Not every chamber delivers the same oxygen. Here's what makes medical-grade HBOT different.
Pressure Isn't the Whole Story
Hyperbaric chambers are popping up in gyms, spas and wellness centers. Many look alike from the outside, but a chamber in a non-medical facility and a chamber in a medical center are built for very different purposes.
Most soft-shell "mild" chambers are pressurized with air to about 1.3 atmospheres, and users simply breathe that same air, which is about 21% oxygen. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) notes that these sessions deliver no more oxygen to the body than breathing oxygen through a mask at sea level. Soft chambers have FDA clearance for one use only: acute mountain sickness.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is defined differently. UHMS describes it as breathing near 100% oxygen inside a chamber pressurized to at least 1.4 atmospheres, and its approved indications call for 2.0 atmospheres or more. Pressure and oxygen work together. Take away either one and it's no longer HBOT.
At MD Hyperbaric, our hard-shell, FDA-cleared chambers are also pressurized with air. The difference is what patients breathe: medical-grade oxygen delivered through a mask. Keeping the oxygen in the mask, rather than filling the chamber with it, adds a layer of safety. That's also why HBOT belongs in a medical setting. The FDA classifies hyperbaric chambers as Class II medical devices, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy requires a physician's prescription. At MD Hyperbaric, every dive is supervised by a Medical Director, and your prescribed sessions are determined by your unique medical needs.
How Oxygen Travels Under Pressure
Normally, oxygen moves through your bloodstream attached to red blood cells, which are already close to full when you breathe at sea level. Pressure opens a second route. Under pressure, oxygen dissolves directly into plasma, the fluid part of your blood, which can reach tissue where circulation is limited by swelling or injury.
Breathing 100% medical-grade oxygen through a mask at 2.0 atmospheres delivers roughly seven times the oxygen pressure of a mild chamber running on room air. Oxygen fuels how cells make energy and repair themselves, so with more of it reaching tissue throughout the body, HBOT may support natural healing, new blood vessel growth and a healthy inflammatory response.
Mild Chamber vs. Medical-Grade HBOT
- Chamber: A mild chamber has a soft shell pressurized with air. Medical-grade HBOT uses a hard shell pressurized with air.
- Pressure: A mild chamber reaches about 1.3 ATA. Medical-grade HBOT reaches 1.4 ATA and up, with 2.0 ATA or more for approved indications.
- Breathing: In a mild chamber you breathe the chamber's air, about 21% oxygen. In medical-grade HBOT you breathe near 100% medical-grade oxygen by mask.
- Oxygen: A mild chamber delivers about 0.27 ATA of oxygen. Medical-grade HBOT delivers about 2.0 ATA, roughly seven times as much.
- Oversight: Mild chambers are often unsupervised. Medical-grade HBOT is physician-prescribed and supervised by a Medical Director.
Oxygen is shown as the pressure of oxygen breathed in: room air at 1.3 ATA compared with 100% oxygen at 2.0 ATA.
HBOT is FDA-approved for 14 indications. For other uses, such as concussion and athletic recovery, HBOT may play a supportive role alongside a broader care plan, and results vary from person to person. Every MD Hyperbaric dive is supervised by a Medical Director.
Quick Tip: Ask Two Questions Before You Dive
What pressure will the chamber reach, and what will I be breathing? If the answers are "about 1.3" and "room air," it is not hyperbaric oxygen therapy. A third question worth asking: who is supervising?
Know Someone Who Should Read This?
Many of our patients first heard about HBOT from someone they trust. If a friend, family member or your physician has questions about what makes medical-grade HBOT different, pass this article along. You can also read more about what HBOT is.
Sources
- UHMS Position Statement: Low-Pressure Fabric Hyperbaric Chambers. Undersea Hyperb Med, 2018.
- UHMS, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Indications.
Important Information
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Individual results vary.
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What Our Patients Say
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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.