Chemical Peel at Changes Plastic Surgery San Diego
Is A Chemical Peel Right For You?
Beauty is more than skin deep. But unblemished, smooth skin is quite beautiful and is desirable at all ages and stages of life. Chemical peels are skin resurfacing techniques that can provide a dramatic change in the quality of the skin’s surface and its appearance. A chemical peel is a procedure that works by removing the damaged outer layer of skin, therefore allowing the healthy deeper layer to regenerate the skin surface. A chemical peel involves the careful application of a solution to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin. It is helpful for those individuals with facial blemishes, wrinkles, and uneven skin pigmentation.
There are three types of peels, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and the newer Croton Oil Peel. The precise formula is adjusted to meet each patient's needs.
Depending on the extent of the skin damage, and your desired look, many patients combine a chemical peel with a facelift for maximum benefits. A one-on-one consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons will help determine your specific needs, and how to achieve your desired look.
Chemical Peel Photos
These chemical peel photos were taken of a patient in San Diego who received chemical peels at Changes Plastic Surgery. Please see our complete photo gallery of chemical peel examples.
BEFORE
AFTER
Choosing the Right Chemical Peel For You
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
Glycolic, lactic, or fruit acids, are the mildest peel formulas and produce light peels. These types of peels can provide smoother, brighter-looking skin for people who want little to no recovery time. 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 alpha hydroxy 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.
Your doctor will apply the AHA solution to your cleansed facial skin, a process that usually takes 15 to 20 minutes. A light "after-peel" ointment is applied. Depending on the strength of the peel, periodic treatments may be necessary until the desired effects are achieved. For some patients, an AHA-based face wash or cream applied once or twice a day at home will be sufficient to accomplish the desired goal.
AHA peels may cause stinging or redness. However, as the skin adjusts to the treatment regimen, these problems will subside.
Uses:
- Smooths rough, dry skin
- Improves texture of sun-damaged skin
- Aids in control of acne
- Can be mixed with a bleaching agent to correct pigment problems
- Can be used as a TCA pre-treatment
Considerations:
- A series of peels may be needed
- As with most peel treatments, sunblock use is recommended
Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA)
This formula can be used in many concentrations to achieve different effects. It is a safe procedure when it is performed by a qualified, experienced plastic surgeon. Although infrequent, risks such as infection, scarring and temporary color changes are possible.
Typically, the skin is first thoroughly cleansed. Then, the surgeon will carefully apply the TCA solution. You may feel a stinging sensation as the peel solution is applied, but this feeling will quickly pass. A full-face TCA peel usually takes approximately one hour to perform. 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 once a month.
After a TCA solution has been used, your plastic surgeon will usually coat the treated area with petroleum jelly as a protective barrier.
The chemical solution can be applied to the entire face, or to a specific area, for example, around the mouth or eyes, sometimes in conjunction with a facelift.
A protective crust may form over the peeled skin. When it's removed, the skin underneath will be a bright pink.
A TCA peel will help you achieve smooth, pure skin with minimal risks. TCA-peel patients are advised to avoid sun exposure for several months after treatment to protect the newly formed layers of skin and avoid hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin).
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 30-45 minutes
- Preferred for lighter-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 (5 to 10 days)
Croton Oil Peel
The Croton Oil peel is a newer peel performed at Changes Plastic Surgery. This is a great breakthrough in reducing deep wrinkles and pigmentation abnormalities. Sun damaged skin is rejuvenated, and down time and side effects are significantly less than with laser peels.
Uses:
- Rejuvenation of heavily sun damaged skin
- Improves fine and coarse wrinkles
- Corrects pigmentation abnormalities
Considerations:
- Longer recovery than TCA peel
- More swelling
- Preferred for light skinned patients
- Sun block must be used for several months
Planning for a Chemical Peel
Because of the potent nature of these peels, it is best that they be administered by a board certified plastic surgeon. All of the Changes surgeons are board-certified plastic surgeons. These credentials help ensure the highest standards of care and your utmost safety.
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. If you have a history of herpes or dermatologic conditions or have used Acutane in the last year, it is important to inform your physician prior to the procedure.
Preparing For Your Chemical Peel
Your plastic surgeon will instruct you on how to prepare for your peel treatment.
In addition to your surgeon’s efforts, you play an important role in optimizing your outcome. Effective pre-operative skin care can expedite your recovery and enhance the surgical results. Skin heals better when it is properly cleaned and hydrated. The best time to begin pre-operative skin care is when the surgical decision has been made.
Your surgeon will prescribe skin care products and a care regimen that will help prepare your skin by putting it in the best possible condition for your procedure(s). Medicated creams will stimulate the skins healing abilities and suppress the pigment cells, thus optimizing healing after surgery.
You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home and help you out for a day or two if you are having a croton oil peel or a deeper TCA peel. You probably won't need any extra assistance if you're having an AHA peel or superficial TCA peel.
Facility & Anesthesia Options
Your chemical peel will be safely performed in our office. No anesthesia is needed for AHA peels since they cause only a slight stinging sensation during application. For TCA and Croton Oil peels, sedation may be used before and during the procedure to relax you and keep you comfortable. Deeper peels may be performed under full anesthesia at your request.
Post-Treatment Care
After an AHA peel, it is part of the natural healing process to experience some temporary flaking or scaling, redness and dryness of the skin. However, these conditions will disappear as the skin adjusts.
After a TCA or Croton oil peel, 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.
Deeper peels may also cause significant swelling, depending on the strength of the peel used.
Recovery
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 deeper peels, the moderate discomfort and swelling you 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. 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.
After healing, the skin is lighter in color, tighter, smoother, and younger looking.
Your New Look
Improvements from AHA may be very subtle at first. Changes with TCA and Croton oil peels are more dramatic. You will detect a healthier glow to your skin, leaving you looking refreshed and rejuvenated. With continued treatments, and good after care at home, you will notice an obvious improvement in the texture of your skin.
Go our complete photo gallery of chemical peel examples.