That surplus oxygen reduces swelling, fights certain bacteria, stimulates new blood vessel growth and accelerates collagen formation in healing tissue. Medical-grade chambers run at 2.0 to 3.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA) with 100 percent oxygen and are FDA-cleared for conditions such as non-healing wounds, radiation injury, carbon monoxide poisoning and compromised skin grafts.
In aesthetic and wellness clinics, HBOT is typically delivered in soft-sided "mild" chambers at around 1.3 ATA or in hard-shell chambers at 1.5 to 2.0 ATA. Cosmetic surgeons use it before and after procedures such as facelifts, tummy tucks and fat transfer to reduce bruising and swelling, lower infection risk and improve graft survival. Wellness programs offer it for inflammation, fatigue, athletic recovery and skin quality. These uses are off-label, and evidence is strongest for post-surgical healing and weakest for general anti-aging claims. A session lasts 60 to 90 minutes and protocols range from a handful of sessions around surgery to 20 to 40 sessions for chronic conditions.
TL;DR Summary
HBOT floods tissues with oxygen by pressurising the air you breathe. It is proven for wound healing and widely used to speed recovery after cosmetic surgery; wellness uses for fatigue and inflammation are promising but less established. Sessions last 60 to 90 minutes and cost about $100 to $300 depending on chamber type. It is low-risk for healthy people but is not for anyone with untreated lung disease, a cold or ear problems, or who is pregnant.
Price depends mainly on the chamber. Soft-sided mild chambers (about 1.3 ATA) in wellness studios cost $80 to $125 per session; hard-shell clinical chambers (2.0 ATA and above) run $150 to $300. A 2026 survey of 27 published US clinic prices found a median of $200 per session, with multi-session packages reducing the per-session rate by 25 to 50 percent.
Average cost (USD)
Cost Range (USD)
Insurance covers HBOT only for FDA-cleared medical indications in hospital settings. Aesthetic and wellness sessions are self-pay.
Under pressure, oxygen dissolves into blood plasma rather than relying solely on red blood cells, so tissue oxygen levels rise several-fold. The surplus reduces oedema, stimulates angiogenesis and fibroblast activity, and supports immune cell function in areas with poor circulation.
In aesthetic settings: pre- and post-surgical recovery, swelling, bruising, graft and flap survival, slow-healing incisions and scar quality. In wellness settings: chronic inflammation, fatigue, athletic recovery and skin vitality.
60 to 90 minutes per session including pressurisation and depressurisation. Surgical recovery protocols typically use 3 to 10 sessions; chronic or wellness protocols 20 to 40.
Healthy adults cleared by a medical provider. Not for patients with untreated pneumothorax, COPD or emphysema, an active cold or sinus infection, recent ear surgery, pregnancy, certain chemotherapy drugs or some older pacemakers.
None. Some people feel tired or lightheaded for a short time after a session. You can drive and return to normal activities immediately.
HBOT acts on tissue oxygenation, inflammation and repair rather than on appearance directly. Below are the concerns this treatment addresses, each explained on its concern page.
Raising tissue oxygen dampens inflammatory signalling and supports the cells that resolve inflammation. A course of HBOT is used as an adjunct for persistent inflammatory states and post-surgical swelling.
Some patients report improved energy and recovery with HBOT, likely through better oxygen delivery and reduced inflammation. Evidence is preliminary, so it is offered as part of a broader wellness assessment rather than as a standalone fix.
Yes. Surgeons use it before and after facelifts, tummy tucks, BBLs, fat transfer and other procedures to reduce swelling and bruising, lower infection risk and improve fat graft survival. Typical protocols are two to three sessions before surgery and five to ten after.
Mild chambers are soft-sided, reach about 1.3 ATA and often use filtered room air with an oxygen concentrator. Medical-grade chambers are hard-shell, reach 2.0 to 3.0 ATA and deliver 100 percent oxygen. The clinical evidence comes from medical-grade chambers; mild HBOT delivers a much lower oxygen dose.
For surgical recovery, 3 to 10 sessions around the procedure date. For chronic inflammation, fatigue or wellness goals, providers typically recommend 20 to 40 sessions over several weeks, then reassess.
For screened, healthy adults it is low-risk. The main side effect is ear discomfort from pressure. Serious complications are rare and mostly associated with high hospital pressures or untreated lung conditions.
Small studies suggest HBOT may improve skin elasticity and some cellular markers of aging, but the evidence is early and the effects modest. Treat anti-aging claims with caution and view HBOT as a recovery and wellness adjunct.
No. Electronics, lighters and anything that could spark are prohibited in an oxygen-rich environment. Many clinics provide a screen outside the chamber window or allow paper books.
The following references provide clinical evidence, safety information and pricing on hyperbaric oxygen therapy:
FDA-cleared indications, session length, risks and contraindications.
FDA guidance on cleared uses and on unproven claims for HBOT.
Survey of US clinic pricing by chamber type and package structure.
Prevalence and severity of middle ear barotrauma across 2,610 HBOT patients at a single hyperbaric centre.
All sources reviewed for clinical accuracy and relevance.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Sophie Roberge is a Cosmetic Nurse Injector at AdmireMD Plastic Surgery + Skin Clinic in Scottsdale, specializing in neuromodulators, fillers, biostimulators, and laser treatments.
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Advanced Body Contouring Aesthetician
Ashleigh Sullivan is an Aesthetic Therapist at Define Clinic in Beaconsfield, bringing more than a decade of experience in the health and beauty industry. She specializes in non-surgical body contouring, microneedling, and advanced laser therapies, with a focus on personalized treatment plans and measurable results.
London, UK
Aesthetician, Acne Specialist and Laser Technician
Julianna Lee is a licensed aesthetician, certified acne specialist, and certified laser technician dedicated to helping clients achieve clear, healthy, and radiant skin.
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MSN ACNS-BC, Nurse Practitoner, Expert Aesthetic Injector
Amy Katsikas, MSN, ACNS-BC, is the founder and clinical visionary behind PURE 111 Medical Aesthetics.
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Jordan Rachel Kopfer is a board-certified physician assistant and the injector lead at Skin Rejuvenation Clinic in Edina, Minnesota.
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