Chemical Peel

What is a Chemical peel?

Chemical Peels are facial reconstructive procedures that are used to create younger looking skin. Chemical solutions are placed on the skin to encourage new growth. This chemical solution causes slight injury to the skin before it begins its reconstruction. Plastic surgeons refer to this pain as "controlled pain".

Types of Chemical Peel

There are two major types of Chemical Peels - deep Chemical Peels and the light Chemical Peels. The light Chemical Peel is advisable for those under the age of forty. This is because it is a great way of developing lightly wrinkled skins and also upgrading skins that has been damaged by sun. The light chemical peel can be used more often unlike the deep chemical peel which should only be used once in a lifetime and also only in extreme cases. To differentiate the kind of skin you have the doctor uses a skin chart to determine what category of skin your skin falls into. They also determine the skin based on the pigmentation of the skin, how deep the wrinkles are, also your age-grade. To determine what Chemical Peel to use the doctor must first ascertain how long you would want it to last on your face before you remove it.

Procedure

There are two types of light Chemical Peel these are AHA and TCA peels. The alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA) are a better brand of peels to buy because they also include fruit extracts. The other brand consists of stronger face peels like vinegar which may be too strong for the face except for old people. To use them all that is required is for you to put it on the face for a couple of minutes then remove.

The deep Chemical Peels consist of heavier products and are prescribed for people above forty who have heavier wrinkles on their face. Such heavy products include phenol and acetone among others

Risk

There is less risk associated with the light unlike the deep face peels. In the light face peels what you might encounter are:

1. You may need further treatment to remove stubborn face marks.
2. Stinging sensation will be felt when the face peel is placed on the face.
3. Rashes or very red skin.

The risks for deep chemical peel are more serious as it creates a burning look on the skin if used too much.

Recovery

The light Chemical Peel takes less time for recovery unlike the deep peel that takes more time for recovery. This is because the deep peel works as a burning sensation and not as a tingling sensation.

Questions to ask the surgeon

1.  What are the risks that are involved with a Chemical Peel?

2.  Which chemical peel is good for my face is it the deep or the light chemical peel?

3.  How long before I can go out in the sun with my friends to the beach or somewhere else?

4.  Can I see before and after pictures of previous procedures?

5.  How soon will you be able to resume your normal activities?

6.  Would my health care plan pay or reimburse the expenses?

7.  Where and how will you perform my surgery?

8.  What are the risks associated with this procedure?

9.  Where will I be transferred to after surgery?

10.  Will I be given medication after surgery? What kind? 

11. What is the removal process for dressings, bandages and/or stitches? 

12. When do I return for my follow-up visit?