A chemical peel is a procedure that involves the application of a chemical to the face, neck or hands. A predefined chemical solution is applied to the area to be treated to diminish imperfections by peeling away the skin’s top layers. After a chemical peel, new cell growth begins from the lowest levels of the dermis to regenerate the top facial skin layers. A chemical peel “jump starts” the rejuvenation process to restore the elastin and collagen lost in the aging process. As the skin cells begin to rebuild, the new skin is smoother and more evenly toned. A wide variety of facial blemishes can be treated with chemical peels.
Chemical Peels Can Be Used to Treat:
- Acne
- Uneven pigmentation
- Mild scarring
- Fine wrinkling
- Dry skin
- Skin texture
- Sun-damaged skin
- Age spots, freckles and dark patches
Chemical peels are especially useful for the fine wrinkles on the cheeks, forehead and around the eyes, as well as the vertical wrinkles around the mouth. The chemical solution can be applied by our ophthalmologist, Dr. Syed Ahmad, to the entire face or to a specific area, for example, around the mouth – sometimes in conjunction with other procedures.
Types of Chemical Peels
There are three main types of peels; light, medium and deep – each offering different levels of “peeling” and utilizing varying amounts of chemicals for the desired results. A light peel is the most commonly performed and is the mildest of the peel formulas that use Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA’s), which are naturally occurring acids found in fruits and other foods. Unlike medium and deep peels, there is little or no downtime with superficial peels, allowing you to go about your daily routine right away.
A medium peel is generally performed only once every couple of years using trichloroacetic acid. Because of deeper penetration, it can remove larger wrinkles and precancerous skin lesions; however, this peel can make the skin temporarily look like a sunburn.
Deep chemical peels, although rarely used anymore since the advancement of lasers, use a chemical called Phenol. The application is very painful and is done under general anesthesia.
More severe wrinkles do not respond well to chemical peels. They may require other kinds of cosmetic surgical procedures, such as the use of lasers, or cosmetic filler.
The Procedure
The chemical peel procedure is fairly straightforward and usually takes no more than 15 to 30 minutes. Your skin is cleansed, the solution is applied and left on for a few minutes. With the peels we offer, no dressing is required afterward, but it is very important that you protect your skin from the sun during and after the healing process.
Your treatment or combination of treatments will be customized to suit your particular skin type and skin concerns. To avoid adverse side effects, you should only trust an experienced professional to perform your chemical peel. If you would like to look into a chemical peel in Plano, Texas, please give Texas Eye & Aesthetic Center a call today at 972-519-9933 to learn more.
