WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING MY DEEP CHEMICAL PEEL PROCEDURE?
First, you will have a consultation with the doctor to determine if a deep chemical peel is right for you. We will then set up your pre-treatment regimen, which will involve treating your skin with a retinoic acid cream (Vitamin A) for a matter of several weeks. At the time of the procedure, you will come to our Palo Alto facility, where we will give you a sedative and numb your face. We will clean your face and brush on the phenol. Once the phenol has done its job, we will neutralize it with water and then cover your skin with ointment to prevent pain or dryness.
HOW LONG IS RECOVERY TIME FROM A DEEP CHEMICAL PEEL PROCEDURE?
You can probably expect up to two weeks of recovery time after a chemical peel procedure. Immediately after the procedure, you will experience peeling skin, crusting, and redness. There may be some swelling. We can provide you with painkillers to manage any discomfort from the procedure. After two weeks, the swelling and most other side effects should be gone, although you should be aware that some patients experience skin redness for as much as three months.
WHAT CONDITIONS WILL A DEEP CHEMICAL PEEL PROCEDURE TREAT?
A deep chemical peel procedure is designed to treat some of the most serious skin problems, including blotches, very deep facial wrinkles, sun-damaged skin, deep acne scars, blotches and pre-cancerous growths. If your skin problems are not this severe or you are simply looking to rejuvenate the skin and fight signs of aging, a less aggressive chemical peel may be more appropriate. During your consultation, we will assess the best type of chemical peel for you.
HOW SOON WILL I SEE RESULTS FROM A DEEP CHEMICAL PEEL TREATMENT?
You may have difficulty seeing results immediately and for the first couple of weeks after the treatment due to the healing process. However, as the weeks pass, you should expect to see results beyond anything you might have expected. The effect of a deep chemical peel on serious facial scars and deep wrinkles can be quite astonishing. Best of all, a single treatment can yield long-lasting results, with skin improvements that can remain for as much as ten years.
HOW MUCH DOES A DEEP CHEMICAL PEEL TREATMENT COST?
Deep chemical peels can cost several thousand dollars, depending upon the condition being treated. The staff at Illuminate can give you a better sense of the cost after consulting with you and learning your specific situation and goals for treatment. Many of our patients enjoy the convenience of paying for their deep chemical peel in monthly installments. We are happy to recommend services like Alphaeon and CareCredit if you think this would be useful. Many of our patients will choose to apply for credit cards with longer terms at 0% interest.
We hope you will join our many happy Silicon Valley patients who have seen tremendous results with deep chemical peels!
