Tummy tuck and hyperbaric (HBOT), how many sessions should I do?

Question

I am considering getting a tummy tuck and doing hyperbaric therapy. Do you do the treatment before surgery and continue doing them a few times right after surgery and how many sessions should a person do? I know it’s not mandatory to do them but I have read doing them have great benefits so I want the extra benefit if it helps. Thanks in advance

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is not commonly done with tummy tuck surgery, so your question prompted me to do a search of the medical literature. I found one study (link below) that showed a lower complication rate with HBOT preconditioning, but the control group complication rate was almost 33% which is extraordinarily high. So the potential benefits would depend on your particular risk profile (body mass index, smoking) and the surgeon's baseline complication rate.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

I see absolutely no reason to use hyperbaric oxygen after a tummy tuck unless there are wound healing problems and the risk of that is low.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear 14Keisha1414,
every plastic surgeon has his own preoperative and postoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Jeffrey C. Hamm, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi and welcome to our forum!
Preoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in high risk patients undergoing abdominoplasty appears to improve surgical outcomes. In a recent study of 356 patients (cited below), preoperative HBOT reduced the complication rate from 32% to 8%. Note: after abdominoplasty, the complication rate is 4% in the general population.
Postoperative HBOT is indicated as required by clinical examination.
This modality is not yet widely employed but holds future promise!
Best wishes...

Tummy tuck and hyperbaric (HBOT), how many sessions should I do?

Answers (4)

Answer: Perisurgical abdominoplasty hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Answer: Perisurgical abdominoplasty hyperbaric oxygen therapy

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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Tummy tuck and hyperbaric (HBOT), how many sessions should I do?

Answers (4)

Answer: Perisurgical abdominoplasty hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Answer: Perisurgical abdominoplasty hyperbaric oxygen therapy

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.