Assessing the Efficacy of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Facelift Outcomes: A Case–Control Study Comparing Outcomes in Patients With and Without Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Abstract

Abstract Background Wound healing remains among the most concerning complications in aesthetic surgery. The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an accepted method of supporting wound healing. Objectives The aim of this study is to assess the role of HBOT in postoperative healing and complication rates following facelift surgery. Methods This case–control study comprised facelift patients who received HBOT and those who did not between 2019 and 2022. Data were extracted from the patients’ medical records, with the primary outcomes being the presence of complications, wound-healing duration, and patient satisfaction. Results The authors recruited 20 female patients who underwent facelift for this study, with 9 patients in the HBOT group and 11 patients in the control group. The average number of HBOT sessions received was 7.22, and each session lasted an average of 78 ± 5 min. The duration of wound healing in the HBOT group ranged from 7 to 30 days (mean of 13.3 days), whereas the control group ranged from 6 to 90 days (mean of 36.9 days). This indicates a statistically significant shorter time to wound healing in the HBOT group compared to the control group (P < .001). Conclusions Future prospective randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and blinding are needed to further evaluate the potential benefits of HBOT in the postoperative period. Nonetheless, our findings suggest that HBOT may be a promising adjunctive therapy for patients undergoing facelift surgery. Level of Evidence: 3