Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): Benefits, Downsides & Costs

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) means breathing pure oxygen inside a pressurised chamber. It is an established hospital treatment for a defined set of conditions — and, increasingly, a treatment offered by longevity clinics for anti-ageing goals. This guide separates what the evidence supports from what is still preliminary, covers the risks honestly, and explains what a course typically costs. You can compare verified clinics that offer it as you read.

What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment in which you breathe 100% oxygen while inside a chamber pressurised above normal atmospheric pressure. The raised pressure lets your blood carry much more oxygen than usual, which can support healing in tissues starved of it.

Sessions usually last 60 to 120 minutes and are repeated over several weeks. The therapy is delivered in single-person chambers or larger multi-person units, under medical supervision in clinical settings.

How does hyperbaric oxygen therapy work?

HBOT works by dramatically increasing the amount of oxygen dissolved in your plasma. At higher pressure, oxygen reaches tissues that poor circulation would otherwise leave under-supplied.

This surplus oxygen does more than fuel cells. It can stimulate the growth of new blood vessels, support the activity of infection-fighting white cells, and influence the redox-sensitive signalling pathways that govern inflammation and tissue repair (Kovacevic et al., Front Med 2026).

What are the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

The clearest benefits of HBOT are in a defined set of approved medical indications, where the evidence is strong. Benefits claimed for general ageing and wellness are far more preliminary.

Established uses, recognised by hyperbaric medicine bodies, include:

• Decompression sickness in divers.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Non-healing wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers.
• Late radiation tissue injury after cancer treatment (Dejonckheere et al., CA Cancer J Clin 2026).
• Certain serious infections and compromised skin grafts (Zhang et al., Int J Med Sci 2026).

Emerging uses are a separate matter. Researchers have begun testing whether HBOT can support brain health and slow cognitive decline, though much of this work is still in animal models. A systematic review and meta-analysis of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease models reported neuro-reparative potential for HBOT, while stressing that human evidence remains limited (Radhakrishnan et al., Neurodegener Dis Manag 2026). HBOT is also being studied for chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, where a randomised controlled trial is evaluating its effect on symptoms (da Mota Neto et al., BMJ Open 2026).

The honest position is this: the anti-ageing results are encouraging but come from small, early trials. They are not yet proof that HBOT slows ageing. Treat any clinic that promises reversed ageing as a warning sign, not a recommendation.

Risks and side effects

HBOT is generally safe when supervised, but it is not risk-free. The most common problems come from the pressure change rather than the oxygen itself.

Possible side effects include:

• Ear and sinus pain or injury from the pressure difference — the most frequent complaint.
• Temporary short-sightedness (myopia) that usually resolves within weeks.
• Claustrophobia inside the chamber.
• Oxygen toxicity, which can rarely trigger seizures or lung irritation.
• Lung injury, in rare cases, in people with certain pre-existing conditions.

Because oxygen at pressure raises fire risk, chambers follow strict safety rules. Always have HBOT delivered by trained staff in a properly equipped facility, never an unregulated device.

How much does hyperbaric oxygen therapy cost?

Costs vary widely by country, setting and whether the treatment is medical or elective. As a rough guide, a single session ranges from around USD 200 to USD 600, and a full course often involves 20 to 40 sessions.

That puts a typical elective course somewhere between USD 4,000 and USD 20,000 or more. For approved medical indications, treatment in a hospital may be covered by insurance or a public health system. Elective wellness and anti-ageing courses are almost always paid out of pocket. Always confirm the price per session, the number of sessions advised, and what is included before you commit.

Who is hyperbaric oxygen therapy for (and who should avoid it)?

HBOT suits people with an approved medical indication, and may interest healthy adults exploring evidence-informed longevity options — provided they understand the evidence is early. It is not suitable for everyone.

You should avoid or delay HBOT, or seek specialist advice first, if you have an untreated collapsed lung (pneumothorax), certain lung diseases, recent ear surgery, or specific heart conditions. Some chemotherapy drugs and a current chest infection are also reasons for caution.

Whatever your goal, speak to a qualified doctor before starting. A clinician can confirm whether HBOT is appropriate for you and rule out the conditions that make it unsafe. You can also browse clinics in the Longevity & Anti-Aging category and read our pillar guide on what a longevity clinic does.

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