Aesthetic & Reconstructive Recovery

Adjunctive HBOT in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery for accelerated post-procedure healing and salvage of compromised grafts and flaps. A 2023 case–control study of facelift patients (n=20, retrospectively matched, single surgeon) reported mean wound healing of 13.3 days in the HBOT group versus 36.9 days in matched controls (P<.001), with sessions starting within 24 hours of surgery at approximately 2.0 ATA. Reviews of compromised flaps and grafts characterise HBOT as a salvage adjunct that improves oxygen delivery, angiogenesis, fibroblast activity, and edema control while standard surgical management addresses the mechanical cause of failure. HBOT is positioned as a salvage and recovery adjunct, not as a routine enhancer of uncomplicated cosmetic surgery.