Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy & Facial Plastic Surgery Recovery

Enhancing Recovery with Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy After Facial Plastic Surgery

At Locketz Facial Plastic Surgery in Denver, we are committed to delivering exceptional, natural results while providing a luxurious and efficient recovery experience. One advanced modality we utilize to enhance post-operative healing is Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (mHBOT)—a safe, elegant, and highly effective way to accelerate healing after facial surgery.

What is Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves breathing concentrated oxygen (usually 90–95%) in a pressurized chamber operating between 1.3 to 1.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA). While traditional medical-grade HBOT (2.0–3.0 ATA) is used in hospitals for conditions like decompression sickness or carbon monoxide poisoning, mild HBOT is the modality most commonly used by plastic surgeons—including in our practice—due to its safety profile and proven benefits for aesthetic post-operative recovery.

Clinical Evidence: How HBOT Enhances Surgical Healing

Even at lower pressures, HBOT enhances oxygen delivery to tissues, jumpstarts healing, and supports a wide range of regenerative processes. Here’s how the evidence stacks up:

1. Faster Wound Healing After Facial Surgery

A 2023 study published in Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine found that facelift patients who received HBOT (average of 7.2 sessions) healed in an average of 13.3 days, compared to 36.9 days in patients who did not receive HBOT (P < .001). Even at mild pressures, this acceleration in healing time was clinically significant.

Source: PubMed – PMID: 37529413

2. Reduction in Swelling and Bruising

A randomized study found that HBOT significantly reduced periorbital bruising and swelling in patients following blepharoplasty and facelift procedures. Patients experienced a 35% faster reduction in bruising by day 7 post-op.

Source: Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, 2010.

3. Enhanced Collagen Regeneration

Oxygen is vital for collagen synthesis. Mild HBOT has been shown to increase fibroblast activity and extracellular matrix production, which plays a key role in optimizing wound strength and long-term skin texture.

Source: PMID: 27922300

4. Minimized Risk of Infection

Improved tissue oxygenation enhances leukocyte activity, thereby reducing infection risk—a key benefit in facial surgeries where incision lines are discreet but under high aesthetic scrutiny.

Why We Use Mild HBOT in Our Practice

While traditional HBOT chambers are more intense and medically regulated, mild hyperbaric chambers offer an ideal balance for facial plastic surgery patients. They’re:

• Comfortable and safe for daily post-op use
• Non-invasive and well tolerated by a wide range of patients
• Effective at lower pressures for increasing tissue oxygenation without medical risk

We work closely with local high-end mHBOT providers in Denver and tailor your treatment plan based on the nature of your procedure—whether you’ve undergone a deep-plane facelift, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, or comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

The Recovery Experience, Elevated

True luxury lies not just in the outcome but in the journey. We believe the recovery process should reflect the same level of care, personalization, and innovation as your surgery itself. That’s why we integrate mHBOT into many of our post-operative plans: to reduce downtime, minimize discomfort, and enhance the long-term quality of your results

Experience the Art of Recovery

At our practice, you’re not just healing—you’re healing beautifully, purposefully, and with intention. To learn more about how Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can support your facial surgery recovery, contact us for a consultation.