Recovering from surgery can be a daunting process, especially when it comes to the healing of surgical wounds. The timeline for healing can vary significantly depending on factors like the type of surgery, your overall health, and how well you care for the wound. In some cases, surgical incisions can close and heal within days or weeks, while other patients may have more extensive wounds and/or complications that lead to months of healing time. If you’re wondering how long your surgical wounds might take to heal and what you can do to speed up the process, you’re not alone. At MD Hyperbaric, our team offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as an innovative treatment to support faster, more effective healing after surgery. Take a closer look here at the benefits of HBOT for speeding up the wound healing process after surgery and more.
What can make surgical incisions slow to heal?
Surgical wounds can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to heal, depending on a range of factors. The type of surgery performed is one of the most significant influences, with minor procedures generally having shorter recovery times, while more invasive surgeries can require longer periods for wounds to heal. Other factors include the patient’s age, overall health, and the presence of any underlying conditions, such as diabetes, which can slow down the healing process. Proper wound care, including keeping the wound clean and following your doctor’s instructions, is also essential to ensure timely healing. At MD Hyperbaric, we understand that each patient’s situation is unique, and we tailor our approach to support specific healing needs.
Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy make incisions heal faster?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment. This therapy increases the amount of oxygen in the blood, which promotes faster healing of surgical wounds by enhancing the body’s natural healing processes. Oxygen is vital for the repair and regeneration of tissues, and by increasing its availability, HBOT helps to reduce inflammation, fight infection, and stimulate the growth of new blood vessels. For patients recovering from surgery, this can mean a reduced risk of complications and a shorter healing time. At MD Hyperbaric, our team uses state-of-the-art HBOT chambers to ensure you receive the best care possible during your recovery.
What are the benefits of HBOT for surgical recovery?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy offers a number of benefits for patients recovering from surgery. Not only can HBOT speed up the healing process overall, but many patients enjoy reduced postsurgical pain and more. Some of the most exciting benefits of HBOT for healing after surgery include:
- Accelerated wound healing
- Reduced risk of infection
- Decreased inflammation
- Enhanced tissue regeneration
- Improved oxygen delivery to tissues
- Support for compromised healing conditions
- Reduced pain during recovery
How does HBOT work?
If you’re considering HBOT as part of your postsurgical recovery, it’s helpful to know what to expect during the treatment. Generally speaking, HBOT sessions typically last about 60 – 90 minutes, during which time you’ll relax in a comfortable, cutting-edge hyperbaric chamber while breathing pure oxygen. The chamber is pressurized to allow your lungs to take in more oxygen than they would at normal air pressure. This extra oxygen is then carried by your bloodstream to the areas of your body that need it most, including your surgical wounds. The number of sessions required will depend on your specific condition and recovery goals, which our team at MD Hyperbaric will discuss with you to ensure optimal results that get you back to feeling like yourself as soon as possible.
Get back to your life sooner with postsurgery HBOT
If you’re dreading the pain and extended wound healing you may be facing after an upcoming surgery, hyperbaric oxygen therapy at MD Hyperbaric could be the solution you need to optimize your recovery period. Our team is dedicated to providing advanced treatments that support your body’s natural healing processes, helping you get back to your normal routine as quickly as possible. Schedule a consultation today to learn more about how HBOT can benefit your recovery and help you heal faster.
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What Our Patients Say
Real Patients. Real Results
Post-Surgical Recovery“Getting HBOT helped me a lot with my wound healing. I noticed my scars remarkably lightened. My mood and energy levels improved as well in just three weeks of getting two sessions each week — despite my demanding work schedule, I felt like I had more energy.”Namae
Inflammatory Bowel Disease“I was prescribed HBOT by my specialist to treat a complex and traumatic issue stemming from IBD and reconstructive GI surgeries. I did a full course and absolutely saw improvement right away. The staff are amazing, very professional and caring.”Kathleen
Injury Recovery“I broke my wrist playing tennis and came to MD Hyperbaric Westchester to help speed up my recovery. After a few sessions I have felt a tremendous improvement in energy, sleep — and my doctor says my wrist is healing remarkably well.”John
Cancer Adjunct“I'm a breast cancer survivor, and after radiation near my lungs, I thought this treatment might be useful. I can feel a difference in my breathing and cognition. I definitely recommend it if your body has gone through a traumatic experience.”Aziza
Wellness“I recently began using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at MD Hyperbaric, and it's been one of the most unique and impactful wellness treatments I've explored. I was drawn in by the potential benefits for anxiety, fatigue, and overall cellular repair, but I didn't expect it to feel this restorative — and my skin is glowing too!”Olesia
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Frequently Asked Questions
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a proven treatment that enhances healing by flooding the body with oxygen. Used for over 100 years, it supports brain health, anti-aging, athletic recovery, and medical conditions by boosting oxygen in blood, tissues, and organs. Patients breathe 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber, accelerating recovery and promoting cellular repair.
HBOT is FDA-approved for 14 conditions like burns, carbon monoxide poisoning, and non-healing wounds. Emerging research also supports its use for post-surgical recovery, brain injury, fatigue, inflammation, athletic recovery, and anti-aging. Our medical team will assess if HBOT is right for you.
Yes, HBOT is safe when properly supervised. At MD Hyperbaric, treatments are protocol-driven, medically overseen, and administered by certified staff. Our Medical Director and onsite Safety Director ensure every session is carefully monitored, and we continuously update our protocols based on the latest research to prioritize patient safety.
Typically, most treatment sessions are approximately 60 minutes, though some conditions may require up to 90 or 120 minutes. Pressurization and depressurization may add about 20 minutes to the appointment, so you should plan for about 90 minutes for your visit.
The number of sessions depends on the condition being treated. Some patients may benefit from a few sessions, while others may require a more extended treatment plan. A typical protocol will involve 10-40 daily sessions to build up oxygen in the cells. Our Medical Director will recommend a specific treatment plan to address your goals and needs.
Prior to treatment, please try to avoid alcohol or carbonated drinks. It is best to avoid smoking and other tobacco products during your treatment period, as they may interfere with the body's ability to transport oxygen. Otherwise, there are no restrictions for food or activity before or after your treatment. We encourage you to have healthy meals and stay hydrated.
Most patients find HBOT sessions relaxing. You will rest comfortably in a 7.5-foot-long steel chamber, breathing 100% pure oxygen through a mask. During pressurization and depressurization, you may feel pressure changes similar to airplane travel. A trained technician will monitor you throughout the session.
The term "dive" is used because the process simulates the experience of a deep-sea dive in a pressurized environment. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has deep roots in diving as an important therapy for treating divers experiencing decompression sickness.
At MD Hyperbaric, we use the FDA-cleared OxyHealth Fortius420, a spacious hard-shell chamber delivering 100% medical-grade oxygen via mask. It operates up to 3.0 ATA, allows tailored pressures, supports air breaks, and includes three windows for comfort and safety.
At MD Hyperbaric, we use hard-shell chambers that deliver 100% medical-grade oxygen at higher pressures for superior therapeutic benefits. Soft-shell chambers operate at lower pressures without medical-grade oxygen, making them less effective for medical treatment.
Our team will assess your medical history and specific circumstances through an intake process. An initial evaluation with certified staff and the Medical Director will determine your eligibility for HBOT.
No referral is needed. Our Medical Director will review your intake forms and prescribe HBOT if appropriate. If you have a prescription from a provider, we will coordinate with them. For serious health conditions, we may recommend getting clearance from your physician.
Some MD Hyperbaric centers accept insurance for certain on-label conditions — the FDA-recognized indications for which HBOT is an established standard of care. Whether insurance applies depends on your diagnosis, your plan, and the center you visit, so please contact your local center to confirm. Where insurance does not apply, HBOT is a self-pay treatment: most FSA/HSA plans allow reimbursement, and we can provide a superbill and receipt to help you submit a claim.
It depends on how you pay. For insurance-covered treatment at participating centers, your cost depends on your plan's deductible, copay, and coinsurance — the center verifies your benefits and explains expected costs before treatment begins. For self-pay treatment, we offer a variety of pricing options designed to suit different medical and financial needs, including pay-as-you-go and package options at reduced rates when purchased upfront. Please contact us to discuss pricing and options. We accept cash, credit, or check.