WHAT IS HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY (HBOT)?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a medical treatment in which the patient is enclosed in a pressure chamber and breathes 100% pure oxygen intermittently through a mask while under increased atmospheric pressure.
Understanding Pressure: In our daily lives, we exist under 1 atmosphere of pressure (sea level). In this treatment, to support and accelerate the healing process, we place you in a controlled environment where the pressure is increased to 2 to 3 times higher than normal atmospheric pressure.
HOW DOES THE TREATMENT PROCESS WORK?
Pressure is gradually increased by filling the chamber with air. Once the planned treatment pressure is reached, patients put on their masks and begin breathing 100% pure oxygen. For patients with specific medical needs, a transparent "hood" or other breathing circuits may be used instead of a mask.
Treatment sessions are conducted under expert supervision in three stages:
1. Compression (Descent) Phase: After entering the chamber, the doors are sealed, and air is pumped in to gradually increase pressure. During this time, you will feel a sensation of fullness in your ears, similar to taking off in an airplane. You can easily manage this by using simple swallowing or jaw movements (Valsalva maneuver), which our team will teach you.
2. Treatment (Oxygen Breathing) Phase: Once the target pressure is reached, you are now "at depth." In this phase, you put on your mask and breathe 100% oxygen. This is when the primary healing effect of the therapy occurs.
Important Note: Breathing through your nose or mouth while wearing the mask does not affect the treatment; you may breathe however you feel most comfortable.
3. Decompression (Ascent) Phase: Once the treatment time is complete, the pressure inside the chamber is slowly reduced back to normal levels, and the session concludes.
Duration: A single session typically lasts about 2 hours.
Frequency: Usually once a day (may be increased in emergencies).
Schedule: Routine treatments are generally planned for weekdays (Monday-Friday).
While HBOT is a primary life-saving treatment for certain conditions (such as decompression sickness), it is also a powerful adjunctive therapy that accelerates healing for many other medical issues.
Common Areas of Use:
Delayed Wound Healing (Diabetic foot ulcers, non-healing wounds)
Compromised Grafts and Flaps (Crucial for plastic surgery recovery)
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Chronic Refractory Osteomyelitis (Bone infection)
Crush Injuries and Traumatic Tissue Damage
Retinal Artery Occlusion (Eye stroke)
Radiation Tissue Damage (Radionecrosis)
Thermal Burns
Soft Tissue Infections
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The primary goal is to enable the inhalation of 100% oxygen under high pressure. Thanks to this:
The amount of oxygen dissolved in blood plasma and tissues increases significantly.
Oxygen is rapidly delivered to oxygen-starved (hypoxic) tissues.
Wound healing and new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) are accelerated.
Edema (swelling) in the body is reduced.
Infection-fighting defense cells are strengthened, and the efficacy of antibiotics is enhanced
For your safety and the effectiveness of the treatment, the following rules must be strictly followed before entering the chamber:
100% Cotton Clothing: You cannot enter the chamber wearing synthetic materials (nylon, polyester, etc.) that generate static electricity. Our center will provide you with special 100% cotton scrubs.
Personal Equipment: For hygiene and safety, every patient uses their own dedicated mask and circuit during treatment.
Nutrition: Do not enter the chamber on a completely empty stomach. A light meal beforehand is recommended; however, avoid gas-producing foods and carbonated/fizzy drinks.
Cosmetics: Do not use hairspray, gel, oil-based creams, perfumes, makeup, nail polish, or petroleum-based products (like Vaseline).
Prohibited Items: Lighters, matches, mobile phones, smartwatches, hearing aids, car keys, or any battery-operated devices that pose a spark risk are strictly prohibited inside the chamber.
Smoking: Smoking impairs blood oxygenation and must be avoided throughout the treatment process
When performed under the supervision of a specialist physician, HBOT is a very safe treatment method.
Most Common: A sensation of fullness in the ears due to pressure changes. This is easily managed with the ear equalization techniques (Valsalva) you will be taught.
Rare: Temporary changes in vision clarity (myopia), claustrophobia, or oxygen sensitivity may occur rarely. Your entire treatment process is closely monitored by our expert team.