What to Bring to a Hyperbaric Oxygen Session

What to expect on session day

A hyperbaric oxygen therapy session is a calm, structured experience. Most of the preparation happens before you arrive, and the clinic staff will walk you through every step. Still, knowing what to bring, and what to leave behind, helps the day go smoothly and keeps the chamber environment safe for everyone.

This guide covers the practical details for a typical session at a hyperbaric clinic: clothing, personal items, documents, and the safety rules that apply inside an oxygen-rich chamber. If you are recovering from plastic surgery, some of these details matter even more, because your incisions, drains, and compression garments need to be handled carefully around the chamber.

Learn more: Bella Oxygen.

Wear the right clothing

Most hyperbaric clinics ask you to change into 100% cotton clothing before entering the chamber. The reason is safety, not preference. Synthetic fabrics can build up static electricity, and in an oxygen-rich environment even a small spark is a fire risk. Cotton clothing minimizes that risk.

Many clinics provide cotton scrubs or gowns for you to wear during the session. If yours does, you can simply arrive in comfortable clothes and change when you get there. If you are asked to bring your own, choose loose, comfortable cotton garments: a t-shirt, sweatpants, or shorts work well. Avoid anything with metal zippers, snaps, or underwire, since metal objects are generally not allowed inside the chamber.

For post-surgical patients, this can raise a question: what about compression garments? Compression garments after liposuction, tummy tuck, or BBL are often made of synthetic materials. Talk to the clinic in advance about how to handle this. Some clinics will have you wear the garment to the appointment and change into cotton scrubs for the session itself, then put the garment back on afterward. Your surgeon can advise on whether a short break from compression during the session is acceptable in your case.

What to bring with you

Keep it simple. A small bag with the essentials is all you need:

A list of your current medications. The clinic needs to know what you take, including supplements and topical products. Some medications can interact with hyperbaric oxygen, so this list should be complete and current.
Your surgical information. If you are post-operative, bring the name of your procedure, the date it was performed, and your surgeon’s contact information. The clinic may want to confirm that your surgeon is aware of your HBOT sessions.
Comfortable clothing to change into afterward. You will change out of the clinic scrubs after the session. Loose clothing that does not press on surgical sites is ideal.
Reading material or something to pass the time. Sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes. Many chambers allow you to read a book or magazine, and some have entertainment screens. Ask the clinic what is permitted.
A water bottle. Staying hydrated is good practice, and you can drink before and after the session.

What to leave behind

The chamber has strict rules about what can go inside. These rules exist because of the fire risk in an oxygen-enriched environment, and every reputable clinic enforces them:

Electronics. Phones, tablets, smartwatches, and earbuds are not allowed inside most chambers. Leave them in the locker or waiting area the clinic provides.
Petroleum-based products. Lip balm, lotions, hair products, and ointments made with petroleum jelly or oils should not be worn into the chamber. These products can be flammable in high oxygen concentrations. If you use a prescribed ointment on surgical incisions, ask the clinic how to handle it.
Perfume, cologne, and scented products. Strong fragrances can be irritating in the enclosed chamber and may bother other patients in multiplace chambers.
Lighters, matches, and anything flammable. This should go without saying, but no ignition sources are permitted anywhere near the chamber.
Jewelry and metal objects. Most clinics ask you to remove jewelry, watches, and hair accessories with metal parts before entering.

If you use hearing aids, ask the clinic about their policy. Some hearing aids are permitted, others are not, depending on the chamber type and the device.

Special considerations after plastic surgery

If you are attending HBOT sessions during recovery from a cosmetic procedure, a few extra preparations help:

Drains. If you still have surgical drains, tell the clinic before your session. They need to know how to position you comfortably and safely in the chamber.
Dressings and bandages. Ask your surgeon whether dressings should be changed before or after the session, and whether any products on your skin need to be removed beforehand.
Pain management. Sessions last over an hour and you need to lie still. If you experience discomfort, take your prescribed pain medication in advance so it is working by the time your session starts. Do not take anything new without checking with your surgeon first.
Transportation. You should be fine to drive yourself after a session, since HBOT does not involve sedation. However, if you are early in surgical recovery and still taking strong pain medication, arrange for someone to drive you.

Eating and drinking before your session

Eat a light meal one to two hours before your session. Going in on a full stomach can be uncomfortable during pressure changes, but going in hungry can leave you lightheaded. A moderate snack, like fruit, toast, or yogurt, is usually ideal.

Avoid alcohol before your session, and limit caffeine if it tends to make you jittery. Carbonated drinks are best avoided right before pressurization, since gas in the digestive tract can expand and cause discomfort as pressure changes.

If you have diabetes, talk to the clinic about blood sugar management around your session. Hyperbaric oxygen can lower blood sugar in some people, so monitoring may be advised.

Questions to ask before your first visit

A good clinic will answer these willingly, and asking them helps you arrive prepared:

Do you provide cotton clothing, or should I bring my own?
Can I bring reading material, and is there entertainment in the chamber?
How should I handle my compression garment, drains, or dressings?
Where do I store my phone and valuables during the session?
Is there anything in my medication list that concerns you?
What happens if I need to use the restroom during the session?

Preparation takes the uncertainty out of your first session. Once you have been through it once, the routine becomes second nature, and you can focus on resting while the chamber does its work. If you are considering HBOT as part of your post-surgical recovery, discuss the plan with your surgeon first, and contact the clinic with any questions about what to expect.