Plastic surgery insights: Chemical Peels
Recently, chemical peels have become popular cosmetic treatments – but they’re hardly a fad. The most powerful of all chemical peels – the phenol-croton oil peel – has been around for decades. It was the phenol peel that kept some of Hollywood’s biggest stars of the 1940s and 1950s looking younger longer.
These early chemical peels produced amazing results, but they also lightened the skin as they smoothed wrinkles.
The UMass Memorial Cosmetic Surgery Center’s Dr. Gary Fudem shares how today’s deep chemical peels deliver the same dramatic results with little to no pigment loss.
Are deep chemical peels medical procedures?
Deep chemical peels are not to be confused with at-home chemical peels. While both shed the top layer of your skin to reveal a more radiant glow, phenol-croton oil peels go much deeper to smooth away lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of sun damage and acne scars.
In addition, deep chemical peels are used to remove precancerous growths on the face.
Phenol-croton oil peels are the strongest peels available and are performed at our UMass Memorial Cosmetic Surgery Center by experienced cosmetic surgeons.
The peels require attentive care before your procedure and a 10 to 14 day recovery, but produce long-lasting results. In some of our patients, results are seen for up to 20 years.
These peels produce the most predictable results if you have fair skin. If you have darker skin, you may be able to improve your skin texture with a slightly greater risk of varying pigmentation.
Are lighter chemical peels also performed?
Our UMass Memorial Cosmetic Surgery Center also offers lighter peels to patients who can’t tolerate strong chemical peels or who simply want a quicker skin care solution.
The lightest peels take about 30 minutes. These peels are made of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA), which are well tolerated by most people.
Medium-strength peels of trichloroacetic (TCA) are also used to treat surface wrinkles, blemishes and some pigment issues. They have a much shorter recovery than phenol peels, but are not as long lasting. Many of our patients get excellent results from these peels, especially when the treatment is repeated several times.
How do I know if a deep peel is right for me?
If you’ve thinking about a phenol-croton oil peel, these four steps will guide you through the process:
1. Consult with a cosmetic surgeon.
At our UMass Memorial Cosmetic Surgery Center, only specially trained cosmetic surgeons perform deep peels. For example, as an expert in phenol-croton oil peels with more than 22 years of experience, I’ll talk to you about your goals and unique characteristics, and determine if you’re a good candidate for a deep peel or if another peel or procedure is better for you.
Skin care nurse specialists are also available for consultation.
2. Prepare your skin.
Before a deep chemical peel, you’ll need to take special care of your skin. At the Cosmetic Surgery Center, we prescribe a regimen of retinol (a vitamin A derivative) and vitamin C.
Together these ingredients help your skin boost collagen, speed up cell turnover and regulate the skin pigmentation system. Vitamin C also acts to calm the skin and provide extra protection from the sun.
3. Have the peel performed at a hospital, such as UMass Memorial Medical Center.
The procedure takes one to two hours and is performed under mild anesthesia by one of our experienced cosmetic surgeons.
During the peel, your surgeon applies a chemical solution to your face, including the eyelid area, eyebrows and lips. You may experience some discomfort the night of the procedure – this is normal. Medications are prescribed to you to relieve the discomfort.
4. Take time to recover.
A few days after a phenol-croton oil peel, your new skin begins to emerge. At first, your skin appears bright pink or even a little red.
It’s especially important to avoid sunlight for the first one to two weeks after the procedure, during which time your skin crusts and peels.
Would a chemical peel replace a face lift?
A phenol-croton oil peel can enhance the results of face lift surgery by rejuvenating the texture your skin.
It can’t necessarily improve the look of a sagging neck or drooping facial skin. If these are your cosmetic concerns, I’m happy to talk with you about the options that are best for you.
Dr. Fudem is one of a handful of physicians in Central Massachusetts performing the strongest chemical peel available. To schedule a consultation or receive more information, call our Cosmetic Surgery Center at 508-334-5990.
