Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Options During Breast Lift Recovery

For many years, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (also known as HBO Therapy or HBOT) has been recognized as the definitive treatment for decompression sickness, air embolism, and carbon monoxide poisoning. There are approximately 60 medical indications being treated worldwide with oxygen therapy, including decompression sickness (the bends), air or gas embolisms, carbon poisoning, smoke inhalation, skin grafts and wound therapy during surgery recovery.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

HBOT treatment involves the systemic delivery of 100% oxygen at levels 2 to 3 times greater than normal atmospheric pressure (sea level). The oxygen is literally forced into the tissues to promote nitrogen bubble release. Hyperbaric therapy's production of high levels of oxygen saturation helps promote an extraordinary healing environment. Bodily fluids are transported more efficiently, decreasing healing time and the risk of excess scar tissue and problematic wounds.

There are two types of chambers used in hyperbaric therapy:

The multiplace chamber is accommodates up to 12 people. Compression takes place with air and oxygen is delivered through a mask. These chambers are capable of simulating depths of 165 feet or more.

The monoplace chamber accommodates one person and compression takes place with oxygen flowing throughout the chamber. These chambers allow the entire body to be exposed to 100% oxygen and simulate a depth of 66 feet below sea level.

How HBOT Works

Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy allows your tissues to receive more oxygen than you would normally be able to get. The act of breathing 100% oxygen while pressure is gradually increased causes a 10- to 15-fold increase in oxygen concentration in the blood. This results in an increase of oxygen in the tissues, where capillaries produce white cells and fibroblasts (collagen) to create new tissue. HBOT can also significantly enhance the white blood cells' capacity to kill bacteria, so infections are more easily fought off.

Are You a Candidate For HBOT?

If you have any of the following you are not a good candidate for HBOT. Only a trained HBOT technician and/or doctor can determine if you are eligible.

upper respiratory infections and chronic sinusitis
high fever
severe emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
lower than normal seizure threshold
pneumothorax, or collapsed lung
active cancer
pregnancy

What To Expect At Your Consultation

Your doctor will discuss with you the risks and complications of hyperbaric therapy, determine if you are a good candidate and assess your needs. Be upfront about any of the following conditions:

cold or flu symptoms, sinus or nasal congestion, or chest congestion
any possibility of pregnancy
all medications you are taking, including herbal supplements, vitamins or birth control
if you have skipped a meal prior to HBO treatment
if you are diabetic and did not take your insulin prior to treatment
if you have any concerns or anxiety or are claustrophobic
a history of depression (your own or in your family)
if you smoke
chronic gas problems
if you've ever had a collapsed lung
any contraindications listed below.

Honesty is important. If something goes wrong in the chamber, you can't just open the door - you MUST go through proper decompression before you are let out. So be sure to follow the rules and guidelines.

You will be advised about antioxidants and other supplements that can improve the benefits and safety of your hyperbaric oxygen treatment, including vitamins C and E, alpha lipoic acid, and gingko biloba.

What An HBOT Treatment Is Like

I chose to get HBOT treatments because after my breast lift surgery the permanent sutures caused my tissues to become inflamed and the incisions opened up three times. I consulted with a doctor in my area who owned an HBOT treatment center and made an appointment. Each treatment lasted 45 minutes, although an HBOT session can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 ½ hours. Usually you have one session a day, but you may have 2 sessions, 3 to 4 hours apart, in the same day.

Before your HBO therapy, they will go over the rules, guidelines and protocol of your treatment. They will go over again body will undergo while in the chamber. Any last minute concerns will be addressed before your session. Be sure to mention anything that may be of concern to you, no matter how small or insignificant you may think it is.

On your treatment day, you should come to the clinic fully scrubbed and clean, no perfume, make-up, hairspray, leave in conditioners, moisturizers, powders, etc. Only your clean, naked body, wrapped in a 100% cotton robe, pajamas or scrub set, is allowed into the chamber.

You will be lead into the chamber. It it's a multiplace chamber, just sit there with an oxygen mask on your face and breathe. You should not hold your breath in any way, especially if you are ascending (decompressing), as your lungs could be damaged or collapse from a weakened spot bursting from the pressure of the expanding oxygen in your lungs. If you are in a monoplace chamber, you basically lie there and watch TV through the glass wall of the chamber. Static electricity is a concern since the oxygen in the chamber is very flammable, so they ask you not to move and you get to wear an anti-static armband.

The technician closes the hatch and seals it by turning the handles. The treatment begins as the chamber fills up with oxygen. At the end of the session and decompression, the oxygen is turned off and the hatch is opened.

Let the chamber operator know immediately if you experience any of the following:

nausea or vomiting
dizziness
ear or face pain
unusual sights, sounds or smells
chest pain
difficulty breathing
anxiety or claustrophobia
diarrhea

I got 5 HBOT treatments in the course of a week and half. I saw improvement in my wounds, especially the right one, but I waited too long after surgery to see any great results. In the future I will seek HBOT starting within a day post-op.

The Road To Recovery

There really is no recovery connected with HBOT, only decompression. Your initial complaints are what you are attempting to heal from and HBOT is only a tool in which to speed up that process. However, you should not go scuba diving or flying afterwards because your tissues will still be saturated with gases and any further compression of your tissues can lead to more gas saturation, resulting in decompression sickness (DCS). You will be told to drink a lot of water, however, and anti-oxidant supplements are a good idea as well.

Risks and Complications of HBOT

Research, research, research! This isn't like going to sit in a tanning bed for 30 minutes (although you shouldn't be doing that either!). Ascertain that the HBOT technicians are following the proper guidelines. The oxygen present in these chambers is extremely flammable, and the pressures can be harmful if you cannot equalize the pressure in your ears.

There are regulations that must be followed, so be sure you know them before you enter the chamber. The technicians should advise you on the rules of what you must do and not do as well as what you can bring into a chamber. Do not bring in any of the following:

hair spray (this means wearing it or bringing in bottles/cans of it)
silk, rayon or nylon clothes (only garments that are constructed of 100% cotton are safe)
Styrofoam cups
lighters, matches, etc.
Thermos flasks, or any container that cannot be opened or relieved to prohibit pressure build-up
pens or any sealed-vacuum writing instruments
objects containing batteries (radios, laptops, phones, toy, cameras)
footwear
jewelry or metal objects

Contraindications, Risks and Complications of HBOT

Claustrophobia can be an issue for some patients. The chamber is sealed off and cannot be opened quickly without the necessary decompression. Sedatives can be used to relieve any anxiety that you may experience.
Ear and face pain, known as ear or sinus squeeze, can occur in up to 10% of dives to pressure. During compression, the chamber technician will guide you in performing maneuvers such as holding your nose and trying to exhale gently through it to equalize the pressure in your ears and sinuses. If you are unable to equalize, the descent is ceased, as you can rupture your ear drum.
An irritating cough can develop because of the dryness and irritation of pure oxygen in the lungs. A cough due to a viral illness can be made much worse by HBOT, so always let the doctor or chamber technician know if you have cold or flu symptoms or are healing from them.
Seizures can be provoked by oxygen saturation, and medication for epilepsy will need to be reviewed. Short intervals of breathing medical grade air by mask to prevent oxygen build-up may be used.
Blood sugar and insulin levels will have to be closely monitored during HBOT. If in doubt, check your blood sugar levels before you enter the chamber.
If you are pregnant, it is highly doubtful you will be approved for HBOT. You will also be excluded if you have or have had congestive heart failure, hyperthyroidism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute fevers, asthma, optic neuritis, pneumothorax (collapsed lung or weak lung wall), and any recent radiation treatment.
Cataracts can be made worse by HBOT.
Let the doctor/technician know if you have taken insulin, steroids, amphetamines, adrenalin, bleomycin , doxyrubicin, narcotics, alcohol, nicotine, vasodilators, digitalis, sulfamylon, or disulfiram (Antabuse).
Tooth fillings that are improperly sealed, unfinished crowns, sinus infections, a cold or flu, stopped up ears or other ailments which pose an equalization hazard.
During a long course of treatment you may develop temporary vision changes or numbness of your fingers. These pass in time.
Rare complications and emergency procedures may require medical consultation or evacuation to critical care facilities.

The Average Price of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

The average prices for HBOT significantly varies with the technique used, region and surgeon. Average prices may range up to $500 (U.S.) per session. You can buy packages as well. My sessions were $175 per 45 minute treatment in a monoplace chamber. The multiplace treatments were $150 per session.