HBO THERAPY SPEEDS HEALING FOR PLASTIC SURGERY PATIENTS

New Study Reports Patients Recover Faster and Heal Better!

“Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is an exciting new therapy for cosmetic surgery patients that reduces swelling and dramatically shortens recovery. Our patients love it and report feeling a sense of well-being and additional benefits as well”

–Dr. Daniel Man

Editor’s Note: The following study was reported in the International Hyperbarics Association

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Therapy, also known as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, hbo or hbot, is a specialized therapy that uses an increase in atmospheric pressure in order to allow the body to incorporate more oxygen into blood cells, blood plasma, cerebral-spinal fluid, and other body fluids.

At sea level the atmospheric pressure is 1ATA (14.7 psi or pounds per square inch), which allows the lungs to absorb a normal amount of oxygen from the air. At higher altitudes, the pressure drops and the lungs are not able to absorb as much oxygen from the air. This is why oxygen masks drop in an airplane at high altitudes – to increase the O2 content due to the lack of pressure. The exact opposite happens at lower altitudes (below sea level). There, the pressure is greater (above 1ATA) and now the lungs can more easily absorb the oxygen, and at a greater volume.

Consider this analogy:
A bottle of soda-pop is a pressurized vessel. In the bottle there is liquid. There is also ‘carbonation’ (the gas) and pressure. When the bottle is sealed, bubbles are not seen. The moment the cap is twisted and the seal is broken, there is a ‘swish’ and the pressure is released from the bottle. Now, all of a sudden there is a formation of bubbles in the bottle, and as time goes, they grow and float to the top of the liquid. Certainly the pressure in the bottle is quite high and the nature of the gas (carbonation) is a different than the 21% O2 in the ambient air. However the concept is the same. In the hyperbaric chamber, as the pressure goes up, more O2 from the air is ‘pushed’ into the fluids of the body.

The healing process occurs when a severely compromised tissue in the body begins to receive oxygen, and blood circulation to the tissue resumes. Note: The damaged tissue may not have been receiving enough blood for it to heal, due to a lack of blood circulation caused by the initial trauma.

Here lies the healing magic of Hyperbaric Therapy.

Inside the pressurized chamber, the story unfolds. The surgery site now begins to receive a healing dose of oxygen through the surrounding body fluids and plasma—even if the blood supply to the tissues is compromised.

Furthermore, to boost the oxygen concentration in oxygen chambers, supplemental oxygen may be added into the chamber during treatment. Doctors and therapists commonly use enriched oxygen or an oxygen concentrator, also called an oxygen generator to help supplement the O2. As explained before, this oxygen will become infused into the numerous types of liquids in the body—blood, plasma, cerebral fluids.

And like the soda-pop in our analogy, the oxygen-uptake will remain in the body for a time after treatment.

The Gas Laws of Physics state that more gas is dissolved in a liquid by increasing the pressure of the gas.

Note: Breathing pure oxygen at 2 Atmospheres, gives 10 times the regular amount of oxygen (2 x 100% vs. 21%). In one hour, humans can inhale 2.4 pounds of oxygen! (Normal is 6 pounds/day). Red blood cells instantly fill with oxygen and the extra oxygen dissolves directly into the blood fluid. In a few minutes, this extra oxygen builds up tissue oxygen levels far above normal.

The Principle of hbo is simple. Increase the atmospheric pressure and get a directly proportional increase in available oxygen. In other words, a twofold increase in the pressure would equal twice the available oxygen molecules to breathe.

How long the treatments last depends on the doctor or therapists particular protocol for that individual. Every person and every condition is unique and the hyperbaric treatment may require a one hour or two hour session. A program should be set out for that individual, which may require 3 treatments a week for several weeks or more.

Types of hyperbaric chambers.

Although there are many different manufacturers and designs of HBO chambers, there are basically only 2 different types of units on the market, high pressure which are designed for enriched oxygen and mild hyperbaric units. Depending on what the person is trying to handle and what the physician’s protocol is will dictate which type of chamber should be used.

Uses of HBOT

There is much more information and research available on this remarkable subject. The New England Journal of Medicine has much documentation on the use of HBOT for the treatment of such indications as multiple sclerosis, acute carbon monoxide poisoning, gas gangrene, air embolism, diabetic foot wounds, infections, burns, ulcers and edema. This is but scratching the surface of the many uses of hyperbaric technology.

(Source: International Hyperbarics Association)

Dr. Daniel Man and his staff will be happy to discuss Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy with you. Please call for a private consultation at 1-800-232-5508 or schedule an appointment online.