Surgical recovery · Holladay, Utah
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy after surgery in Utah
Your procedure is one part of your recovery. Get a personalized medical review to explore whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy belongs in your healing plan—after general, orthopedic, reconstructive, or plastic surgery.
Care around your procedure.
Tell us what surgery you are having, when it is scheduled, and what your surgeon recommends. We will review your health history and discuss appropriate timing and treatment options.
A plan for your healing needs.
HBOT is used alongside your surgeon’s care. Suitability depends on your diagnosis, tissue health, and recovery concerns—not simply the name of your procedure.
Oxygen & tissue healing
Why consider HBOT after surgery?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing medical oxygen in a pressurized chamber. This increases the oxygen carried in the liquid portion of your blood and can improve oxygen delivery to tissues affected by low oxygen levels.
Oxygen supports the body’s wound-repair processes. For selected patients, HBOT may be part of a treatment plan for compromised tissue, certain difficult-to-heal wounds, or delayed radiation injury.
HBOT has established uses for selected healing complications, including compromised grafts and flaps. Evidence for routine recovery after uncomplicated surgery is more limited. It is not recommended for normal, uncompromised grafts or flaps, and faster recovery, less bruising, or better scars cannot be guaranteed.
Clinical reference: Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society: compromised grafts and flaps .
General surgery & plastic surgery
Bring your procedure into the conversation.
Whether your surgery is medically necessary or elective, our team can review your recovery concerns. These examples are starting points for consultation; the procedure alone does not establish a need for HBOT.
General & other surgical procedures
- Orthopedic surgery: joint replacement, fracture repair, and foot or ankle procedures.
- Abdominal surgery: hernia repair and other abdominal operations.
- Gynecologic surgery: hysterectomy and other pelvic procedures.
- Reconstructive surgery: tissue reconstruction following injury, cancer treatment, or another operation.
- Wound-related procedures: skin grafts, tissue flaps, and surgery involving previously irradiated tissue.
We review the healing problem, your surgeon’s findings, and whether an established hyperbaric indication is present. Routine recovery after these operations is not an established indication by itself.
Plastic & cosmetic surgery
- Facial procedures: facelift, neck lift, eyelid surgery, and rhinoplasty.
- Breast procedures: augmentation, lift, reduction, and reconstruction.
- Body contouring: tummy tuck, liposuction, body lift, arm lift, and thigh lift.
- Combined procedures: mommy makeover and other planned combinations.
- Revision procedures: repeat surgery or reconstruction requiring an individualized healing plan.
Discuss your goals and your surgeon’s recommendations with our physician. Elective recovery uses have varying and often limited evidence; HBOT does not guarantee cosmetic results.
A wound that is opening, worsening pain, fever, spreading redness, drainage, or skin that becomes pale, dusky, or dark needs prompt assessment by your surgeon. Do not wait for an HBOT appointment. Severe symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath require emergency care.
When healing needs closer attention
Healing concerns that deserve a medical review
Postoperative swelling and a difficult surgical wound are different clinical situations. Your surgeon’s examination helps identify the cause and the next step.
Compromised skin grafts & tissue flaps
A graft or flap with inadequate oxygen supply may need urgent treatment. HBOT may be used alongside surgical management in selected cases. A mechanical problem with blood flow must be assessed and addressed promptly; chamber treatment cannot correct it.
Selected difficult-to-heal wounds
If an incision is not progressing, your team should assess infection, circulation, pressure on the area, and other barriers to healing. Not every open or slow-healing surgical wound qualifies for HBOT. The diagnosis and response to standard care guide the decision.
Surgery involving previously irradiated tissue
Tell your surgeon and our physician about prior radiation treatment near the surgical site. Delayed radiation tissue injury is a recognized hyperbaric indication, but treatment planning depends on the affected tissue and the proposed procedure.
Routine swelling & elective recovery goals
After a facelift, tummy tuck, breast procedure, or orthopedic operation, ask what recovery is expected and which symptoms warrant a call. Cosmetic goals and normal postoperative swelling alone do not establish that HBOT is medically necessary.
Medical oversight matters
Recovery care with a physician’s perspective.
At Utah Body & Soul, hyperbaric care is supervised by Dr. Deanne Long, MD, FACEP, who is board-certified in emergency and hyperbaric medicine. Her experience includes 15 years at the University of Utah’s Level 1 Trauma Center and work in hospital wound-care and hyperbaric programs. Read Dr. Long’s professional background .
You rest in a clear, hard-sided, single-person chamber while a trained technician monitors treatment and communicates with you. Before starting, our team reviews your medical history, medications, and surgical instructions to determine whether treatment is appropriate.
Before & after your procedure
Plan your next step.
Share your surgery details.
Call or text with your procedure, surgery date, surgeon’s name, and any healing concerns. Contact us before surgery when possible so there is time for medical review.
Complete a medical review.
Our physician evaluates suitability and discusses evidence, potential benefits, and risks. Any plan should align with your surgeon’s instructions and ongoing follow-up.
Personalize your visits.
If treatment is appropriate, our team will explain session length, timing, preparation, and pricing. The number of visits depends on your condition and response.
Dr. Long’s starting recommendation for appropriate plastic-surgery patients is typically 5–10 sessions, ideally including one before surgery when feasible. This is an individualized clinic approach, not a universal protocol or a guarantee of benefit. Other surgical conditions may require a different schedule or treatment setting.
A practical recovery checklist
What to discuss before your first HBOT visit
You do not need to choose a treatment package before you understand your options. Bring these questions to your surgeon and our medical team.
| Topic | Questions to ask | Details to share |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical plan | Is HBOT appropriate for my diagnosis? Who will coordinate with my surgeon? | Procedure name, surgery date, surgeon’s contact details, and postoperative restrictions. |
| Wound & devices | Can my dressing, drain, or implanted device be used safely during treatment? | Device information, wound-care instructions, and any change in the incision. |
| Medical history | Do my medications or lung, ear, or sinus history affect suitability? | Medication list, recent illnesses or procedures, and relevant health conditions. |
| Visits & transport | How long should I allow for the entire appointment? Will I need help getting here? | Mobility restrictions, transportation needs, and your surgeon’s travel guidance. |
| Costs & progress | What is my confirmed rate? When will we reassess whether treatment should continue? | Referral information, coverage questions, and your recovery goals. |
Keep your wound-care plan central.
Follow your surgical team’s instructions for cleaning, dressings, bathing, medications, and activity. Do not add products or change dressings based on general online advice. Report new or worsening symptoms to your surgeon.
Patient education: MedlinePlus guide to caring for a closed surgical wound .
Understand chamber safety.
Concentrated oxygen requires strict fire-safety procedures. Follow the team’s directions about clothing, skin products, personal items, and medical devices. Ask about the screening and monitoring steps before treatment begins.
Safety reference: FDA recommendations for safe use of HBOT devices .
Session pricing
Know your options before you begin.
Our team will confirm the appropriate session and your rate before treatment. A medical review is required for all patients.
Insurance coverage, when available, depends on diagnosis, medical necessity, and plan requirements. Do not assume routine surgical recovery is covered. HSA/FSA eligibility depends on your plan and documentation; confirm before using those funds.
Regular sessions
Physician-referral surgical recovery rate
For general and plastic surgery recovery with a verified physician or surgeon referral and medical clearance.
Referral terms: Available for surgical recovery following general, orthopedic, reconstructive, plastic, or other surgery with a verified referral from your treating physician or surgeon. The referral must identify the surgery and request evaluation for postoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Provide the referring clinician’s name and office contact details when scheduling. The referral must be verified before discounted treatment. Medical clearance by our hyperbaric care team is required; a referral does not guarantee treatment eligibility. Without a verified qualifying referral, regular session pricing applies. Our team will confirm eligibility and pricing before your visit.
Your questions, answered
HBOT after surgery: FAQs
Can HBOT help after any surgery?
Not every surgical patient needs HBOT. It has recognized uses for specific problems, such as compromised grafts or flaps and selected problem wounds. Evidence for routine healing after an uncomplicated operation is more limited. Our physician will review your situation and discuss whether treatment makes sense.
Will it reduce swelling, bruising, or scarring?
HBOT can affect tissue oxygenation and swelling in selected medical conditions. That does not establish a reliable cosmetic benefit after every operation. Results vary, and we cannot promise less bruising, smaller scars, or a shorter recovery.
How soon after surgery can I start?
Timing depends on your procedure, medical stability, and surgeon’s guidance. Contact us before your surgery when possible. If a graft, flap, or wound is deteriorating, contact your surgeon immediately; urgent assessment comes before routine scheduling.
Who qualifies for the $250 surgical-recovery referral rate?
The $250 rate is available for a 90-minute surgical-recovery session following general, orthopedic, abdominal, gynecologic, reconstructive, plastic, or other surgery with a verified referral from your treating physician or surgeon. It is not limited to plastic surgery.
The referral must identify the surgery and request evaluation for postoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Provide the referring clinician’s name and office contact details when scheduling. We must verify your referral before discounted treatment. Medical clearance by our hyperbaric care team is required; a referral does not guarantee treatment eligibility. Without a verified qualifying referral, regular pricing applies.
How many sessions will I need?
Your treatment schedule is personalized to your surgery, medical history, healing concerns, and response. The same $250 referral rate is available across surgery types when the referral and medical-clearance requirements are met; the number of sessions may differ.
For appropriate plastic-surgery patients, Dr. Long typically discusses 5–10 sessions, ideally including one before surgery when feasible. Other surgical conditions may need a different schedule or treatment setting.
What does treatment feel like?
You rest in a clear chamber while breathing oxygen under increased pressure. You may feel ear pressure similar to changing altitude. A technician monitors you and can communicate with you during the session.
What are the risks, and who may not be a candidate?
Potential risks include ear or sinus pressure injury, temporary vision changes, and rare oxygen toxicity. Some lung conditions and medications need special review; an untreated pneumothorax is a contraindication. Tell our team about all medications, recent procedures, implanted devices, and new symptoms.
How should I prepare?
Follow the clinic’s specific safety instructions and wear the approved clothing provided or directed by the team. Phones, electronics, jewelry, and unapproved personal products stay outside the chamber. Ask about dressings, drains, or other postoperative devices before arriving.
Does HBOT replace follow-up visits or wound care?
No. Continue your surgeon’s wound care, medications, activity restrictions, and follow-up appointments. HBOT, when appropriate, is an additional treatment within your broader recovery plan.
Learn more: UHMS hyperbaric oxygen indications · UHMS compromised grafts and flaps .
Trusted medical information
Learn more about HBOT & surgical healing
These independent references explain medical indications, safety, and wound care. They provide background for your consultation and do not endorse our clinic or establish that you need treatment.
- UHMS: recognized indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy Which diagnoses are recognized uses of medical hyperbaric care.
- UHMS: compromised grafts and flaps Why impaired tissue oxygenation differs from an uncomplicated surgical result.
- FDA: safe use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy devices Safety procedures, staff training, and fire prevention.
- MedlinePlus: closed surgical wound care General incision-care information to discuss with your surgeon.
Care questions for our team? Contact Utah Body & Soul , explore our hyperbaric oxygen therapy service , or meet our providers .
Surgical recovery in Holladay
Let’s talk about your recovery.
Planning a procedure or navigating healing afterward? Our Holladay clinic serves patients from Salt Lake City, Cottonwood Heights, Millcreek, Sandy, and surrounding Utah communities. Call or text to discuss your surgery and arrange a medical review. Follow your surgeon’s guidance about travel after surgery.
Utah Body & Soul
6440 South Wasatch Blvd., Suite 320Holladay, Utah 84121
On the bottom floor
Tuesday–Friday · 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
