With this procedure a chemical solution to enhance and smooth facial skin removing its damaged outer layers, helping with facial blemishes, wrinkles and uneven skin pigmentation.  It can be useful also with pre cancerous growing process and acne problems or scars.  Phenol, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) are used for this technique.

It can be performed with other procedures such as facelift, the results are longlasting but do not stop the aging process and formation of future wrinkles.  Alone, chemical peel doesn't need anesthesia, but sedation could be applied to help you during the procedure.

Before         After

Posible Complications

Infection and scarring, while infrequent are posible with chemical peel.  Other complications will depend on the depth of the peeling.

• AHAs:  Stinging, redness, irritation and crusting.
• TCA:  Pigmentation changes, specially if expose to sun.
• Phenol:  Pigmentation changes, specially with sun exposure.  Special risk for patients with heart disease history.

Before a Chemical Peel

If you have a herpes history you should inform your surgeon and start a short antivirl treatment (before and after the procedure) to prevent it due to the peel.  Sometimes medications derived from Vitamin A and some bleaching agents (such as hydroquinone) are used to pre treat the skin making the skin's surface layer more thin, allowing the TCA solution to penetrate ore deeply and evenly, a AHA cream may be used also instead of this. 

Peel Formulas

AHAs

The mildest of peel formulas are the AHAs (glycolic, lactic or fruit acids), they enhance and smooth dry or damaged skin, also aids in control of acne and your doctor can recommend it mixed with bleaching agents to correct pigment problems using them couple of times weekly.  With this you will need several sessions and as with any peel treatment, sun block use is recommended.

After cleaning the skin the formula will be applied, a process that usually takes less than 20 minutes.  No after peel ointments or dressings are required and the recovery time is usually short.

TCA

It is used to smooth out fine surface wrinkles, to correct pigment problems and remove superficial blemishes.  It can be used on neck or other body areas taking usually about 10 to 15 minutes.  It is preferred for darker skinned patients and peel depth can be adjusted.  Several sessions may be required and sun block must be used for several months. 

After cleaning the skin the solution will be applied, you could feel some discomfort that should past quickly, the process usually takes less than 20 minutes, but you could need more than one session to achieve the desired goal.   

PHENOL

It is the strongest product and produces a depth peel, it is used to correct blotches, wrinkles and remove pre cancerous growths, the results are dramatic and lost lasting.  It should be used on the face only because it may lead to scarring in areas such as neck and arms.  It may produces pigmentation changes and it is not recommended for dark skinned patients.

A full face treatment could take one hour or more and the recovery can be slow, taking several months for complete healing, it could also remove permanently facial freckles.  You should use sun block protection.

After cleaning your face the solution is applied, you could feel some discomfort that should pass quickly.  After it your plastic surgeon may cover the treated skin with some ointment or special dressings.  In most of the cases one session is enough to achieve your goals.

After the Procedure 

You could feel some discomfort (specially with TCA and Phenol), redness, sweeling (more with AHAs)  and dryness in the treated skin, these will disappear completely in couple of weeks and if your surgeon prescribed you any pain medication, this should be enough to control it.  In the case that you have any dressings, they will be removed after 1 or 2 days.  

You need to follow all your doctors recommendations to help your skin to heal, including guidelines about diet and activity, sun protection and you may be advice not to talk too much during the first few days after the procedure.

According to wich solution is used, the recovery time will change requiring from one week in the mild ones to months in the case of phenol.  In any case, about 2 weeks after the treatment you may return to normal activities and your skin will be healed enough to use make up.