Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Surgery Recovery: What to Know

HBOT has a real, FDA-approved role in post-surgical care, but only in specific situations. It’s not a general recovery tool for every surgery. Knowing the difference between approved and investigational uses matters, especially if you’re deciding whether to pursue it or whether your insurance might help pay for it.

When HBOT Is FDA-Approved After Surgery

Two post-surgical situations fall within FDA-approved HBOT indications.

The first is compromised skin grafts and flaps. When a graft shows signs of failure, such as color changes, poor capillary refill, or tissue breakdown, HBOT is FDA-approved to help salvage it. This is not routine post-op care. It’s used when something is actively going wrong. Read more about skin grafts and flaps for the clinical detail.

The second is radiation-damaged tissue repair after cancer surgery. If prior radiation therapy has damaged the tissue in an area where surgery is being performed or has been performed, HBOT is FDA-approved to treat that damage. This includes preparing tissue for surgery in a radiation field (hyperbaric oxygen before surgery) and helping it heal afterward.

Both of these may be covered by Medicare and commercial insurance with prior authorization. See the insurance guide and cost guide for what to expect on coverage and out-of-pocket costs. Rates change annually, so verify current reimbursement details with your facility’s billing team.

How HBOT Supports Healing After Surgery

Surgery creates trauma. Healing requires oxygen, and it requires it at the tissue level.

HBOT drives dissolved oxygen directly into plasma at concentrations far above what normal breathing can achieve. That oxygen reaches tissue with compromised blood supply, the exact situation you often have around a surgical wound, a graft site, or a radiation-damaged area.

At the cellular level, HBOT stimulates angiogenesis, which is the growth of new blood vessels into healing tissue. It supports collagen synthesis, the structural protein that rebuilds damaged tissue. It also reduces reperfusion injury and inflammation in areas where blood flow was disrupted and restored.

These aren’t theoretical mechanisms. They’re the basis for the FDA-approved indications. For a deeper look at non-healing wounds in particular, the mechanisms overlap significantly with post-surgical wound failure.

Investigational Uses After Surgery

Some patients and surgeons explore HBOT after cosmetic surgery, joint replacement, and other elective procedures as a recovery tool. The thinking is that if oxygen helps healing at the cellular level, more of it should speed things up.

The evidence for this isn’t strong. These uses are not FDA-approved. Insurance won’t cover them. All costs come out of pocket.

If a surgeon recommends HBOT after a procedure that doesn’t fall into an approved indication, ask them directly what specific evidence they’re basing that on. A good surgeon will answer that question clearly.

What Your Care Team Will Evaluate

Not every post-surgical patient is a candidate for HBOT, even when the indication is real.

Your surgeon and a hyperbaric physician will consult to determine whether you qualify. For a compromised graft, the evaluation typically happens as soon as compromise is detected, not as a preventive measure before any sign of trouble.

They’ll assess your overall health, whether you have contraindications such as untreated pneumothorax or certain medications, and how many sessions you’d likely need. That consultation is the right place to ask questions. Your care team will evaluate your specific situation, not a general protocol.

If you want to know what to expect at your first session, the first session guide covers what the experience is like from the patient perspective.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy FDA-approved for surgery recovery? Yes, in two situations: compromised skin grafts and post-radiation tissue damage. It’s not approved as routine recovery care after standard surgery.

Will insurance cover HBOT after surgery? Insurance may cover it for compromised grafts and radiation tissue injury with prior authorization. It won’t cover investigational uses after cosmetic or elective procedures.

How does hyperbaric oxygen help healing after surgery? It drives dissolved oxygen into tissue with poor blood supply, stimulates new blood vessel growth, supports collagen synthesis, and reduces inflammation.

Can HBOT be used after cosmetic or elective surgery? Some surgeons and patients pursue it for recovery optimization. Evidence is limited, it’s not FDA-approved for those uses, and insurance won’t cover it.

Medical Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before pursuing any medical treatment.