/assets/images/provider/photos/2814342.jpg)
How Hyperbaric Therapy Can Enhance Recovery After Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery continues to rise in popularity as people seek to enhance their appearance and boost self-confidence. Whether it's a facelift, liposuction, tummy tuck, or breast augmentation, one aspect remains universal: recovery. While traditional recovery methods focus on rest, medication, and gentle activity, more patients and surgeons are turning to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as a powerful tool to speed healing and improve surgical outcomes. At CNS Hyperbaric, we specialize in pre- and post-operative recovery support with medical-grade hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Chicago.
If you're preparing for plastic surgery or currently in the healing process, here’s how HBOT treatment in Chicago at CNS Hyperbaric can accelerate your recovery and help you feel your best—faster.
What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves breathing 100% pure oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. During a session, patients relax in a hyperbaric chamber where atmospheric pressure is increased up to 2.0 to 2.5 times the normal air pressure. This increased pressure allows your lungs to absorb significantly more oxygen—up to 15 times more than you would under normal conditions.
Oxygen is critical for wound healing and tissue repair. HBOT supercharges your body’s ability to deliver oxygen-rich blood to injured tissues, reduces swelling, decreases bruising, and fights infection—all essential benefits during pre- and post-surgical recovery.
Why Use Hyperbaric Therapy Before Plastic Surgery?
Most people associate HBOT with post-operative healing—but it can be equally valuable before surgery. At CNS Hyperbaric, we recommend one hyperbaric session prior to your cosmetic procedure to prepare your body for optimal healing and a series post surgery. Here’s how HBOT helps:
Boosts Tissue Oxygenation Before Surgery
Surgical incisions, even minor ones, create an immediate oxygen demand in the tissue. Starting HBOT before surgery increases oxygen saturation in the skin and soft tissues ahead of time—helping the body respond more efficiently to the trauma of surgery.
Enhances Immune Function
HBOT strengthens the immune system by enhancing white blood cell activity and improving your body’s natural defense mechanisms. Going into surgery with a stronger immune response means lower risk of post-op infections and complications.
Reduces Surgical Stress
Even planned cosmetic procedures place stress on the body. Pre-surgical HBOT helps reduce inflammation, balances oxidative stress, and supports the nervous system, making your recovery smoother and less taxing.
Accelerates Overall Recovery Timeline
Patients who begin HBOT before surgery often report faster healing and less downtime than those who begin only after their procedure. The oxygen advantage you give your body upfront makes a measurable difference post-op.
Why Use Hyperbaric Therapy After Plastic Surgery?
Post-operative swelling, bruising, and inflammation can slow recovery and impact surgical outcomes. HBOT addresses these challenges directly, making it a valuable adjunct to cosmetic procedures. Here’s how HBOT treatment in Chicago helps:
1. Accelerated Healing Time
Plastic surgery involves incisions, tissue manipulation, and suturing. These processes damage small blood vessels and reduce oxygen supply to healing tissue. HBOT floods the body with 100% oxygen, enhancing cellular regeneration, increasing collagen production, and repairing blood vessels faster than the body can manage on its own.
2. Reduced Swelling and Bruising
HBOT significantly decreases post-surgical edema (swelling) by reducing inflammation and improving lymphatic drainage. This results in less discomfort, less bruising, and quicker return to normal appearance—especially crucial for facial surgeries.
3. Lower Risk of Infection
Oxygen is a natural enemy of bacteria. By boosting tissue oxygenation, HBOT strengthens your immune response and prevents infections—a key concern in surgeries where incisions are exposed.
4. Improved Skin and Scar Appearance
Patients often report smoother, healthier-looking skin after HBOT. It promotes new blood vessel growth and helps the body produce elastin and collagen—both vital for minimal scarring and youthful skin texture.
5. Enhanced Energy and Wellbeing
Recovery from surgery can leave you feeling fatigued and drained. HBOT increases oxygen delivery to every cell in the body, boosting energy levels and promoting a sense of wellbeing—both physically and emotionally.
Why Choose CNS Hyperbaric for Pre- and Post-Surgical HBOT?
Not all hyperbaric facilities are created equal and not all chambers are the same. CNS Hyperbaric is Chicago’s leading destination for plastic surgery recovery support. Here’s why patients and top cosmetic surgeons trust us with their healing journey:
Gold Standard Perry Medical-Grade Hyperbaric Chambers
We use Perry Baromedical chambers, widely regarded as the gold standard in medical-grade hyperbaric therapy. Unlike soft-sided or portable HBOT units, Perry chambers are hard-shell, hospital-grade systems that allow for precise oxygen delivery at medical pressures. This ensures 100% oxygen saturation, unlike clinics that use compressed air or lower-grade equipment.
100% Oxygen vs. Compressed Air: Why It Matters
Some facilities offer "mild hyperbaric therapy" using compressed air with minimal oxygen concentration. While these systems provide some benefit, they cannot match the therapeutic power of 100% oxygen under medical pressure.
Here’s the key difference:
- Compressed Air Systems: Deliver only about 21% oxygen, the same as room air.
- CNS Hyperbaric’s Perry Chambers: Deliver 100% oxygen under medical-grade pressure, resulting in a dramatic increase in tissue oxygen levels.
The higher the oxygen concentration, the faster the healing. If you're serious about optimizing your surgical results, 100% oxygen therapy is the clear choice.
Customized Pre- and Post-Surgical Protocols
We typically recommend one session prior to your surgery to prepare your body and 3–5 sessions after surgery to support healing. Our team will work directly with your plastic surgeon to create a treatment plan tailored to your specific procedure and goals.
Open 7 Days a Week for Your Convenience
Healing doesn’t wait—and neither do we. CNS Hyperbaric is proud to offer flexible scheduling, 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends. Whether you need a session right after your procedure or want to fit it into your workweek, we’re here when you need us.
Concierge-Level Care and Personal Attention
From the moment you schedule your first appointment, you’ll have a dedicated concierge guiding you through your HBOT experience. We believe healing is holistic, and we’re here to support you emotionally, logistically, and medically every step of the way.
What to Expect During a Hyperbaric Session
Each session at CNS Hyperbaric typically lasts about 60–90 minutes. You’ll relax in a comfortable, climate-controlled chamber while breathing pure oxygen. Many patients bring a book, listen to music, or simply rest.
Side effects are minimal, with some patients reporting a mild popping sensation in the ears (similar to airplane takeoff), which usually resolves quickly. Before beginning therapy, our medical staff will review your health history to ensure you’re a good candidate.
Real Patients, Real Results
Many of our patients report visible improvements within days of starting their HBOT sessions. Swelling subsides faster, bruising fades more quickly, and energy returns sooner than expected. For plastic surgery patients, that can mean returning to work, social events, or even photoshoots sooner—and with confidence.
Trusted by Surgeons Across Chicago
At CNS Hyperbaric, we work closely with board-certified plastic surgeons and aesthetic practices throughout the city. Surgeons appreciate that their patients have access to reliable, medically supervised hyperbaric therapy to enhance recovery and results. When a surgeon refers you to us, you’re getting a partner in healing—not just a session provider.
Schedule Your Recovery Sessions Today
Planning a plastic surgery procedure? Make hyperbaric therapy in Chicago part of your recovery plan. Whether you're weeks away from surgery or already healing, it’s never too early—or too late—to start.
At CNS Hyperbaric, we offer:
- Medical-grade HBOT with 100% oxygen
- Large plexiglass - see through - chambers
- Pre- and post-operative protocols
- Flexible scheduling 7 days a week
- Concierge-level care
- Collaboration with your surgeon
Let us help you heal faster, feel better, and get back to life sooner.
Ready to Get Started?
Call to schedule your consultation. Discover why CNS Hyperbaric is considered the best HBOT clinic in Chicago for surgical recovery.