If you don’t want surgery, but want to refresh your appearance, boost your skin’s health, and your self-confidence – consider a chemical peel. Chemical peels are used to treat wrinkles, skin discoloration, and scars by improving skin color, tone, and texture.
Removing the damaged outer layers of your skin allows for smoother and more radiant skin to grow back in its place. When performed by a double board-certified plastic surgeon, like Dr. Stein, chemical peels are considered both safe and effective.
Types of Chemical Peels
The type of peel you need is determined by the issues you want to address and your desired results. This also determines how frequently you should get treatment. Each type of chemical peel – light, medium, or deep – uses a different chemical solution. The chemicals used range in strength for each type of peel and include; alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), Jessner’s solution, retinoic acid, trichloroacetic acid, and phenol.
Light Peels
Light peels only penetrate the outermost layer of the skin using mild acids like alpha-hydroxy or salicylic acid, which gently exfoliate. Light chemical peels require little to no downtime and can take one to seven days to heal.
Medium Peels
Medium peels are more effective for removing damaged skin by reaching the middle and outer layers of skin. Trichloroacetic or glycolic acid is mostly used for medium peels. Recovery can take five to seven days, though redness may persist for months.
Deep Peels
Deep peels fully penetrate the deepest layer of the skin to address more serious skin imperfections and use carbolic (phenol) or trichloroacetic acid. Deep chemical peels can require two to three weeks of recovery time while new skin grows.
Chemical Peels at Stein Plastic Surgery
Dr. Stein has trained with experts and specializes in phenol peels to improve uneven pigmentation and treat coarse wrinkles. Phenol peels penetrate the skin deeper than other acids for the most dramatic results. Because it uses carbolic acid to treat the skin, this is not suitable for treating only select areas – it must be used on the entire face.
Am I A Good Candidate for Phenol Peels?
Fair-skinned and light-haired patients are generally better candidates for phenol peels. The bleaching effect of phenol makes these deeper peels less than ideal for dark-skinned patients. Patients are encouraged to consult with Dr. Stein to determine the most appropriate treatment option.
The best way to determine which treatment is right for you is to schedule a consult with Dr. Stein and his team. We’ll get all your questions answered, discuss your goals, and examine your skin to customize a plan for you.
Take the Next Step
Ready to learn more about looking years-younger with a Chemical Peel? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Stein at Stein Plastic Surgery based in Raleigh, NC today! Simply fill out the form on this page or give us a call at (919) 261-7099.
