Frequently asked questions

OHIP covers HBOT for 14 strictly approved indications: embolisms, carbon monoxide poisoning, gas gangrene, crush injury and compartment syndrome, decompression sickness, enhancement of healing for wounds, exceptional blood loss, intracranial abscess, necrotizing soft tissue infections, osteomyelitis, delayed radiation injury, skin grafts and flaps, thermal burns, and idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Your physician confirms whether your condition qualifies.

Yes. HBOT at Gericke-Nesbitt Regenerative Medicine is available by physician referral only. There is no option to self-refer or pay privately for this therapy.

Most treatments are 90 minutes of oxygen, about 2 hours in total, and longer protocols can run up to 240 minutes of oxygen (285 minutes in total for the long decompression treatment table). You rest comfortably in the chamber while breathing oxygen, and many patients listen to music, watch TV, or nap. You may feel pressure in your ears, similar to a plane landing.

Treatment courses are prescribed by your physician and typically run as a series of daily sessions over several weeks. We report your progress back to your referring physician throughout.

HBOT is an established medical treatment with a long safety record when it is properly prescribed and supervised. Before treatment begins, your referring physician confirms the therapy is appropriate for your indication, and we review your medical history for anything that needs managing first, such as lung conditions, recent ear or sinus surgery, or certain medications.

The most common effect is pressure in the ears and sinuses during compression and decompression, similar to a plane landing. We teach you how to equalize before your first session, and it settles for most people within a few minutes. Some patients notice a temporary change in near vision over a longer course of treatment, which typically returns to baseline in the weeks after treatment ends. More serious effects are uncommon and are managed by the way treatment is delivered: our team monitors you throughout every session, controls the rate of pressure change, and builds scheduled breaks into longer protocols.

Tell us and your referring physician about any health changes during your course of treatment, including colds, congestion, or changes to your medication, so we can adjust as needed.

For referral information, please visit the external Halton Hyperbarics website.

XERF is non-invasive: nothing penetrates the skin, and no numbing or sedation is used. Integrated Cryogen Delivery (ICD) cools the surface and monitors skin temperature in real time throughout the treatment, so energy reaches the deeper layers while the surface stays protected. Depth and intensity are set for your skin, and treatment is delivered by trained staff. Temporary warmth or mild redness for a short time afterward is the most common effect. We review your health history, medications, and any implanted devices at your consultation to confirm XERF is appropriate for you.

The treatment is designed for comfort. It feels warm and comfortable thanks to Integrated Cryogen Delivery (ICD) cooling and Wave Fit pulse technology, and there are no needles and no numbing required.

A session usually takes about 45-90 minutes depending on the total number of areas treated.

No. You can resume most daily activities immediately after the treatment. We recommend SPF 30+ sunblock to the treated areas when in the sun for at least 2 weeks.

You will feel a tighter sensation in the skin immediately. In the weeks after the treatment, your collagen continues to rebuild, enhancing your skin's appearance over time.

There will be 2 initial treatment sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart. Following this, depending on your skin and your goals, a maintenance schedule of every 6 months to 12 months can be arranged.

Yes. XERF is appropriate for all skin types and can be tailored to your skin with three depth settings and ten intensity levels.

Regular prices start at $1500 per treatment ($3000 for the initial 2 treatments). However, please contact us for the most up to date pricing including any existing promotions, referral incentives and loyalty discounts.

XERF treatment is booked by self-referral only. It is not covered by OHIP or extended health plans

Microneedling RF combines physical needles with radiofrequency energy to create micro-injuries in the dermis, forcing a healing response. Due to the pain, typically 30 minutes to 1 hour of pre-treatment with topical numbing cream is necessary. XERF delivers targeted radiofrequency energy non-invasively through advanced dermal heating mechanisms without puncturing or mechanical trauma to the skin surface. As a result there is no downtime and a lower risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Traditional monopolar RF delivers bulk capacitive heating through a single contact point, sending thermal energy deep into the dermal and subcutaneous layers. As a result, Thermage usually causes significant discomfort. XERF uses precise energy modulation to distribute heat uniformly across target dermal depths. This prevents hot spots and eliminates the risk of underlying fat atrophy (volume loss) in delicate facial zones.

HIFU utilizes focused sound waves to create precise focal thermal coagulation points deep within the SMAS (muscle) layer. XERF uses radiofrequency energy to volumetrically heat the dermal collagen network and dermal-epidermal junction. While HIFU targets deep structural lifting, XERF excels at improving superficial-to-mid dermal texture, fine lines, skin radiance, and skin elasticity. HIFU is infamous for deep, bone-deep aching during treatment. XERF delivers a relaxing, warm thermal massage sensation.

Fractional CO2 lasers vaporize micro-columns of skin tissue on the surface (ablative renewal) to trigger aggressive repair, whereas XERF works strictly through thermal sub-dermal stimulation without removing or ablating any skin layers. CO2 laser recovery requires 7–14 days of redness, oozing, and peeling. XERF has no peeling phase or raw skin healing period. CO2 lasers require strict sun avoidance before and after treatment to avoid severe pigmentation issues. XERF can be safely performed in any season on tanned or dark skin tones.

Standard bipolar or multipolar RF devices circulate energy superficially between surface electrodes. They are great for mild circulation and temporary tightening but often struggle to maintain deeper dermal temperatures long enough to trigger permanent neocollagenesis. XERF provides deeper, more sustained thermal retention at optimal collagen-stimulation temperatures (40°C–43°C). Standard multipolar RF typically requires 8–10 weekly sessions to see noticeable changes, whereas XERF delivers structural tightening and visible firmness in significantly fewer treatments.

Red light therapy is non-invasive and drug-free. It uses visible red and near-infrared light, not ultraviolet, so it does not burn or damage the skin the way UV exposure does, and nothing penetrates the skin. Sessions are supervised and the bed is dose-controlled, so you receive a set amount of light per session. Most people feel nothing more than gentle warmth. Some medications and conditions increase light sensitivity, so we review your health history and medications at your consultation and adjust or advise against treatment if it isn't appropriate for you.

No. Sessions are warm and comfortable. You lie down in our ARRC LED ATP RFQ bed while the light works, with no pain and no downtime afterward.

Most plans involve 2 to 3 sessions per week over several weeks. Benefit is cumulative and builds over a course of sessions rather than after a single visit, so we tailor the number to your goals at your first consultation.

Cost depends on the number of sessions in your plan, which we set with you at your first consultation based on what you're treating and your goals. We confirm pricing before you commit to a course, and there is no obligation to proceed. For current rates, call us at (437) 291-8555 or email contact@gericke-nesbitt.com.

It is not covered by OHIP. Many extended health plans reimburse light therapy when it is physician-referred, so if you intend to claim, ask your physician for a referral and check your plan's paramedical or therapy coverage before booking.

Red light therapy is non-invasive and drug-free, and most people tolerate it well. Some medications and conditions affect light sensitivity, so we review your health history and any medications at your consultation.

Each session in the bed takes about 10 to 20 minutes, and most visits are well under 30 minutes in total.

Red light therapy is available for physician-referred chronic pain treatment and as an adjunct to XERF treatments.