1) What is HBOT?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy means you breathe pure oxygen while inside a chamber where the air pressure is about 2–3 times higher than normal. Under this pressure, your lungs absorb more oxygen, and more of it reaches tissues with poor blood flow. For some slow or infected wounds, this added oxygen can help healing begin.

2) How HBOT helps wounds—step by step

More oxygen to struggling tissue

Picture a dry field that needs water. Oxygen is like that water for cells. HBOT “turns up the pressure,” so oxygen can reach deeper into the wound bed. Cells get the fuel they need to grow fresh, healthy tissue.

New blood vessel growth (angiogenesis)

“Angiogenesis” simply means your body builds tiny new blood vessels. With more oxygen around, signals that support vessel growth become stronger. More vessels = better long-term oxygen delivery where healing has stalled.

Stronger collagen and tissue repair

Collagen is the body’s scaffold for closing wounds. Making strong collagen needs oxygen. With HBOT, the “builder cells” (fibroblasts) can work more efficiently, helping tissue knit together.

Better help from white blood cells

Your immune cells use oxygen to kill bacteria. When wound tissue gets more oxygen, these cells can do their job more effectively—alongside antibiotics, cleaning (debridement), and the right dressings.

Calmer swelling and inflammation

Pressurized oxygen can reduce swelling in some wounds. Less swelling improves blood flow, which creates a better place for healing to progress.

Key point: HBOT is added to wound care, not a stand-alone fix. It works best when the basics are in place: cleaning/debridement, infection control, off-loading/pressure relief, good nutrition, and blood sugar control.

3) Who may benefit

People who may be considered for HBOT include those with:

• Diabetic foot ulcers that are not improving with strong standard care. Some research suggests HBOT can lower the risk of major amputation in selected cases; effects on full closure vary by study and timing.
• Radiation-related tissue injury after cancer treatment (soft tissue or bone, such as the jaw). Some patients report symptom relief and better tissue health.
• Chronic, non-healing wounds with poor oxygen supply.
• Threatened skin grafts or flaps, certain burns, and some crush injuries—always as part of a full treatment plan.

Your wound team will check blood flow, infection status, glucose control, and overall health before recommending HBOT.

4) Who should be careful (risks & side effects)

• Must not start: Untreated pneumothorax (a collapsed lung) is an absolute no until treated.
• Caution & screening: some lung diseases with air trapping, recent ear surgery/injury, active ear or sinus problems, certain implanted devices, some chemotherapy drugs, fever, and severe claustrophobia.
• Common, usually mild effects: ear or sinus pressure, brief changes in vision (temporary short-sightedness), tiredness after a session.
• Rare but serious risks: oxygen-related seizures and lung barotrauma in at-risk people. An experienced team will screen and monitor you for safety.

5) What a session is like

You’ll lie in a clear tube (monoplace chamber) or sit in a larger room with others (multiplace). The chamber pressurizes slowly while you breathe 100% oxygen. One session typically lasts 60–120 minutes. Many plans use daily sessions, five days a week, for several weeks. Staff watch you the entire time. You can relax, read, or watch a screen during treatment.

6) What results to expect (realistic)

HBOT does not replace standard wound care—it adds to it. Some people heal faster or avoid a major amputation; others see little change. Results depend on blood flow to the area, infection control, pressure relief (off-loading), glucose control, nutrition, and how soon HBOT is started after the wound stalls. Expect progress over weeks, not days.

7) Safety, quality & credentials

Choose a center with trained staff, clear protocols, and strong maintenance routines. Typical treatment pressures range around 1.9–3.0 ATA (a measure of pressure). A qualified physician should prescribe and supervise your plan. Don’t hesitate to ask about accreditation and safety standards.

8) Questions to ask your doctor

• Is my wound the kind that tends to respond to HBOT?
• What pressure and session length will you use, and why?
• How many sessions do you expect, and how will we measure progress?
• What risks matter most for me (ears, lungs, glucose, medicines)?
• How will HBOT fit with cleaning/debridement, dressings, antibiotics, and off-loading?
• What will it cost here, and is it covered by my insurer?

9) Costs & access

Coverage varies by country and insurer. As one example, some programs cover HBOT for selected diabetic foot wounds when there has been no healing after a period of standard care, and when the wound meets certain severity criteria. Your clinic can explain the local policy, paperwork, and any re-evaluation steps required.