Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Oxygen under pressure, to support the body's own recovery
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has you breathe high-purity oxygen inside a chamber held above normal atmospheric pressure. The aim is to support the recovery of tissue, ease inflammation and help blood flow — which is why patients on a short stay often place a session around their other appointments rather than instead of them.
※ The final plan and cost are confirmed by your physician after an in-person examination at the clinic. Results and recovery vary by individual.
What the pressure is actually for
Under normal conditions oxygen travels through the body attached to red blood cells. That works, but it has a limit: where circulation is weak or tissue has been damaged, not enough oxygen arrives. Oxygen bound to a red blood cell is also large, so it struggles to reach the deepest capillaries.
Raising the pressure changes how the oxygen travels. At around two atmospheres and above, oxygen dissolves directly into the plasma instead of depending on red blood cells. Dissolved oxygen is small enough to reach cells and microvessels that would otherwise be difficult to supply. The point is not that you breathe more oxygen — it is that the oxygen travels further.
What happens in the tissue
The four stages below are how we explain the therapy at consultation.
- 01Normal stateOxygen moves only with red blood cells, so areas with weak blood flow or damaged tissue are hard to supply adequately.
- 02Impaired blood flowWhen vessels are blocked or damaged, the oxygen reaching that tissue drops sharply. Cells weaken, and inflammation or pain can follow.
- 03Under hyperbaric oxygenBreathing oxygen at two atmospheres or more allows it to dissolve into the plasma, so high-concentration oxygen reaches the affected area. Cellular energy production and regeneration become active at this stage.
- 04Tissue recoveryAn adequate oxygen supply helps reduce inflammation and helps new vessels form in the damaged area, so blood flow normalises and the tissue recovers.
The chamber we use
A session, step by step
The whole process is supervised by our medical team. Nothing about it requires you to change your day around it.
- 01PreparationYou can enter in the clothes you arrived in. Flammable items (lighters, sprays, cosmetics) and electronic devices (phone, tablet, watch) must all be left outside.
- 02Entering the chamberYou enter a single-person chamber. It is a private space and you lie down comfortably for the session.
- 03PressurisationThe pressure inside the chamber is raised gradually until it reaches the target pressure for the session.
- 04Breathing oxygenOnce the target pressure is reached you breathe 100% oxygen without a mask or hood. Many patients watch television or sleep through this part.
- 05DecompressionAt the end of the session — usually 60 to 90 minutes — the pressure is lowered gradually back to normal atmospheric pressure.
Where it fits into a plan
This is where the therapy is most often used at Symphony. It supports a recovery period; it does not replace the treatment itself.
Questions we are asked most
What actually happens during a session?
You breathe close to 100% oxygen at two atmospheres or above. The length of the session is decided with the medical team at consultation. During the session you can watch television or simply sleep.
Is breathing difficult under pressure?
The body equalises the pressure between inside and outside naturally, and you breathe as you normally would.
What will I feel?
During pressurisation and decompression your ears may feel blocked. Swallowing, yawning, or pinching the nose and exhaling gently equalises this. Any discomfort after a session usually settles within minutes. With repeated sessions some people notice a temporary change in their vision, which returns to its previous state within a few days.
Is there anyone who cannot have this treatment?
Yes. It is not carried out for people with an untreated pneumothorax or certain other lung conditions, for people with an implanted cardiac device such as a pacemaker or defibrillator, or during pregnancy. Any other condition or medication should be told to the doctor before the session so that suitability can be assessed.
Can I have it on the same day as another treatment?
It is commonly booked around other procedures. Whether it is appropriate on the same day, and in what order, is decided by the medical team at consultation based on what you have had done.
※ Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is provided here to support the body's own recovery process. It is not offered as a cure for any condition, and no outcome is guaranteed. How each person responds varies. This treatment is not suitable for everyone — untreated pneumothorax and certain lung conditions, implanted cardiac devices such as pacemakers or defibrillators, and pregnancy are among the situations in which it is not carried out — so whether it is appropriate for you is confirmed by our medical team when you attend, after you have told us your medical history and current medication.
What we look at before anything is switched on
Other treatments in this category
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Free, one-on-one, and nothing is decided until you see the plan in person.
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