How Facial Peels are Done
The concept of a phenol peel is simple:
by applying a solution containing a concentration of 55 percent
phenol, the surgeon causes the epidermis, which is the top
layer of skin, to gradually fall off. Since the phenol peel
affects the full depth of the skin, it can erase deep wrinkles.
Phenol peels can be performed on a section of the face, such
as around the lips or on the forehead, as well as on the entire
face. Patients usually undergo the procedure in an outpatient
setting or in the doctor's office.
Trichloracetic acid peels are administered
in the same fashion as phenol peels. They are considered medium-depth
because the chemical does not reach as far into the dermis
and the results are more superficial. Patients can return
to work within three to four days and they look like they've
had a sunburn and their skin is in the process peeling. Results
from TCA peels can last for years, but these peels are generally
not as long lasting as phenol peels.
Still milder alternatives to the phenol
and TCA peels are glycolic acid peels, which can be used to
rid many patients of troublesome surface lines, wrinkles and
aging spots, without resulting in the longer recovery periods
of the other peels. These can be done during a lunch-hour
visit to the doctor's office and the patient can put her makeup
on immediately and go out into the sun. Salons and non-medical
professionals can dispense these acids at lower and less effective
concentrations. The higher concentration products--up to 50
percent--are found only in doctors' offices, and need to be
used under a doctor's supervision.
A patient's skin type and coloring
are more important factors for determining a good candidate
for a chemical peel than a patient's age or sex. Men and women
of all ages can benefit from facial peels. Highly pigmented
skin, characteristic of Africans and Asians, is generally not
good for phenol or TCA peels, as very dark skin can become
lighter or blotchy after the procedure. The lighter the skin,
the better. Patients with faces full of freckles might lose
some of their freckles if they have a peel. Women, who tend
to have thinner skin than men, usually heal faster than their
male counterparts. Nevertheless, men can get very good results
from peels.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call: 561.416.1272
or click here to inquire
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