The effects of sunlight and age can dramatically influence the appearance of our skin. With age we can develop brown spots (hyperpigmentation), redness and superficial blood vessels (telangiectasias), fine and deep wrinkles, sallowness (yellowness), dryness, and loss of elasticity. Some of the changes can be addressed with skin care products or with prescription skin care medications (tretinoin) under a physician’s supervision. Two powerful techniques we use for rejuvenating the appearance of aging skin are light/laser treatments and chemical peels. Both techniques remove the top, damaged layers of the skin and allow these layers to be replaced by new cells from deeper layers of the skin.
Chemical peels involve treating the skin with a solution that removes the top damaged layers of the skin. This solution coagulates skin proteins, damaging the superficial cells allowing these layers to slough off. The solution is titrated to the correct concentration and then left in place for a specific amount of time to control the depth of the peel. More superficial peels may remove only the top layers and be associated with less peeling and redness at the price of less dramatic results. Deeper peels typically lead to more peeling and redness in the recovery period but will give more dramatic and longer lasting results. Depending on the peel, patients may wish to have these done in the medical spa or may prefer light sedation in the operating room. Peels may be repeated to get the best results and can be combined with other procedures (blepharoplasty, brow lift, etc) at the time of surgery.
We offer several chemical peels, listed in order of intensity/depth:
- Rejuvenize Peel™ is appropriate for patients with moderate to severe skin imperfections that result from skin aging and sun exposure, such as fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone and texture. Rejuvenize Peel™ also address skin unevenness that can be caused by acne scarring or pigmentary changes.
- Vitalize Peel™ by SkinMedica® helps fight the effects of time, sun damage, and environmental assaults. This powerful yet non-damaging peel can take years off of aging skin.
- ZO® 3-STEP PEEL™ This potent stimulating peel confers longer lasting benefits beyond the temporary superficial improvements seen with ordinary peels. Peeling is very mild or even unnoticeable, with minimal to no downtime. Designed for acne, melasma, sun damage, fine lines, texture roughness, large pores, dullness. Promotes softer, smoother skin.
- ZO® Controlled Depth Peel (TCA) is one of the most popular and effective chemical peels available today. ZO® Controlled Depth Peel (TCA) is a fairly strong peel treatment which will effectively reduce brown pigmentation, improve the texture of the skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It consists of a low concentration of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) mixed with a special blue base. Using the blue base the depth of the treatment is carefully controlled. The peel removes the thin surface layers of the aged and damaged skin, allowing these cells to be replaced by new healthier cells. The ZO® Controlled Depth Peel (TCA) can be performed on the face and neck. It takes about 20 minutes and you will experience a burning sensation. The skin remains tinted blue until you begin to peel 2-3 days after the treatment. Peeling will last up to one week and most patients will be healed in 7 to 10 days. The skin will look smoother, tighter, and healthier.
All patients who undergo chemical peels will have a recovery period associated with redness, peeling, and increased sensitivity to the sun. Carefully caring for the skin after the peel is essential to getting excellent results from these treatments. Please schedule a free consultation with our aesthetician to learn more about chemical peels.