A Clear Breakdown · Las Vegas
Medical HBOT vs hard-shell HBOT.
Two different modalities. Two different pressures. Two different use cases. Both real, both delivered at Project Wellbeing — and here's exactly how to tell them apart before you spend a dollar.
7155 S. Buffalo Dr., Suite 165 · Las Vegas, NV 89113
In short
Medical hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) operates at 1.5–3.0 ATA in a hard-shell chamber under physician direction and is used for clinical indications like TBI, long COVID, and non-healing wounds. Hard-Shell HBOT operates at approximately 1.3 ATA and is a wellness modality for general recovery, longevity, and biohacking. Project Wellbeing offers both in Las Vegas.
'HBOT' has become a category with confused edges. A wellness facility, a medical clinic, a chiropractor's office, and a longevity spa can all advertise 'hyperbaric oxygen therapy' — and mean completely different things. The single most important distinction is pressure: medical hyperbaric therapy operates at 1.5–3.0 ATA under physician direction, while hard-shell HBOT operates at approximately 1.3 ATA and is a wellness modality.
Project Wellbeing is one of the few facilities in Las Vegas that runs both programs — an ANDI-certified medical hyperbaric program AND membership-included hard-shell HBOT — so we don't have a commercial incentive to blur the line. Here's a straight breakdown.
Why Project Wellbeing
What sets us apart in Las Vegas
Pressure: 1.5–3.0 ATA vs ~1.3 ATA
Medical hyperbaric therapy delivers oxygen at 1.5–3.0 atmospheres absolute in a hard-shell chamber. Hard-Shell HBOT operates at approximately 1.3 ATA. The pressure difference is the biological difference.
Chamber: hard-shell medical vs hard-shell wellness
Both of our chambers are hard-shell, but the medical chamber is engineered for higher pressures and clinical operation; the wellness chamber is engineered for use at ~1.3 ATA.
Session length: 90 vs 60 minutes
Medical HBOT sessions run 90 minutes to match published clinical protocols. Hard-Shell HBOT sessions run 60 minutes.
Physician direction vs wellness modality
Medical HBOT is physician-directed with a medical intake and clearance workup. Hard-Shell HBOT is a member-booked wellness modality — no medical intake required.
Use cases: clinical vs recovery
Medical HBOT for TBI, long COVID, non-healing wounds, post-surgical, chronic injury. Hard-Shell HBOT for general recovery, longevity, biohacking, and weekly wellness routine.
Included vs cash-pay medical
Hard-Shell HBOT is included with the Vitality membership. Medical HBOT is a cash-pay clinical service with package pricing tied to protocol length.
At-a-glance comparison
Medical HBOT vs hard-shell HBOT — side by side
Use this table to figure out which one fits your goal before booking. Both are real; they are not the same therapy.
| Medical HBOT | Hard-Shell HBOT | |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure | 1.5–3.0 ATA | ~1.3 ATA |
| Chamber | Hard-shell, clinical-grade | Hard-shell, wellness-grade |
| Session length | 90 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Oversight | Physician-directed, medical intake | Member-booked, no medical intake |
| Primary use cases | TBI, long COVID, non-healing wounds, post-surgical, chronic soft-tissue injury | General recovery, longevity, jet-lag, weekly wellness routine |
| Certification | ANDI International certified (facility level), FDA-cleared indications | Wellness modality (not FDA-cleared for medical indications) |
| Pricing | Cash-pay package, tied to protocol length | Included with the Vitality membership |
| Typical protocol | 20–40 sessions in a defined block | 1–2 sessions per week, ongoing |
Who it's for
Which one is right for you?
- General recovery, longevity, jet-lag, weekly wellness routine → hard-shell HBOT (membership-included)
- Post-concussion or documented mild TBI → medical HBOT (physician-directed protocol)
- Long COVID / PASC → medical HBOT (physician-directed protocol)
- Post-surgical soft-tissue healing → medical HBOT for eligible cases, hard-shell HBOT as adjunct
- Serious athlete managing training load → hard-shell HBOT weekly; medical HBOT for post-injury blocks
- Not sure → book a consultation. We're one of the few facilities that will tell you medical HBOT isn't the right fit if it isn't.
The Project Wellbeing approach
Held to a higher clinical standard
A lot of facilities have a financial incentive to sell you the modality they offer, whether or not it's the right one. Project Wellbeing runs both — a physician-directed medical program AND a membership-included hard-shell program — so the conversation about which one you actually need can happen honestly.
If you have a specific clinical indication (TBI, long COVID, non-healing wound), the medical program is what the research supports and what we recommend. If you're a healthy adult building a longevity or recovery routine, hard-shell HBOT included with membership is a reasonable and sustainable fit.
Serving the Las Vegas Valley
Convenient for clients across Southern Nevada
Our 15,000 sq ft facility on S. Buffalo Dr. is centrally located near the 215 Beltway, making us an easy drive from anywhere in the Las Vegas Valley.
Frequently Asked
Common questions
Ready to get started?
Book a session, request a tour, or call our team. We'll help you find the right path.