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Chemical
Peels
Is a chemical
peel right for you
Peel
formulas at a glance
PCA Peel
Treatments
Preparing
for your chemical peel
After your
treatment
If you're
considering chemical peel ...
Chemical peels use a chemical
solution to improve and smooth
the texture of the facial skin
by removing its damaged outer
layers. It is helpful for those
individuals with facial
blemishes, wrinkles and uneven
skin pigmentation. Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and
alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) are
used for this purpose. The
precise formula used may be
adjusted to meet each patient's
needs. Although chemical peel
may be performed in conjunction
with a facelift, it is not a
substitute for such surgery, nor
will it prevent or slow the
aging process. Once you and your
plastic surgeon have decided on
a specific peel program, be sure
to ask about any details that
you do not understand.
Deciding if chemical peel is
right for you
Chemical peels are most commonly
performed for cosmetic reasons
-- to enhance your appearance
and your self confidence.
Chemical peels may also remove
pre-cancerous skin growths,
soften acne facial scars and
even control acne.
Alphahydroxy acids (AHAs), such
as glycolic, lactic, or fruit
acids are the mildest of the
peel formulas and produce light
peels. These types of peels can
provide smoother,
brighter-looking skin for people
who can't spare the time to
recover from a TCA peel. AHA
peels may be used to treat fine
wrinkling, areas of dryness,
uneven pigmentation and acne.
Various concentrations of an AHA
may be applied weekly or at
longer intervals to obtain the
best result. Your doctor will
make this decision during your
consultation and as the
treatment proceeds. An
alphahydroxy acid, such as
glycolic acid, can also be mixed
with a facial wash or cream in
lesser concentrations as part of
a daily skin-care regimen to
improve the skin's texture.
Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) can
be used in many concentrations,
but it is most commonly used for
medium-depth peeling. Fine
surface wrinkles, superficial
blemishes and pigment problems
are commonly treated with TCA.
The results of TCA peel are
usually less dramatic than and
not as long-lasting as those of
a phenol peel. In fact, more
than one TCA peel may be needed
to achieve the desired result.
The recovery from a TCA peel is
usually 5 days.
All chemical peels carry some
uncertainty and risk Chemical
peel is normally a safe
procedure when it is performed
by a qualified, experienced
plastic surgeon. However, some
unpredictability and risks such
as infection and scarring, while
infrequent, are possible.
 Chemical
peels are especially useful for
the fine wrinkles on cheeks,
forehead, and around the eyes,
and the vertical wrinkles around
the mouth.
AHA peels may cause stinging,
redness, irritation and
crusting. However, as the skin
adjusts to the treatment
regimen, these problems will
subside.
With a TCA peel, your healed
skin will be able to produce
pigment as always; the peel will
not bleach the skin. However,
TCA-peel patients are advised to
avoid sun exposure for several
months after treatment to
protect the newly formed layers
of skin. TCA peel may produce
some unintended color changes in
the skin. If this happens the
patient will be placed on a
bleaching rx. This is
accomplished by using a Sunblock
when going outside.
^UP
Alphahydroxy acids (AHAs)
Uses:
-
Smooths rough, dry skin
-
Improves texture of
sun-damaged skin Aids in
control of acne
-
Can be mixed with bleaching
agent to correct pigment
problems
-
Can be used as TCA
pre-treatment
Considerations:
-
A series of peels may be
needed
-
As with most peel
treatments, sunblock use is
recommended
Trichloroacetic acid (TCA)
Uses:
-
Smooths out fine surface
wrinkles
-
Removes superficial
blemishes
-
Corrects pigment problems
Considerations:
-
Can be used on neck or other
body areas
-
May require pre-treatment
with Retin-A or AHA creams
-
Treatment takes only 10-15
minutes
-
Preferred for darker-skinned
patients
-
Peel depth can be adjusted
-
Repeat treatment may be
needed to maintain results
-
Sunblock must be used for
several months
-
Healing is usually quick,
much quicker than with a
phenol peel
It is very important that you
find a physician who has
adequate training and experience
in skin resurfacing. Your
plastic surgeon may offer you a
choice of peel techniques or
suggest a combination of peels
to obtain the best result for
you.
During your initial
consultation, it is important
that you discuss your
expectations with your plastic
surgeon. Don't hesitate to ask
any questions or express any
concerns that you may have.
Expect your plastic surgeon to
explain the planned procedure in
detail, including its risks and
benefits, the recovery period
and the costs. If you have a
history of herpes, you should
inform your physician prior to
the procedure. ^UP
Preparing
for your chemical peel
Your plastic surgeon will
instruct you on how to prepare
for your peel treatment.
Sometimes Retin A - a
prescription medication derived
from Vitamin A - is used to
pre-treat the skin. This thins
out the skin's surface layer,
allowing the TCA solution to
penetrate more deeply and
evenly. If your skin won't
tolerate Retin-A pre-treatment,
an AHA cream may be used
instead. Hydroquinone, a
bleaching agent, is sometimes
used in conjunction with Retin-A
or AHA pre-treatment, especially
if you have blotchy skin areas
or pigmentation problems. You
may have to spend a month or
more in the pre-treatment phase
before the doctor will schedule
your actual peel.
You will need to arrange for
someone to drive you home. You
probably won't need any extra
assistance if you're having an
AHA peel or superficial TCA
peel.
Where your peel will be
performed
Most chemical peels may be
safely performed in a plastic
surgeon's office, office-based
surgical facility or outpatient
surgical center.
Types of anesthesia
Mild, local anesthesia may be
given to relax the patient
before and during the
procedure.
No anesthesia is needed for AHA
peels since they cause only a
slight stinging sensation during
application.
The peel
AHA peels/treatments: Your
doctor will apply the AHA
solution to your cleansed facial
skin, a process that usually
takes no more than 10 minutes.
No "after-peel" ointment or
covering is required. Depending
on the strength of the peel,
periodic treatments may be
necessary until the desired
effects are achieved.
For some patients, the
application of an AHA-based face
wash or cream once or twice a
day at home will be sufficient
to accomplish the desired goal.
Your plastic surgeon may add
Retin-A or a bleaching agent to
your at-home treatment schedule.
After several weeks of at-home
use, your doctor will examine
your skin to determine if your
regimen needs adjustment.
A full-face TCA peel usually
takes no more than 15 minutes.
Two or more TCA peels may be
needed to obtain the desired
result, and those may be spaced
out over several months. Mild
TCA peels may be repeated as
often as every month.
 The
chemical solution can be applied
to the entire face, or to a
specific area - for example,
around the mouth - sometimes in
conjunction with a facelift.
^UP
After your
treatment
After an AHA peel, it is common
to experience some temporary
flaking or scaling, redness and
dryness of the skin. However,
these conditions will disappear
as the skin adjusts to
treatment.
After a phenol or TCA peel, your
doctor may prescribe a mild pain
medication to relieve any
tingling or throbbing you may
feel. If tape was used to cover
your face, it will be removed
after a day or two. A crust or
scab will form on the treated
area. To help your face heal
properly, it is essential that
you follow your doctor's
specific post-operative
instructions.
A TCA peel may also cause
significant swelling, depending
on the strength of the peel
used.
Getting back to normal
With an AHA peel, the temporary
redness, flaking and dryness
that you experience will not
prevent you from working or
engaging in your normal
activities. A fresher and
improved skin texture will
result with continued AHA
treatments. Remember, protecting
your skin from the sun is also
important following these mild
acid peels. Ask your doctor to
recommend a sunblock with
adequate UVA and UVB protection
and use it every day.
With a TCA peel, the moderate
discomfort and mild swelling you
may experience will subside
within the first week. In about
a week to ten days, your new
skin will be apparent and you
should be healed sufficiently to
return to your normal
activities. It is best to avoid
sun exposure unless you are
adequately protected.
With a phenol peel, new skin
will begin to form in about
seven to ten days. Your face
will be very red at first,
gradually fading to a pinkish
color over the following weeks
to months. During this time, it
is especially important that you
use a sunblock or blotchy,
irregular skin coloring may
result.
About two weeks after treatment,
you may return to work and
resume some of your normal
activities. Your skin will be
healed enough for you to wear
makeup. (For makeup tips, ask
your plastic surgeon for the
ASPS brochure on camouflage
cosmetics.)
 After
healing, the skin is lighter in
color, tighter, smoother, and
younger looking.
Your new look
Improvements from AHA peels may
be very subtle at first. You may
detect a healthier glow to your
skin. With continued treatments,
you will notice a general
improvement in the texture of
your skin.
The results of a TCA peel are
usually not as long-lasting as
those of phenol peel. However,
your skin will be noticeably
smoother and fresher-looking.
If you're planning a phenol
peel, you can expect dramatic
improvement in the surface of
your skin - fewer fine wrinkles,
fewer blemishes and more
even-toned skin. Your results
will be long-lasting, although
not immune to the effects of
aging and sun exposure.
^UP
For
more information, contact us at
262-691-7546
info@cosmeticplasticsurgeon.net |
