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| Chemical Peels: About the Procedure |
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Skin is composed of three main layers: epidermis, dermis and the subcutaneous layer. The epidermis, the surface layer, is quite thin—only 1/10 of one millimeter thick. That’s about the thickness of four pieces of paper!
A chemical peel is a procedure used to improve the appearance of the skin by removing the outermost layers so that new, regenerated skin—smoother, more even in tone, and less wrinkled—can appear. Depending upon the type and strength of chemical used, peels vary in intensity and depth. Your plastic surgeon may choose to use a combination of chemicals for your chemical peel procedure, in effect, tailoring the treatment specifically to your skin type and its needs.
Here are general guidelines for various chemical peel types:
AHA peels
This procedure is performed in the plastic surgeon’s office and requires no sedation or anesthesia. After your face has been cleansed, the mildly caustic AHA solution will be applied. The process usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. You will experience some reddening to your face, but you may resume normal activities right away. Expect temporary flaking, redness, dryness and scaling until your skin adjusts to the treatments. You can have an AHA peel frequently—weekly, if desired.
TCA peels
Most often, the TCA peel will be performed in your plastic surgeon’s office or in a surgery center as an out-patient procedure. You may be given a sedative prior to surgery, but you will not need anesthesia since the chemical solution itself has a numbing effect on the skin shortly after it is applied. Your face will be thoroughly cleansed to remove oils and prepare the skin for optimum penetration. At first, patients feel a warm or burning sensation which is followed by some stinging. As the chemical is applied, the epidermis is removed and the chemical penetrates into the dermis. The plastic surgeon controls the depth of penetration.
Phenol peels
The deepest of all chemical peels, the phenol peel will be performed in your plastic surgeon’s office-based surgical facility or outpatient surgical center. If your chemical peel is being done in conjunction with another cosmetic procedure, such as face lift, you may need to stay overnight in a facility or hospital.
You will be given a sedative prior to surgery, but you will not need anesthesia since the chemical solution itself has a numbing effect on the skin shortly after it is applied. Some kind of pain medication will most likely be administered during the procedure.
Your face will be thoroughly cleansed to remove oils and prepare the skin. At first, patients feel a warm or burning sensation which is followed by some stinging. As the chemical is applied, the epidermis is removed and the chemical penetrates into the dermis. The plastic surgeon controls the depth of penetration.
A full-face phenol peel generally takes one or two hours, while a phenol peel to a smaller area on the face, such as the upper lip, may take only 10 or 15 minutes.
When the procedure is complete, your plastic surgeon may coat the treated area with petroleum jelly or put a mask of adhesive tape over the face which will be left on a day or two. Your face will be very swollen and your eyes may be swollen shut. You‘ll need someone to drive you home and help care for you a day or two.
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