Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
Post-Surgery Healing and Recovery
Mr Tunc Tiryaki, a globally recognised leader in regenerative medicine, is pioneering advanced treatments that revolutionise patient care by accelerating healing, enhancing results and refining the patient journey. With a focus on optimising post-surgical recovery, Mr Tiryaki recommends that all his patients undergo a series of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) sessions following their procedures.
HBOT, known for its ability to increase oxygen delivery to tissues, plays a critical role in speeding up the healing process, reducing inflammation and improving overall recovery outcomes.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves breathing 100% pure oxygen in a pressurised chamber, usually at pressures higher than normal atmospheric levels. While oxygen is essential for survival, breathing it in a pressurised environment enhances the body’s ability to absorb and utilise it. HBOT was initially developed to treat decompression sickness in divers, but its applications have since expanded into various areas of medicine, including wound healing, infection control and recovery after surgery.
During an HBOT session, patients lie inside a sealed chamber that gradually increases in pressure to around 1.3 times normal atmospheric pressure. This pressurised environment allows oxygen to dissolve more effectively in the blood, tissues and fluids, leading to a wide range of therapeutic benefits.
How Does HBOT Work?
Oxygen plays a critical role in cellular health, energy production and tissue repair. By delivering high levels of oxygen to the body in a pressurised environment, HBOT promotes a variety of physiological changes:
Enhanced Oxygen Delivery:
Under pressure, oxygen dissolves in all of the body’s fluids, including plasma, lymph and cerebrospinal fluid. This oxygen-rich environment allows the body to deliver oxygen to areas that may be difficult to reach under normal circumstances, such as swollen or injured tissues.
Reduced Inflammation:
HBOT reduces inflammation by increasing oxygen saturation in tissues, promoting healing and helping alleviate pain. This is particularly beneficial after surgery, as managing inflammation is crucial for a smooth recovery.
Increased Collagen Production and Cell Repair:
Oxygen is essential for collagen synthesis and cell repair, both of which are critical for wound healing. By increasing oxygen availability, HBOT helps the body rebuild damaged tissues more effectively.
Enhanced Immune Response:
HBOT strengthens the immune system by supporting white blood cell function through increased oxygen levels, enhancing the body’s ability to fight off infections. This is especially important for surgical patients, as infections can significantly impair recovery.
Improved Blood Vessel Formation:
HBOT stimulates angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels. This process improves blood supply to injured areas, helping deliver essential nutrients and oxygen, promoting faster healing and reducing scar tissue formation.
The Health Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
HBOT is used to address a broad spectrum of medical conditions due to its multi-faceted effects on health. Key benefits include:
Wound Healing and Tissue Repair:
HBOT is highly effective for wound healing, making it a preferred treatment for patients with chronic wounds, burns and non-healing ulcers. By increasing oxygen supply to the damaged tissues, HBOT promotes cell regeneration, collagen production and faster healing of wounds that might otherwise take weeks or even months to improve.
Reduction of Inflammation and Pain:
For people suffering from inflammatory conditions such as arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease, HBOT can help reduce chronic inflammation and associated pain. The anti-inflammatory effects of HBOT make it beneficial not only for these conditions but also for surgical patients, as it reduces post-surgical swelling and enhances comfort during the recovery process.
Brain Health and Cognitive Function:
HBOT has been shown to support brain health by improving oxygen supply to brain tissues, benefiting cognitive function, especially after trauma. It’s also being studied as a treatment for conditions like traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke and certain neurodegenerative diseases. The increased oxygen supply promotes cell repair and reduces inflammation in brain tissues, improving memory, focus and overall mental clarity.
Immune System Support and Infection Control:
By increasing white blood cell activity through enhanced oxygen availability, HBOT helps the body fight infections more effectively. For patients at risk of infection or with compromised immune systems, HBOT provides a natural, powerful boost to immune function. This is especially valuable for patients recovering from surgery, as infections are a common risk factor that can delay healing.
Enhanced Physical Performance and Recovery:
Athletes and fitness enthusiasts are increasingly using HBOT to enhance physical performance and recovery. The therapy may help reduce muscle fatigue, accelerate tissue repair after injury and improve overall endurance. With increased oxygenation, the body can recover more quickly from strenuous activity, beneficial for both professional athletes and individuals with active lifestyles.
Relief from Jet Lag:
HBOT can be an effective remedy for jet lag, which can cause symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, irritability and disrupted sleep, resulting from the body’s struggle to adapt to a new circadian rhythm. HBOT helps combat these effects by enhancing blood flow and oxygenation throughout the body, including the brain. This increased oxygen intake boosts energy levels, mental clarity and cellular repair, helping travellers feel more refreshed and alert. By promoting faster recovery from the physical strain of travel and reducing inflammation, HBOT supports a quicker adjustment to new time zones.
Why HBOT is Beneficial for Post-Surgical Recovery
Post-surgical recovery can be challenging for some patient, involving pain, swelling and the risk of complications. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can help support post-surgical recovery with accelerated healing, reduced inflammation, decreased risk of infection, minimised scarring and improved general health and wellbeing:
Faster Healing:
HBOT accelerates the healing process by delivering more oxygen to the surgical site, which is essential for repairing damaged tissues.
Reduced Inflammation and Swelling:
By minimising inflammation, HBOT helps to decrease pain and improve comfort during recovery.
Lower Risk of Infection:
Enhanced immune function from HBOT reduces the risk of infection, a common concern after surgery.
Minimised Scarring:
By supporting collagen production and tissue regeneration, HBOT can reduce scar formation, which is often a concern for patients undergoing cosmetic or reconstructive surgeries.
Improved Overall Wellbeing:
Surgery can take a toll on the body’s energy levels and immune system. HBOT helps restore energy, reduce fatigue and strengthen the immune system, allowing patients to feel better more quickly.
What to Expect from an HBOT Session
For those considering HBOT, it’s helpful to know what the experience is like. During an HBOT session, patients lie down in a comfortable chamber. The pressure is gradually increased to around 1.3 times normal atmospheric pressure while the patient breathes 100% oxygen. Sessions typically last 60-90 minutes and most people feel relaxed and refreshed afterward; many people even take the opportunity to sleep through the sessions.
Patients may require multiple sessions, depending on the extent of their surgery or the condition being treated. A typical HBOT course might range from 5-7 sessions for optimal results in post-surgical recovery.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a powerful, non-invasive treatment with benefits that extend across various health domains. From enhancing wound healing and immune function to supporting cognitive health and reducing inflammation, HBOT has shown its versatility as a treatment option. To learn more or book your session, visit London Regenerative website
