will hyperbaric chamber therapy help speed up the facelift healing process?

Question

I there I'm about to do. Facelift , neck, eyes, brow lift one dr recommendation after surgery I do hyperbaric chambers (an extra fee done elsewhere) vs another one says it's typically only used for wound therapy and not needed. I feel like the one that stated not needed is the surgeon I'm going with to do my work. Should I do this as precaution, would you heal faster, quicker ? Is it worth doing anyways as it's an external place don elsewhere?

Lucian Ion, FRCS · Answer

Thanks for your enquiry.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has proven its value in wound therapy, where its effects can be measured. 
It is not possible to accurately measure the effects of prevention. As such, some surgeons’ observations make them feel hyperbaric oxygen therapy is helpful and some may feel it is not damaging but also not necessarily helping.
In terms of the impact on the tissues, hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps distribute oxygen to the healing area in higher quantity. Oxygen tends to be valuable for healing wounds, and the rationale is that can also be an accelerator for a healing process that would happen anyway but at the slightly slower rate.
Ultimately, in the absence of visible poor vascularity in the tissues, it remains a choice based on the assumption rather than proof of possible value.

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD · Answer

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is typically only used if there is a problem with wound healing due to marginal blood supply to the edges of the tissue. The vast majority of people who undergo facial rejuvenation with a facelift heal up uneventfully on their own. There may be some small subset of people, such as smokers, prior radiation patients or diabetics, who may benefit from hyperbaric oxygen treatment, but in these groups, modification of the extent of the facelift is usually enough to help them avoid having healing issues after surgery. This is likely a expense that you could avoid. Best wishes.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

In healthy person there is no need for hyperbaric therapy regardless of the surgery performed. In rare cases where there may be some question of skin necrosis due to poor circulation after surgery, this can be considered. That is unnecessary discomfort and expense with no clinical benefit.

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

This is a recent trend in Facelift surgery and one that I would state is not necessary in 99% of uncomplicated facelift recoveries.  In circumstances of suspected flap necrosis or smoking/ nicotine use, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a serious consideration, but overkill as a baseline treatment. My practice is primarily facial rejuvenation, and I have no plans of mainstreaming this modality for my facelift patients.

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

The quick answer is it may not be necessary but it is very likely going to further improve your recovery and results.  An enhanced oxygen environment has positive effects on wound healing.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Hyperbaric oxygen after a properly done facelift is not necessary. It will not sired up the healing and just be a waste of money . You simply don’t need it

Steven A. Hanna, MD, FRCSC · Answer

The scientific evidence around the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in aesthetic/cosmetic surgery is not very robust, so there are differing opinions on how best to use it and those opinions tend to be based on individual surgeon’s experience. So, some surgeons feel that hyperbaric oxygen helps speed the recovery process and many would reserve it for the treatment of wounds or poor blood supply. What is important to understand is that hyperbaric oxygen treatment is not a substitute for meticulous surgical technique and post-surgical care, it is an adjunct treatment. Make sure you are working with a Royal College certified Plastic Surgeon with Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship training, they will be most up to date on facelift surgery and on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

J. Renee Booth, MD · Answer

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is generally done in cases where healing is very difficult. For instance, patients who have facial bones that have partially died because of radiation treatment for cancer. Another example would be diabetic patients with wounds that are not healing. It could theoretically give a small benefit, but there are few studies on this since people heal well without it. In general, the face has excellent blood supply and heals well. If it were my patient or family member, I would recommend adequate daily protein (aim for 100 gm per day), vitamin C (tablet, powder, or lemon/lime better than high sugar orange juice), adequate fluids, and low glycemic index foods (well controlled blood sugars help healing). Some patients take Arnica (to minimize bruising) and/or Bromelain (to minimize swelling). Following post-operative activity restrictions is also very important. If my patient wanted to do something extra to help healing, then I would discuss platelet rich plasma or exosome injection of the surgical site at the very end of the case.
For reference, generally there are 100 to thousands of patients in studies to increase the reliability of the findings. There was a very small number of patients (20) in the following study:Neel OF, Mousa AH, Al-Terkawi RA, Bakr MM, Mortada H. Assessing the Efficacy of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Facelift Outcomes: A Case-Control Study Comparing Outcomes in Patients With and Without Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Aesthet Surg J Open Forum. 2023 Jul 14;5:ojad065. doi: 10.1093/asjof/ojad065. PMID: 37529413; PMCID: PMC10387739.
There were 4 patients in this case study:Simman R, Bach K. Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery in Ischemic Soft Tissue Wounds: A Case Series. Eplasty. 2022 Dec 7;22:e61. PMID: 36545638; PMCID: PMC9748824.

will hyperbaric chamber therapy help speed up the facelift healing process?

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