Chemical Peels

• General
• The Consultation
• The Procedure
• Recovery

With an AHA peel, any redness, soreness, dryness or flaking will not be severe enough to keep you from working and engaging in your usual activities. As you continue treatment, your skin will begin to look fresher and brighter and its texture will improve.

A TCA peel, because it is deeper, requires a longer period of recovery. During this time there are a number of things you should expect:

• A crust or scab will form on the treated area. Your cosmetic surgeon will advise you on how to care for your face to help it heal properly.
• You may experience significant swelling of the area, depending on how strong your chemical peel was.
• Your face may throb or tingle and your cosmetic surgeon may prescribe a mild pain medication to make you more comfortable.
• Any swelling and discomfort should subside in a few days. After a week to ten days, your new, fresher looking skin should be apparent and you should be sufficiently healed to resume most of your usual activities.
• After about two weeks, you may return to work. At this time you may also begin using makeup again.
• TCA peels do not bleach the skin; however they may produce some unintended color changes in the skin. It is very important to avoid sun exposure for several months after your treatment to protect the newly formed layers of skin.
• If you suffer from herpes, please bring this to the attention of your cosmetic surgeon as a herpes attack in the time after your surgery can lead to scarring. Preventive medication will avoid this risk.