Department
Plastic Surgery
Compromised grafts/flaps, post-procedure recovery, radiation injury, reconstructive cases
HBOT Applications
Compromised Skin Grafts & Flaps
Salvage adjunct for ischemic or venously congested skin grafts and flaps. Earlier initiation when perfusion issues are identified is associated with better outcomes; HBOT improves oxygen delivery, angiogenesis, fibroblast activity, and edema control.
Protocol
Pressure
2.0 – 2.5 ATA
Duration
60 – 90 min
Sessions
20 – 30
Frequency
Once daily, 5×/week
Evidence basis: UHMS / Standard of Care
Difficult Postoperative Wounds
Adjunctive HBOT for postoperative wounds with delayed healing, particularly in compromised tissue beds (radiation-injured, ischemic, or contaminated). Cross-references the FDA-approved problem-wound indication; the plastic surgery context emphasises early intervention when surgical revision alone is insufficient.
Protocol
Pressure
2.0 – 2.4 ATA
Duration
90 min
Sessions
20 – 30
Frequency
Once daily, 5×/week
Evidence basis: UHMS / Standard of Care
Radiation-Injured Tissue
HBOT for soft-tissue radiation necrosis preceding or following reconstructive surgery. Promotes angiogenesis in hypoxic, hypovascular, hypocellular tissue and improves outcomes in radiation-affected reconstruction.
Protocol
Pressure
2.0 – 2.4 ATA
Duration
90 min
Sessions
30 – 60
Frequency
Once daily, 5×/week
Evidence basis: UHMS / Standard of Care
Burns & Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infection
Adjunctive treatment for severe burns, necrotizing fasciitis, and traumatic soft-tissue injury. Reduces mortality and tissue loss when combined with surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy.
Protocol
Pressure
2.0 – 2.5 ATA
Duration
90 min
Sessions
20 – 30
Frequency
Once daily, 5×/week
Evidence basis: UHMS / Standard of Care
Aesthetic & Reconstructive Recovery
Comparative-outcome evidence in aesthetic and reconstructive recovery. A 2023 facelift case–control study (n=20) reported mean wound healing of 13.3 vs 36.9 days (P<.001) when HBOT was started within 24 h of surgery. Case series in cosmetic and reconstructive ischaemic soft-tissue wounds report consistent salvage benefit. HBOT is positioned as a salvage and recovery adjunct, not as a routine enhancer of uncomplicated cosmetic surgery.
Protocol
Pressure
2.0 – 2.5 ATA
Duration
60 – 90 min
Sessions
5 – 10 (aesthetic) / 20 – 30 (graft/flap salvage)
Frequency
Once daily; within 24 h of surgery for salvage cases
Evidence basis: Case–Control Study (Neel et al., 2023) + Reviews