Your Peel Procedure

All peels involve solutions applied to the skin, but details vary according to the type of peel. Every peel is applied with attention to your individual skin tone, condition, and level of damage. Your doctor will carefully control the depth of penetration for the best results.

Usually, peels are done on the entire face. With the deeper peels, the depth of the peel is usually greater around the eyes and mouth since more wrinkles are usually present in these areas. Sometimes partial peels, or subunits of the face, are done when only a portion of the facial skin is damaged and in need of repair. However, such a partial peel may leave a line of demarcation between the treated and untreated regions.

Light Peel

	Note mottled skin and fine wrinkles. After modified deep peel combined with facelift

A light peel is performed in your doctor's office. After you've washed your face, your doctor or a well-trained medical staff member uses a solvent such as alcohol or diluted acetone to remove every remaining trace of makeup or oil. In some practices the doctor may pretreat your skin with a simple, painless procedure called dermaplaning, which lightly abrades the skin surface to remove dead skin cells and aid in the penetration of the chemicals. This is usually done by passing a bladed instrument that resembles an electric razor over your skin. Some doctors use a blade, similar to a scalpel.

Then the AHA solution is evenly applied, usually with a cotton pad or brush.You'll feel stinging, but it is usually not uncomfortable enough to require pain medication. The solution is left on your skin for several minutes. If your doctor uses glycolic acid, a chemical that penetrates more readily than other AHAs, it may be rinsed thoroughly with saline solution to neutralize its action and prevent harm to the skin.The other AHAs do not require rinsing. Finally, moisturizing cream is applied to your face.

Medium Peel

Like a light peel, a medium peel is performed in your physician's office.Your skin is cleansed and your doctor applies the solution to your face with a surgical sponge or co t t on swab; this usually takes about ten to fifteen minutes. In about 45 seconds the chemical solution will cause your skin to turn a white, frosty color temporarily.This reaction is caused by the solution removing the surface skin cells.

Finally, you may sit under a fan for a while to help cool the burn. The burning sensation is stronger with a medium peel, so your doctor may suggest taking a mild sedative and ibuprofen beforehand.

Modified Deep Peel

A modified deep peel is usually done with twilight anesthesia in an accredited surgical facility. Even though the procedure carries less risk than the traditional deep peels, the patient's heart is monitored throughout the procedure; if too much phenol penetrates too deeply and enters the blood stream, it could cause heart rhythm disturbances.

Once you are asleep or comfortably dozing, your skin is cleansed and a solvent is used to remove surface oil to enable the solution to penetrate evenly. The peel solution is applied with applicator sticks, focusing on the areas with the most damage. A lighter application is applied to the other areas, taking care to blend the areas and feather the edges to prevent lines of demarcation.The entire procedure takes from 15 to 30 minutes.

Once the procedure is over, your doctor will cover your face with an emollient cream or pet ro leum jelly.The cream seals the skin, retaining moisture and preventing scab formation and scarring. When you awaken, the sensation is similar to a serious sunburn, easily relieved with pain medication. After you rest for an hour or two in the recovery area, you'll be ready to go home with your driver.

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