What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy? A Beginner’s Guide to HBOT in Newport Beach
Updated: Oct 10
If you are looking for hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Newport Beach, LeCore offers hard-shell 2.0 ATA HBOT at its clinic on Superior Avenue. Sessions are available for physician-cleared post-surgical support, injury recovery, sports recovery, and performance-focused care.
LeCore Newport Beach is a local option for individuals comparing HBOT providers in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, and nearby Orange County communities.
But what exactly is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and what should you expect during a session?
What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a wellness and recovery modality that involves breathing oxygen in a pressurized environment.
The increased pressure allows the body to absorb oxygen more efficiently. Oxygen plays an important role in many normal processes, including cellular energy production, tissue repair, circulation, and recovery from physical stress.
HBOT is used by a wide range of people, including athletes, active adults, wellness-focused individuals, and those looking to support their body’s natural recovery processes.
How Does HBOT Work?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy combines a pressurized environment with a high-dose clinical-grade oxygen breathing protocol. Increasing the surrounding pressure changes how oxygen is carried through the bloodstream and delivered to tissues.
Under normal conditions, most oxygen travels attached to hemoglobin inside red blood cells. A smaller amount is dissolved directly in the liquid portion of blood, called plasma.
During HBOT, increased pressure allows significantly more oxygen (12-16x higher) to dissolve into the plasma. This dissolved oxygen can travel beyond the reach of some red blood cells and diffuse farther into tissues.
Increased Oxygen Availability
The additional dissolved oxygen increases the amount of oxygen available within the body’s tissues. Oxygen is required for mitochondrial energy production and supports many normal cellular processes, including the production of energy, maintenance of tissue structure, and recovery from physical stress.
This does not mean that more oxygen is automatically better for everyone. The effects depend on the pressure, oxygen concentration, session length, individual health history, and the reason HBOT is being used.
Oxygen Diffusion Into Tissues
Pressure-assisted oxygen delivery can increase the distance oxygen travels from small blood vessels into surrounding tissue. This is particularly relevant in areas where oxygen delivery is reduced or where tissue demand is temporarily increased after physical exertion.
Rather than simply breathing more oxygen at normal atmospheric pressure, HBOT uses pressure to increase the amount of oxygen that can be transported in the plasma. This is one of the primary physiological differences between hyperbaric oxygen therapy and ordinary oxygen exposure.
Cellular Signaling and Recovery Processes
HBOT also influences the cellular environment. Changes in oxygen availability can affect signaling pathways involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, tissue remodeling, and the body’s response to low-oxygen conditions.
In appropriate clinical contexts, these signaling effects are associated with processes such as fibroblast activity, collagen production, and the development of new blood vessel pathways. The goal is not to force the body to heal, but to create an oxygen-rich environment that can support the body’s normal repair and recovery functions.
Support for New Blood Vessel Formation
New blood vessel formation, also called angiogenesis, is a complex biological process. It involves communication between cells, growth factors, the extracellular matrix, and existing blood vessels.
Repeated, appropriately prescribed hyperbaric oxygen exposure can influence some of the signals involved in this process. This is one reason HBOT is used in specific medical settings where tissue oxygenation and vascular support are important. For wellness-focused use, it is more accurate to describe HBOT as supporting an environment associated with healthy tissue function rather than promising new vessel growth for every person.
What the Pressure Does
The pressure inside the chamber also has a direct physical effect on gases. As pressure increases, gas bubbles become smaller, which is one of the principles behind HBOT’s use in certain medical conditions. For general wellness and recovery, however, the most relevant concept is that pressure increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in plasma and improves oxygen availability throughout the body.
During a session, the pressure change can create a sensation of fullness in the ears, similar to flying in an airplane. Equalizing pressure by swallowing, yawning, or using other techniques explained by the LeCore team can help make the experience more comfortable.
Overall, HBOT works through a combination of increased oxygen availability, greater oxygen diffusion into tissues, and cellular signaling effects.
What Does an HBOT Session Feel Like?
Many people describe HBOT as a relaxing experience.
At the beginning of a session, you may notice pressure in your ears, similar to the sensation experienced during takeoff or landing on an airplane. This feeling generally resolves as your body adjusts to the pressure.
During the session, you can relax, listen to music, watch your favorite show, read, or simply rest. At LeCore, we value care, and each sessions typically last approximately 75 minutes, to allow full 60-minute of 2.0 ATA hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Your LeCore team can explain what to expect before your first session and answer questions about the experience.
Why Do People Choose Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
People pursue HBOT for different reasons. Common goals include:
Athletic recovery and performance
Post-surgical recovery
Recovery of stressed or injured tissue
Support for surgical sites with concerns related to circulation or oxygen delivery
A structured adjunct to a physician-directed rehabilitation plan
Supporting post-workout recovery
Promoting relaxation and stress management
Supporting energy and cellular wellness
Complementing an active lifestyle
Adding a structured recovery practice to a wellness routine
For patients incorporating hyperbaric oxygen therapy into their regular routine, LeCore Elite includes four HBOT sessions and unlimited red light therapy and PEMF therapy. Explore our Newport Beach membership options.
Who Can Benefit From HBOT?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is popular among:
Post-surgical patients
Athletes and active adults
People with physically demanding lifestyles
Individuals focused on longevity and wellness
Clients building a regular recovery routine
People interested in complementary wellness services
Your goals, health history, and current medications are important when determining whether HBOT is appropriate for you. LeCore reviews relevant health information before beginning services and can help you understand the next steps.
What Makes LeCore's Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Different?
LeCore Newport Beach takes a whole-person approach to wellness and recovery.
Rather than focusing on a single modality, LeCore offers a range of services that can be combined according to your goals. These services include full-body red and infrared light therapy, PEMF, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and other recovery-focused options.
This allows your experience to be more personalized than simply booking a single service without guidance.
Located in Newport Beach, LeCore serves individuals who want a more intentional approach to recovery, movement, performance, and everyday wellness.
How Often Should You Do HBOT?
The appropriate frequency depends on your goals, schedule, health history, and the recommendations provided by your wellness team.
Some people begin with an introductory session to understand the experience. Others choose to include HBOT as part of a consistent recovery or wellness routine.
The most important factor is selecting an approach that fits your individual needs and can be maintained over time.
Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Right for You?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be a valuable addition to a recovery plan or wellness routine, especially for individuals interested in atheltic recovery and performance, supporting post-surgery recovery, cellular wellness, enhanced collagen regeneration, and overall performance.
The best way to determine whether it fits your goals is to speak with Dr. Navid at LeCore Newport Beach, review your health information, and learn what to expect during your first visit.
Explore LeCore's HBOT Intro Offers
Compare current introductory offers for hard-shell hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Newport Beach.
Make Advanced Recovery Part of Your Routine at LeCore Newport Beach
Whether you're recovering from an injury, managing physical discomfort, preparing for surgery, or investing in long-term wellness, LeCore offers flexible membership options that make regular access to professional recovery services more convenient and affordable.
Choose from Access, Premium, and Elite memberships, featuring benefits such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, red light therapy, PEMF therapy, EWOT, Normatec compression, preferred treatment pricing, and family access.
Explore LeCore Memberships to find the plan that fits your treatment needs, recovery goals, and lifestyle.
