Chemical Face peel:
What is a Chemical Face Peel?
This procedure involves “painting” on to the wrinkled facial areas, a chemical that produces a superficial burn to the skin.
This procedure is done after local anesthesia. In addition, intravenous sedation is often used.
There are different types and concentrations of chemicals that can be used.
Examples of chemical peels are a TCA (trichloracetic acid) peel and a Phenol peel.
The stronger the chemical, the deeper the skin burn and the better the result. If the skin is injured too deeply, scarring can result, therefore this technique must be used by a trained physician. The chemicals require a prescription.
Over the counter “peel” products purchased in the cosmetic section of a retail store can produce a mild inflammation (redness and swelling) to the areas treated for up to three weeks. There is no permanent effect on the skin from these OTC peels or kits once the inflammation disappears. The wrinkling will reappear with no permanent long term improvement from these products.
After the procedure is completed, a special dressing and moisturizers are applied until the peeled areas heal. It takes 7 – 10 days for all the scabbing to disappear.
The patient is left with fairly bright red – pink healed fresh skin which is smoother and free of superficial wrinkles and improved deeper wrinkles.
The pink color fades over a period of 3- 6 months. The pink color can be camouflaged with makeup during this healing period.
The healing skin is very vulnerable to sun exposure during the first 6 months after surgery. Sun exposure during this time may produce increased pigmentation in the peeled areas which may persist for years.
Dr.Giuffre strongly recommends sun block protection during the healing period following a chemical peel.
The deeper the chemical peel, the more likely that the patient may experience varying degrees of decreased pigmentation to the areas treated. This takes many years to develop (5-10 years).
risks:
Risks for Facial resurfacing:
Excess Scarring (hypertrophic) if the treatment was too deep
Infection
Pigmentation change which can be darker or lighter pigmentation to the area treated
Prolonged redness (erythema)
Early Recurrence of the wrinkling (under treatment)
Prolonged irregular surface of the skin
Skin damage (necrosis)
Asymmetry
Expense: Facial resurfacing is not an AHS covered procedure