Chemical peels are much more complex than some companies want you to believe. These companies mostly sell over-the-counter, very superficial peels, which have benefits in some cases but aren’t a match for everyone. If you or someone you know received a chemical peel and failed to see any results, it’s common to think the peel didn’t work. Most likely, that’s because a different type of chemical peel was needed.
Dr. Charles Guy and his skilled team at Facial Plastic Surgery of Central Texas specialize in plastic surgery and cosmetic services from the collarbone up, including chemical peels. Here, he discusses how a chemical peel works and why a patient might be unhappy with their results.
How Do Chemical Peels Work?
All chemical peels are categorized by depth—very superficial, superficial, medium depth, and deep depth. The depth refers to how many layers of the skin the peel will penetrate. How deep the peel needs to go depends on what the patient wants to treat. As a general rule of thumb, the deeper the peel goes, the longer the healing time and the more dramatic the results.
In most cases, it’s recommended for chemical peels to be administered by someone trained to give them. Chemical peels are not to be taken lightly—essentially, you are chemically burning off layers of the skin to get rid of unwanted blemishes or stimulate collagen. Chemical peel benefits can be amazing, taking years off someone’s appearance. On the flip side, if not administered by a professional, they can be very damaging to your skin.
To simplify why this happens, think of the outer layer of the skin as giving a watertight barrier. This is where we get crusty skin lesions, dull skin, and surface irregularities. Then there is a deep, inner layer that contains collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acids. These give the skin its thickness and bounce, but this is also the layer where wrinkles form.
To freshen up the skin, a very superficial peel that smoothes the outer layer is a great option. For improving fine wrinkles and helping with pigment changes, a medium-depth peel is great. But if a patient has deep wrinkles, multiple sun spots, yellow/grayish skin tone, or perhaps a history of some types of skin cancers, then a peel that reaches that deep, inner layer would be beneficial.
Choosing the correct level of peel will help guarantee that the peel will provide the desired results. Even though chemical peels are tough love for the skin, when properly administered, they usually give results that patients will love.
Reasons for a Chemical Peel
Many patients elect for a chemical peel based on the several cosmetic conditions it helps treat. Patients often see results when they choose to undergo a chemical peel procedure to address the following:
Wrinkles
Most often, the first sign of aging is noticeable wrinkles on the face and neck. Medium depth and deep depth chemical peels can help reduce wrinkles on a patient’s face, giving them a younger-looking appearance. When applied, it causes the outermost layer to crust and eventually peel away. This encourages the skin to be replenished with a smooth, more youthful layer.
Dark Spots
Chemical peels also help remove unwanted dark spots that can form on the face. A peel works to remove any age spots, freckles, and dark patches to even out the pigmentation of the skin. For addressing this cosmetic condition, a medium chemical peel is recommended. While other peels can treat the epidermis (the outermost skin layer), a medium chemical peel reaches the superficial layer of the dermis, the layer just underneath. The result is a cleaner, more even skin tone.
Acne Scars
Suffering from acne is tough enough but dealing with the scarring it tends to leave behind can make anyone unhappy about their appearance. Chemical peels can be in the algorithm in treating the skin and working to improve acne scars. Serving as an exfoliator, a superficial or medium peel, depending on the depth of the scarring, removes dead skin cells on the surface. The removal of the outer layer promotes the skin’s ability to produce collagen, which helps fill in acne scars. A successful peel will even unclog pores to help prevent future breakouts from occurring.
Chemicals Peels at Facial Plastic Surgery of Central Texas
Help turn back the clock with professional skin services from Facial Plastic Surgery of Central Texas. To help clients achieve a more youthful-looking appearance, we offer a wide array of safe and effective cosmetic procedures, including chemical peels. Our dedicated team members will work closely with clients to better understand their cosmetic goals, providing the chemical peel best suited for them.
Our commitment to our clients has allowed us to build a solid reputation in Waco and Central Texas, enabling local patients to receive outstanding plastic surgery services – without needing to travel to other areas of the state, such as Dallas or Austin. Contact us to learn more about chemical peels, or request a consultation at Facial Plastic Surgery of Central Texas today.