Chemical Peels

Procedure: Restores wrinkled, blemished, sun-damaged or uneven skin coloration, using chemical peeling or laser vaporization to remove the top layers of the skin.

Length of surgery: One or two hours for a full-face chemical peel  in our accredited outpatient office surgery suite. Phenol chemical peels require longer patient observation.

Anesthesia: Local with monitored IV sedation.

Side effects: Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) and Phenol peels: Temporary throbbing, tingling, swelling, redness; acute sensitivity to the sun. Phenol: Permanent loss of ability to tan; permanent lightening of the skin.

Risks/Complications: Temporary tiny whiteheads, infection, scarring, skin allergies flare up, fever blisters, cold sores. Heart irregularities (rare) and abnormal skin color changes (permanent) associated more with phenol peels, but can be seen with strong TCA peels. Reaction to anesthesia.

Recovery: New skin shows in 7 to 14 days for phenol. Normal activities in 2 to 4 weeks. Full healing and fading of redness in 3 to 6 months.

Permanence: Trichloroacetic Acid Peels (TCA) are temporary except with stronger strengths; phenol peels are more permanent, although new wrinkles may appear as skin ages, especially with excessive sun exposure.