Chemical Peels Highlands, NC

Chemical peels remove skin layers that are damaged by sun and time to smooth your skin texture, reduce scarring, even the color and remove blemishes and pre-cancerous growths to produce healthy, glowing skin. There are several types of chemical peels, ranging from mild to strong – beta hydroxy acid (BHA, salicylic acid, including Obagi^® Radiance^®), alphahydroxy acids (AHAs including the Therapon^® 70% lactic acid “lunch time” peel), Jessner’s (BHA, AHA & resorcinol), tricholoroacetic acid (TCA, including the Obagi^® Blue Peel) and croton oil/phenol. We tailor formula strengths to your individual needs to achieve the best results with the least risks and down time. In order to prevent pigmentary problems with the TCA and Phenol/Croton Oil peels, we require everyone to either be on the Obagi^® System or Hydroquinone for 6 weeks before the procedure.

All these peels require expert knowledge and have significant risks if not used properly. There are NO peels that are appropriate for you to use yourself at home, no matter what you see on YouTube and elsewhere on the Internet.

In the second paragraph, the link “Today’s Facelift” goes to the right place, but the label “Today’s Facelift” should be changed to “Today’s Facial Rejuvenation”.

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Peels correct your surface aging problems. You can combine them with other procedures such as Today’s Facial Rejuvenation to totally rejuvenate your face and correct other problems caused by gravity. The newer formulations are designed to be safer and to have faster recovery. The modified phenol/croton oil peel can almost completely erase severe old leather-like wrinkling. Recovery is from none to 2 weeks, depending on the particular peel used.

What skin problems do chemical peels address?

At the Center for Plastic Surgery, we offer a variety of peels for various skin conditions. As mentioned above, we vary the types and strengths of the peel formulations to match your skin type and the issues you’re seeking to improve.

Chemical peels in general help with these skin problems:

Dullness
Texture issues
Pigmentation problems
Freckles
Sun damage
Age spots
Scaly patches
Acne and acne scars
Fine lines and wrinkles

Am I a good candidate for a chemical peel?

Really anyone could benefit from the forced exfoliation delivered by our lighter chemical peels. Especially when you consider the variety of peel types and strengths we offer at the Center for Plastic Surgery, there is a peel for almost every skin problem you may have. People who have not been using an exfoliant may wish to use a light peel before beginning its use, especially with the Obagi® Nu-Derm System, to reduce the amount of peeling from the new skin care.

The only person who would not be a good candidate for a chemical peel at the Center for Plastic Surgery would be someone with an active skin condition, such as dermatitis or a flare-up of eczema. But when the flare-up or reaction calms, you could have a peel.

How do chemical peels improve my skin?

The skin is our body’s largest organ, consisting of multiple layers, the epidermis (outer layer, which, itself, has 3 layers), and the dermis (support layer, also consisting of 2 layers). To fight damage from exposure to the elements, our skin is in a constant state of shedding and rebuilding. This is called exfoliation. However, as we age and with sun damage, the exfoliation slows and dead cells accumulate and make the skin dull and feel dry.

At the Center for Plastic Surgery, we frequently use chemical peels to give the exfoliation process a boost. Removing the outer layers of the epidermis reveals younger, healthier, moist, brighter skin beneath.

Peels that affect the lower epidermis and dermis have been proven to also stimulate cellular activity to improve the skin. The deeper ones also stimulate thickening of the dermis, the support layer, so the skin resists wrinkling better.

By adjusting the process, age spots, acne scars, fine lines, and other imperfections can also be peeled away. The purpose of a peel is to erase imperfections and improve skin tone and texture.

Are chemical peels safe for my skin?

Chemical peels are nothing new and their safety has significantly improved over the years. The peeling agents simply break down the bonds on the target layers of the skin, allowing the selected amount to slough. They are safe when done by professionals, such as the experienced, thoroughly trained team at the Center for Plastic Surgery. Getting a chemical peel performed at a nail salon or doing one yourself is a really bad idea. The chemical agents can burn and scar if the person applying them doesn’t totally understand the skin and the agent or the wrong agent is used.

How long do the results from a chemical peel last?

There is no timeframe for how long your skin will look great after a peel. For one, everyone’s skin is different. Second, it depends on how you care for your rejuvenated skin moving forward. The 3rd variable is what kind of peel you have. A light peel improves your skin for a few weeks. That’s why some of our patients have a light peel done every month. Medium and deep peels cause more skin turnover, so they provide longer results. Deep peels that remove wrinkles, acne scarring, and the like are permanent. They may actually cause further improvement over the next year after the peel. However your skin will continue to age moving forward. That is why following the peel with good skin care is so necessary to prevent those changes from occurring again over time.

How does a chemical peel differ from microdermabrasion?

A peel is a chemical process where the peeling agent is applied to your skin and breaks down some of the bonds that hold each layer together. This encourages the sloughing of a part of the superficial skin. The amount of this depends upon the type of peel and the peeling agents used. In fact, some of the lighter peels perform the same function as microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a mechanical process that also seeks to remove the outer layer of the skin, but it does so in a completely different method. In microdermabrasion, a small wand is moved across the skin. The wand uses forced air to propel tiny crystals onto the skin, lightly abrading the outer layer and knocking the outer dead cells loose. The loose dead skin cells and other impurities are suctioned away. Although microdermabrasion cannot deliver the same degree of cell turnover as medium and deeper peels, it delivers similar results to a light chemical peel.

How many chemical peels can I have?

You can have light peels using natural acids, such as lactic acid (derived from sour milk) and salicylic acid (sugar cane), once a month. Medium peels, such as some with trichloroacetic acid, can be done quarterly. Deep peels have some variation, but many of them can only be done once every few years. Fortunately, these deep peels usually only need to be done once.

How long does a chemical peel take?

The actual process of getting one of our chemical peels takes around 30 minutes. We first thoroughly clean your skin and then apply the peeling agent. This is left on for a prescribed amount of time and is then neutralized and removed. Your skin is rinsed with cool water. For many peels, a calming mask is then applied.

Is there recovery after a chemical peel?

The type of peel you’ve had dictates what any recovery may be necessary.

Light peels — These are generally done by our highly skilled aesthetician. There will be some minor redness and irritation from your first few light peels, but as your skin becomes healthier, this won’t happen with future light peels. Light peels can be done on a regular basis to keep your skin glowing.
Medium peels — Medium peels are done either by our aesthetician or Dr. Buchanan, depending upon the peel and the agent used. They leave your skin red and stinging and can cause some crusting. That redness can linger for a period of weeks, but can be covered easily with camouflage makeup. Medium peels may be repeated every few months.
Deep peels — These are done exclusively by Dr. Buchanan. They remove the entire epidermis and some of the dermis, especially when trying to improve acne scarring, wrinkles or other extensive sun damage. You will have peeling, crusting, redness, raw open areas, and discomfort for several days to 2 weeks. Swelling will disappear, but your skin can remain red for several months, though the redness can easily be covered with camouflage makeup. Sunscreen is imperative to protect the new, fragile skin. You should avoid exfoliants and tretinoin for around 4 weeks. Phenol-based peels have significant swelling and a slightly more prolonged recovery but can accomplish corrections that no other peel can do.

What should I do after getting a chemical peel?

After a peel you need to leave your skin alone — Don’t touch, pick, or pull on the peeling skin. This interrupts the skin’s natural healing cycle. Plus, it can cause infection or even hyperpigmentation.
Wash the face with cool vinegar infused water 4 times a day
Use an emolument cream, but just enough to be comfortable — The dry, tight feeling is part of the process, so you only want to apply enough to keep comfortable.
Use sunscreen — You’re trying to get rid of sun damaged skin with your peel, so you must protect your new skin. The best, and most practical, sun block is clear zinc oxide, at least 8%. If you have not been doing this before, make this a new habit every day.

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