QuickLinks
At Dr. Andrews Plastic Surgery, our ReCenter offers postoperative therapeutic treatments like hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help your body heal by encouraging new skin growth and proper wound healing, decreasing the risk of infection, and promoting a faster recovery time overall.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is used to treat several medical conditions, but it’s also a great noninvasive treatment after plastic surgery. HBOT oxygenates the body’s tissues to promote faster healing. It can dramatically reduce bruising, swelling, and inflammation, which are very common after surgery. Scars are also less visible and heal better due to an increase in collagen production.
During the treatment, you are placed in a special chamber to breathe pure oxygen to achieve a higher-than-normal oxygen concentration in the blood. This extra oxygen allows for better wound healing.
This post-op therapy can be done after a wide range of cosmetic procedures, including liposuction, facelift, tummy tuck, gynecomastia surgery, and more.
Who is a Good Candidate For Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be a great post-op treatment for many people seeking cosmetic surgeries, but it may not be right for everyone. Some of the qualifications necessary to receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy include:
- History of poor wound-healing
- Smokers
- Those who don’t have certain ear conditions, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or asthma
- Those who do not struggle with claustrophobia
- Those who aren’t currently struggling with a respiratory or sinus infection
- Those in generally good health
The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Process
The hyperbaric oxygen therapy process is relatively simple. You will be placed in a hyperbaric chamber and the air pressure is raised higher than normal. While you are in the chamber, you will be breathing pure 100% oxygen. Generally, the sessions last 60-90 minutes, and you will likely need more than one treatment session to see significant results.
The increased air pressure in the chamber helps the lungs collect more oxygen, allowing the body to heal more quickly and fight off certain infections. That said, too much oxygen can actually harm the body. Your levels will be closely monitored by Dr. Andrews and our team.
Aftercare
When an HBOT session is done, you may feel lightheaded, your ears may pop or crack, and you may feel slightly claustrophobic or fatigued, or have a headache. These symptoms will dissipate in the hours after treatment. We recommend someone drive you home after the treatment.
The side effects often diminish the more sessions you have, and how many sessions are required differs from person to person. Dr. Andrews will discuss with you specifics on how many sessions you may need and what benefits you can expect from this therapy.
DR. KAHLIL ANDREWS
Dr. Kahlil Andrews is a board-certified plastic surgeon from Los Angeles specializing in plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.
At his location in Coralville, Iowa, Dr. Andrews’ academic and technical achievements are only exceeded by his commitment to patient care. Whether they are seeking reconstructive breast surgery, outpatient injectable treatment, or a full-blown mommy makeover, Dr. Andrews gives his full attention and focus on achieving excellent patient outcomes.
MEET DR. ANDREWSTestimonials
“
Schedule A Consultation
Are you considering a cosmetic procedure and looking for post-op options to ensure proper wound healing and quicker recovery? The hyperbaric oxygen therapy at Dr. Andrews Plastic Surgery can be a great solution for most patients after surgery.
To learn more, schedule a consultation with Dr. Andrews today. Call our Coralville, IA at (319) 800-6877 or use our online contact form.
