Jay Leno’s surgeon warns that star may have permanent scarring from ‘serious injuries’

Jay Leno may be left with permanent scarring on his face as a result of severe burns suffered when his 1907 steam engine car erupted into flames. 

The comedian can be seen in a blue hospital gown with bandaged hands and arms lying down in a hyperbaric chamber in video obtained by Inside Edition.

Leno’s surgeon says the star may suffer from some ‘long-term’ marks. 

The former talk show host has undergone surgery and skin grafts since the fiery incident on Saturday led to burns to his upper body, including his face. 

Dr. Peter H Grossman with the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles said Leno was in good condition and in the chamber to help with swelling and prevent bacterial infections. 

‘All things considered, he’s doing pretty well. He’s got some serious injuries but he’s got a positive attitude and hopefully with a little bit of time he’ll be home and back to work at some point soon’ he told CNN.

‘We’re hoping to get him as close to pre-injury stat status as we can. His injuries are serious. There may be some long-term marks that we’ll see. At this time it’s just a little too early to know.’ 

Dr. Grossman added that Leno may have additionally suffered some third-degree burns and will have another surgery later this week. 

Dr. Peter H Grossman with the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles said that Leno is in good condition but there are concerns over ‘long-term marks’ 

Jay Leno, 72, underwent surgery after sustaining serious burns when one of his steam cars ‘erupted into flames without warning.’ The comedian was seen in a video in a hyperbaric chamber that is supposed to decrease swelling, help blood flow and prevent bacterial infections

Leno with 1907 White Steam Car – George Swift, an employee for the comedian, told ET that it was a steam car that sent Leno to the hospital

Leno is in the care of Dr. Peter Grossman, a doctor who has previously been recognized for his outstanding work with burn victims

Speaking of the hyperbolic chamber, he told Insider Edition: ‘It helps decrease swelling, it helps increase blood flow with good oxygenation and it helps decrease bacteria.

‘He’s had grafts that are not his own, meaning the skin we have from a skin bank or a donor, that’s what we do as a first stage.’

The injuries sustained in the horrific incident covered the comedian’s face, hands, and chest, the doctor said. 

In spite of his maladies, Grossman described Leno as a ‘kind and engaging patient.’ 

He also said that the ‘Jay Leno’s Garage’ host is in ‘good spirits’ and is doing well. 

Leno even handed out cookies to children being treated at the Southern California hospital Wednesday morning, the doctor said. 

The second procedure will take place later this week – but the exact details of the surgeries required are unknown. 

Grossman says he anticipates Leno will make a ‘full recovery’ from his injuries but did not specify how long the process could take. 

‘As I’m getting to know Jay, I don’t think it’s going to be months,’ he said. ‘I think he’s the kind of guy who’s gonna move forward.’ 

WHAT IS A HYPERBARIC CHAMBER AND HOW IS IT USED?

A hyperbaric chamber is a highly-pressurized room or tube where a patient is given pure oxygen to breathe. 

The air pressure in these chambers is three times higher than normal pressure outside. 

Lungs operate on gas exchange, which happens more or less efficiently at different pressures. 

At this higher air pressure, the lungs are able to take in more oxygen than under normal conditions. 

All the body’s tissues require oxygen to live and stay healthy, so in a hyperbaric chamber the lungs take in more oxygen which is then carried throughout the body to restore tissues that may be struggling or infected. 

Oxygen also help to reduce inflammation and encourage new blood vessels to grow. 

WHAT ARE HYPERBARIC CHAMBERS USED TO TREAT? 

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a proven treatment for decompression sickness, a condition that some people develop after SCUBA diving, wherein the high pressure of being deep under water causes nitrogen to form in their blood vessels. 

This typically causes muscle and joint aches and fatigue, but in rare cases can prove fatal. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reverses the process that allows the dangerous nitrogen bubbles to form. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors may also recommend hyperbaric oxygen therapy for:   

• Anemia, severe
• Brain abscess
• Bubbles of air in your blood vessels (arterial gas embolism)
• Burn
• Decompression sickness
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Crushing injury
• Deafness, sudden
• Gangrene
• Infection of skin or bone that causes tissue death
• Non-healing wounds, such as a diabetic foot ulcer
• Radiation injury
• Skin graft or skin flap at risk of tissue death
• Vision loss, sudden and painless   

Although claims have been made that the therapy helps a whole hosts of other medical issues, there is only scientific evidence to support the above uses. 

There isn’t significant reason to believe it treats conditions like fibromyalgia, depression or chronic fatigue syndrome.  

Dr. Grossman confirmed the news of Leno’s procedures Wednesday morning 

Jay Leno’s Garage warehouse in Los Angeles where the accident that left Leno with serious burns happened last Saturday

The star has an extensive collection of cars, and was working on one at the time of the incident

Leno enjoys showing off his extensive collection of cars, which are kept in pristine condition in his garage – with this pair of Buick Roadsters being his first cars when he moved to LA

The former Tonight Show presenter missed an appearance at a financial conference – with an email to Forum 2022 attendees from The Financial Brand and obtained by People confirming the star is in ill-health

Leno is certainly not Grossman’s first notable patient, however. 

In 2013, rocker Travis Barker shared a photo with Grossman to his Facebook thanking the medical professional for his help in recovering from severe injuries, presumably sustained in his 2008 plane crash. 

‘Went by Grossman Burn Center and visited Peter H. Grossman this morning. I had about 26 surgeries during the time I was at his burn center and 65% of my body was burnt,’ Barker wrote.

‘This dude saved my life along with his team. I owe him a lot,’ the Blink 182 drummer said.

Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker (right) posted a photo with Dr. Grossman in 2013 

Leno, who according to NBC News, may need skin grafts for his burns is in good hands with Grossman, who also has worked along side J.R. Martinez raising money for burn victims. 

The comedian’s injuries specifically impacted the left side of his face and his hands, the source told NBC. 

Leno is receiving hyperbaric treatment, described as oxygen therapy that ‘can accelerate burn wound healing,’ according to the Grossman Burn Center. 

In a statement Leno (pictured in a shot on his Instagram yesterday) said: ‘I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire. I am ok. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet’

In a statement after the incident, Leno said: ‘I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire. I am ok. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet.’

He later told TMZ that it was his friend, Dave, who saved his life, by jumping on him and smothering the flames. 

The host said that he was repairing a clogged fuel line when he got sprayed on his hands and face with gasoline.  

On Monday, Page Six also reported that Leno may need skin grafts as a result of the burns. 

George Swift, a mechanic in the comedian’s personal garage, told ET that it was a steam car that sent Leno to the hospital. 

‘It was a steam car. This steam was made by gas. It got sprayed, as a gas,’ Swift, a mechanic who works at the garage, said.  

‘He called me, and he told me there was a fire and the fire department is coming,’ the employee continued. 

In a separate interview with Access Hollywood, Swift said that Leno is ‘going to be fine.’ He added: ‘It’s nothing life-threatening. He’s in great spirits, but you know, it’s going to take a while.’ 

Leno – whose eye and ear was not affected in the blaze – has been taken to the burn ward at Grossman Burn Center

The Burbank Fire Department also spoke with ET and confirmed that they were dispatched to Leno’s luxury garage around 12.30pm Saturday for reports of a fire. 

Upon arriving at the scene in the 3100 block of North Damon Way, ‘one adult male’ was assessed and treated. 

Leno was transported to a local emergency room and then taken to the Grossman Burn Center for further care. 

A spokesperson for the medical center told People: ‘Jay wants everyone to know that he is in stable condition and receiving treatment … for burns that he received to his face and hands from a gasoline accident in his garage over the weekend.’

She continued: ‘ He is in good humor and is touched by all the inquiries into his condition and well wishes. [He] wants to let everyone know he is doing well and is in “the best burn center in the United States.”‘

The Burbank Police Department told DailyMail.com that they were not called to the scene of the fire. 

Leno had previously shared details on his extensive collection of Barrons.com, sharing more details on how he acquired the lot of old-school cars. 

The steam cars, which he had said are ‘reliable and dependable,’ require a boiler to heat water to steam which then is used to drive a piston that turns the vehicle’s wheels.

In 2021, the ‘Tonight Show’ veteran was actually stopped in his 1906 Stanley Steamer for speeding on Interstate 405 in California. 

Leno’s steam collection includes ‘cars, stationary engines, and even an enormous Advance steam tractor,’ according to the 2021 story published by Barrons. 

Iconic TV host Jay Leno, 72,  confirmed that he suffered serious facial burns and been hospitalized after a car in his garage set alight on Saturday