Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) & How Does It Work?

HBOT involves breathing 100% pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, typically 2–3 times normal atmospheric pressure. This process increases oxygen levels in the bloodstream, supporting tissue repair, circulation, and cellular activity. At Charlottesville Hyperbarics, HBOT is delivered in a controlled clinical setting following established medical protocols.

Yes, HBOT is FDA-approved for several conditions, including diabetic foot wounds, necrotizing infections, radiation injury, burns, carbon monoxide poisoning, and tissue graft support. Additional uses are being studied in ongoing clinical research, with many indications recognized internationally. At Charlottesville Hyperbarics, we follow FDA-approved guidelines and physician-directed protocols for eligible conditions.

The number of sessions depends on the condition being treated. Most care plans include daily sessions (Monday–Friday) lasting 60–120 minutes, totalling 20–50 sessions. At Charlottesville Hyperbarics, treatment frequency and duration are coordinated with your referring provider and medical oversight team.

No, it’s painless, and you can relax, nap, watch TV, or read. You may feel ear pressure similar to that in an airplane cabin. At Charlottesville Hyperbarics, our staff will guide ear clearing with swallowing or yawning.

At Charlottesville Hyperbarics, each session begins with a brief vitals check and ear assessment. You then enter the chamber, lie back, and breathe pure oxygen while pressure gradually increases. Some people feel warmth followed by cooling sensations. Staff monitor you throughout the session, and adjustments can be made for comfort, including water or blankets.

Yes, when conducted in an accredited facility, HBOT is extremely safe. Minor ear discomfort can be managed with pressure-equalizing techniques. Serious risks like oxygen toxicity are rare and are monitored.

At Charlottesville Hyperbarics, strict sanitation procedures are followed after every session. This includes cleaning chamber surfaces, replacing or sanitizing linens, maintaining air filtration systems, and disinfecting oxygen-delivery equipment to support a clean, controlled environment.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Studies

Click on a topic to find links to studies about HBOT for different conditions.

→ Hypoxia and hyperbaric oxygen therapy: a review.

→ Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Side Effects – Where Do We Stand?

→ Is There an Association Between Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Improved Outcome of Deep Chemical Peeling? A Randomized Pilot Clinical Study.

→ Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Improves Oral Graft Take in Hypospadias Staged Tubularized Autograft Reoperations.

→ The Effect of a 300 mBar Increase in Barometric Pressure on Digital Microcirculation in Healthy Subjects Exposed to High Altitude: Is the Use of a Portable Hyperbaric Chamber to Treat Frostbite and/or Hypothermia in the Field Indicated?

→ Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) Reduces Hepatic Inflammatory and Oxidative Damage in a Rat Model of Liver Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury with Hyperbaric Oxygen Preconditioning.

→ Impact of Hyperbaric Oxygen on Tissue Healing around Dental Implants in Beagles.

→ Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Enhanced Circulating Levels of Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Angiogenesis Biomarkers, Blood Flow, in Ischemic Areas in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease.

→ Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves the effect of keloid surgery and radiotherapy by reducing the recurrence rate.

→ Impact of Hyperbaric Oxygen on the Healing of Bone Tissues Around Implants.

→ Stage III Kienböck’s disease treated with hyperbaric oxygen: the role of an unusual approach to a rare condition.

→ Hyperbaric oxygen therapy ameliorates osteonecrosis in patients by modulating inflammation and oxidative stress.

→ Convulsive seizure and pulmonary edema during hyperbaric oxygen therapy:A case report.

→ Addition of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy vs Medical Therapy Alone for Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

→ Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of central retinal artery occlusion.

→ Short-term effects on ocular variables immediately after hyperbaric oxygen exposures.