What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy? A Complete Guide to HBOT
Try hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in our own hard shell chamber in Surbiton: a 30 minute trial session for £50.
Book your £50 oxygen therapy trialWhat hyperbaric oxygen therapy is, how a hyperbaric chamber works, what a session feels like, safety, what it is used for and what it costs in the UK.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) means breathing concentrated oxygen while sitting or lying in a chamber pressurised above normal air pressure. The higher pressure lets your blood carry more dissolved oxygen than it can at normal pressure. In the NHS, HBOT is used at specialist centres for specific medical indications such as decompression illness in divers. Private clinics like ours offer it as a wellbeing service, in sessions of around an hour.
This guide, written by the team at 360 Degree Clinic in Surbiton, explains how it works, what happens in a session, who should avoid it, and what it costs.
Try hard shell HBOT in Surbiton. One hour sessions at 1.5 ATA are £75 until 30 November 2026 (usual price £120), and a 15 minute trial with consultation is £50.
Book a £50 trial session · Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Surbiton, near Kingston · Compare hyperbaric oxygen therapy costs in the UK
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
The word hyperbaric means higher than normal pressure. At sea level the air around us is at 1 atmosphere absolute (1 ATA) and is about 21 percent oxygen. During HBOT the pressure inside the chamber is raised, typically to between 1.3 and 1.5 ATA in wellness clinics and to 2 ATA or more in hospital units, while you breathe concentrated oxygen through a mask or hood.
Under pressure, more oxygen dissolves into the liquid part of the blood (the plasma). That is the basic physics behind every form of HBOT. What differs between providers is the chamber type, the pressure, the oxygen delivery and the setting.
What is a hyperbaric chamber and how does it work?
A hyperbaric chamber is a sealed chamber that can be pressurised above normal air pressure. There are three main types:
- Soft shell chambers are inflatable fabric chambers, often running at around 1.3 ATA. They are common in spas and homes.
- Hard shell chambers are rigid chambers that hold a higher, stable pressure. Ours is a single person hard shell chamber running at 1.5 ATA, with oxygen delivered at up to 10 litres per minute.
- Multiplace chambers are large hospital units that hold several people at once and run at higher pressures under medical supervision.
In every type, the chamber is slowly pressurised at the start, held at the treatment pressure, then slowly brought back to normal pressure. Read our comparison of soft vs hard shell hyperbaric chambers.
What happens during a hyperbaric oxygen therapy session?
A typical wellness session lasts about an hour. You change into loose cotton clothing, leave phones and other devices outside, and settle into the chamber. As the pressure rises over the first few minutes you will feel fullness in your ears, like a plane coming in to land, which you clear by swallowing or yawning. At full pressure most people simply rest, read or sleep while breathing oxygen. At the end, the pressure is brought down slowly and you can go about your day.
Read our step by step guide to what happens during a hyperbaric session, including what to wear and eat beforehand.
Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy safe?
HBOT is generally considered safe when it follows a health consultation and is run by trained staff, but it is not suitable for everyone. People with a current or past collapsed lung, some lung conditions, a cold or blocked sinuses, recent ear surgery, pregnancy, and some heart conditions, seizure disorders or medications should avoid it or get medical advice first. Every new client at our clinic has a consultation before their first session.
Read our full guide: is hyperbaric oxygen therapy safe?
Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy hurt?
It should not hurt. The only sensation most people notice is pressure in the ears during pressurisation, which clears by swallowing or yawning. If your ears do not clear, tell the staff running your session so pressurisation can be slowed or paused. Some people feel relaxed or sleepy afterwards.
Are there any side effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
The most common side effects are ear pressure, sinus pressure and tiredness. Rarer effects, including temporary short sightedness after long courses and, very rarely, oxygen related seizures, are mainly linked to the higher pressures and long courses used in hospital units. Many providers advise waiting at least 24 hours after a session before you fly.
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy used for?
In the NHS, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is commissioned at specialist centres for specific medical indications, such as decompression illness in divers and gas embolism, with patients referred by clinicians. Hospital units worldwide also use it for a limited range of other medical problems under specialist care.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy at our Surbiton clinic is a wellbeing service, not medical treatment. We do not claim it treats or cures any medical condition, and if you have a health condition you should speak to your GP first.
Why do people use hyperbaric oxygen therapy for wellbeing?
People who book wellness sessions with us usually do so as part of a relaxation or training routine, or simply because they want to experience it. The evidence for many wellness uses is still limited, so be cautious of any provider promising specific results. The best way to find out how you feel in a chamber is to try a short session first.
Soft shell or hard shell: which should you choose?
Soft shell chambers are cheaper to buy and run, and many operate at around 1.3 ATA. Hard shell chambers hold a higher, stable pressure and are mainly found in clinics. If you are considering buying a chamber for home, compare the real costs first in our guide to buying, renting or booking a hyperbaric chamber.
Cost
How much does hyperbaric oxygen therapy cost?
At UK wellness clinics a one hour session usually costs £65 to £120, and private clinical centres in central London charge around £180 to £275. At 360 Degree Clinic in Surbiton a one hour hard shell session is £75 until 30 November 2026 (usually £120), a 15 minute trial with consultation is £50, and courses start at £350 for 5 sessions. See our full guide to hyperbaric oxygen therapy costs and the current HBOT offer.
Frequently asked questions
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) means breathing concentrated oxygen inside a chamber pressurised above normal air pressure, which lets the blood carry more dissolved oxygen. The NHS uses it at specialist centres for specific medical indications, and private clinics offer it as a wellbeing service.
What is a hyperbaric chamber?
A hyperbaric chamber is a sealed chamber that can be pressurised above normal air pressure. Soft shell chambers are inflatable and often run at around 1.3 ATA, hard shell chambers are rigid and hold higher pressures, and multiplace hospital chambers hold several people at once.
How long is a hyperbaric oxygen therapy session?
Wellness sessions usually last about 60 minutes, including slowly raising and lowering the pressure. We also offer 75 and 90 minute sessions and a 15 minute trial.
Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy hurt?
It should not hurt. Most people only notice pressure in their ears as the chamber pressurises, which clears by swallowing or yawning.
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy used for?
In the NHS it is used for specific medical indications such as decompression illness and gas embolism. Private clinics, including ours, offer it as a wellbeing service and should not claim it treats medical conditions.
How much does hyperbaric oxygen therapy cost in the UK?
Wellness clinics usually charge £65 to £120 for a one hour session, and private clinical centres in central London £180 to £275. At 360 Degree Clinic a one hour hard shell session is £75 until 30 November 2026, usually £120.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Surbiton
Our own hard shell chamber at 1.5 atmospheres. A 15 minute trial with consultation is £50, single sessions £75 until 30 November 2026 (usually £120), and courses from £350.
Consultations are free. 58A Victoria Road, Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, KT6 4NQ, ten minutes from Kingston town centre. Call 020 3971 4025.
Try hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in our own hard shell chamber in Surbiton: a 30 minute trial session for £50.
Book your £50 oxygen therapy trial