Whether you’re preparing for a procedure or trying to bounce back from one, your body’s ability to heal comes down to a single currency: oxygen. Tissues heal when they’re oxygenated. Wounds close when circulation is strong. Inflammation resolves when the body has the raw materials it needs to repair. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy — commonly known as HBOT — is one of the most clinically validated tools we have for flooding the body with that currency at the exact moments it matters most.

At Therapeutic Health, we incorporate HBOT as part of our functional approach to surgical preparation and recovery. It’s a therapy with decades of research behind it — one that’s increasingly being recognized as a meaningful advantage for patients who want to heal faster, reduce complications, and return to full function sooner.

The Case for Pre-Operative HBOT

Most patients don’t think about recovery until after surgery. But what happens before you go under the knife may be just as important as what happens after.

Pre-operative HBOT works on a principle called surgical preconditioning — essentially, loading the tissue with oxygen and priming the body’s repair mechanisms before any incision is made. Research published in peer-reviewed literature has shown that preoperative HBOT can reduce postoperative complication rates and even shorten intensive care unit stays following complex procedures.

 Here’s what pre-op HBOT does:

• Optimizes tissue oxygenation before surgery creates hypoxic zones. Poorly oxygenated tissue heals slowly and is more prone to infection and dehiscence.
• Reduces baseline inflammation, giving the immune system a cleaner starting point when surgical trauma occurs.
• Supports collagen synthesis and fibroblast activity, the foundational processes of wound closure.
• Primes angiogenesis — the formation of new blood vessels — so that vascularization of healing tissue can proceed more efficiently post-op.

Protocols vary, but pre-operative sessions are typically begun one to two weeks before a scheduled procedure. Even a single session 2–4 hours prior to surgery has been studied with measurable results in swelling and bruising reduction.

Hear what Dr. Shierla has to say about our new HBOT chamber and how hyperbaric oxygen treatment goes well above and beyond to optimize patient outcomes.

Post-Operative HBOT: Where the Real Work Happens

Surgical wounds create a localized oxygen debt. Trauma to tissue, disrupted microvascular supply, and the inflammatory response all combine to create a hypoxic environment — precisely when the body most needs oxygen to heal. This is where post-operative HBOT delivers its most significant clinical value.

Beginning HBOT within 24 hours of a procedure, and continuing across a structured series of sessions, addresses the wound environment directly. The pressurized oxygen dissolves into plasma and reaches tissue that inflamed or damaged capillaries can no longer adequately supply.

The documented benefits of post-op HBOT include:

• Accelerated wound closure through enhanced collagen production and epithelialization
• Reduced swelling and bruising by improving vascular tone and reducing fluid accumulation in tissue
• Lower infection risk through direct antimicrobial effects and improved immune cell function in oxygenated environments
• Decreased scar tissue formation as oxygen supports healthy, organized tissue remodeling rather than disorganized fibrotic repair
• Reduced post-surgical pain through inflammation resolution rather than pharmaceutical suppression
• Improved graft and flap survival in reconstructive cases where tissue viability is critical

Research across orthopedic, plastic, colorectal, and reconstructive surgeries consistently supports HBOT as an adjunct that improves outcomes — particularly in complex cases or patients with impaired circulation, diabetes, or other factors that compromise baseline healing capacity.

Who Benefits Most from Perioperative HBOT?

While HBOT offers advantages for virtually any surgical patient, some individuals stand to gain the most:

• Elective cosmetic and reconstructive surgery patients looking to minimize downtime, bruising, and visible scarring
• Orthopedic patients recovering from joint replacements, ligament repairs, or fracture fixation
• Patients with compromised circulation including those with metabolic dysfunction, diabetes, or peripheral vascular insufficiency
• Cancer surgery patients dealing with tissue that has been affected by prior radiation or chemotherapy
• Anyone with a history of slow or complicated wound healing

From a functional medicine perspective, we also look at the broader terrain — nutrient status, mitochondrial function, inflammatory load, and hormonal factors — that influence how well a patient responds to HBOT. The therapy is more effective when the body’s foundational systems are supported.

HBOT in the Context of Functional Medicine

At Therapeutic Health, we don’t use HBOT in isolation. We view it as one component of a comprehensive perioperative protocol that may also include targeted nutritional support, peptide therapy, mitochondrial optimization, and inflammation management. The goal is to create the most favorable biological environment for healing — before, during, and after your procedure.

If you are planning a surgery or are currently recovering from one, HBOT may be a meaningful addition to your care plan. We work with patients to determine appropriate timing, session frequency, and supporting protocols based on their individual health picture.

Ready to Optimize Your Recovery?

Healing is not passive. It is an active, resource-dependent process — and HBOT is one of the most direct ways to provide your body with what it needs to do that work efficiently. Whether you’re weeks out from a scheduled procedure or currently in recovery, we invite you to speak with our team about whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy is right for you.

Contact Therapeutic Health today to schedule a consultation and learn how HBOT can be integrated into your pre or post-operative care plan.