Why Radiation-Damaged Tissue Doesn’t Heal & How HBOT Helps

Radiation saves lives, but it can also leave a lasting impact on the body that may not become apparent until months or even years later. This delayed complication, known as late radiation tissue injury (LRTI), happens when healthy tissue near a treated area suffers long-term damage. 

Research shows that radiation can permanently damage small blood vessels, leading to poor oxygen delivery, and can trigger progressive scarring, called fibrosis, that makes tissue stiff, weak, and prone to breaking down. Together, these changes create a perfect storm for chronic nonhealing wounds, pain, and poor healing. 

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) offers a way to interrupt this process by flooding tissues with oxygen, encouraging new blood vessel growth, and reducing inflammation. Continue reading to explore what happens to blood vessels after radiation, how HBOT can help, and where to find the best hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Sandy Springs. 

What Happens to Blood Vessels After Radiation?

Radiation doesn’t just target cancer cells; it also damages the tiny blood vessels that keep healthy tissue alive. Over time, this damage leads to a process known as obliterative endarteritis, where the walls of small arteries and arterioles become inflamed and thickened. These vessels gradually narrow or close off, cutting off circulation to the surrounding tissue. 

The remaining capillaries often regrow, and some may become fragile, dilated vessels that appear abnormal but don’t restore normal blood flow. As a result, the area becomes chronically hypoxic, meaning it doesn’t get enough oxygen. This oxygen shortage weakens cells, slows down their ability to repair damage, and leaves the tissue vulnerable to breakdown, skin infections, and nonhealing wounds.

How Does Fibrosis and Scarring Progress After Radiation? 

After radiation exposure, inflammation can persist, keeping the tissue in a constant state of repair. This stimulates fibroblasts, the cells responsible for forming scar tissue, to continue producing collagen and other extracellular matrix materials. Over time, this process causes the tissue to become stiff, thickened, and far less elastic than before. At the same time, radiation reduces the number of stem cells in the area, which are needed to rebuild healthy, functional tissue. The result is a combination of scarring and gradual tissue thinning that leaves the area fragile, less functional, and prone to ongoing problems.

Why Radiation-Damaged Tissue Doesn't Heal On Its Own

Radiation-damaged tissue struggles to heal because it can’t rebuild the blood supply it needs. The growth of new blood vessels is also impaired, and the few blood vessels that do grow back are often disorganized and inefficient. This means oxygen levels stay low, keeping the tissue in a chronically starved state. Without oxygen, key repair cells can’t divide or function normally. Additionally, the lack of good blood flow means that fewer immune cells reach the area, leaving the tissue highly vulnerable to infection, even from minor injuries or surgical procedures. 

How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Help Radiation-Damaged Tissue Heal

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivers 99% oxygen at higher-than-normal atmospheric pressure inside a specialized chamber. This extra pressure allows much more oxygen to dissolve into the plasma so that it can reach even the most oxygen-starved areas of tissue. Over the course of several treatments, this surge of oxygen reverses the cycle of hypoxia that keeps radiation-injured tissue from healing on its own. HBOT also promotes: 

• The formation of healthy tissue
• Reduction of chronic inflammation
• More organized collagen production for healing wounds without thick, stiff scar tissue
• Boosting immune cell function that enables the body to fight infections better

Discover the Best Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Sandy Springs for Radiation-Damaged Tissue

Healing from radiation damage requires a team that listens, adapts, and cares at every step. At Regenerative and Hyperbaric Medicine, we’ve built our centers around that philosophy. Our Sandy Springs location offers advanced hyperbaric oxygen therapy specifically tailored for radiation-damaged tissue, combining state-of-the-art chambers with expert physician oversight to create a treatment plan that truly fits your needs. 

We know that no two patients are alike, which is why our team takes a patient-focused approach, guiding you through care that not only addresses the affected area but also restores comfort and quality of life. With additional accredited HBOT clinics in Cumming and Marietta, we are proud to serve patients across Metro Atlanta and North Georgia, making world-class HBOT accessible to people in our community and beyond. Every day, our mission is simple: to empower your body’s natural ability to recover and help you get back to living fully.

Ready for powerful, effective healing of radiation-damaged tissue with the best hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Sandy Springs?