Dr. Zuckerman can use a trichloroacetic acid (TCA) chemical peel to treat several different skin issues in cosmetically sensitive areas including acne scars, malasma, sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, age spots, and more. There are several kinds of chemical peels, and for all, treatment involves applying the chemical to your skin and removing it after some time. Other chemical peels you may be familiar with are glycolic acid peels, which are weaker than a TCA peel, and both these types of peels have been in use for over twenty years. Laser resurfacing such as with the Clear & Brilliant can often achieve similar results as a chemical peel. However, TCA peels can be a good option for issues such as melasma that may be difficult to treat with laser resurfacing. Depending on the chemical concentration, the top layer or layers of skin are removed through peeling over the days following the peel, leading to a more lustrous, youthful appearance to your skin. Dr. Zuckerman will customize a chemical peel to your needs. While fine lines around the mouth can be addressed with the Juvederm product families, a TCA peel is also effective in addressing this area.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Zuckerman has hundreds of hours of injectables experience andis an expert injector of TCA Chemical Peel. In his practice in New York City, the most commonly requested treatments using this injectable include:
TCA peels can help address similar issues to laser resurfacing including sun spots, fine lines, wrinkles, melasma, and more.
The duration of the TCA peel result will depend on the concentration (the “heaviness”) of the peel and on your particular skin type and issues. Less chemically concentrated, or lighter, TCA peels can be performed as a series of two to three treatments a few weeks apart and will have results which last one to two months. Medium strength peels may have results lasting two to six months. Heavier, or deep, TCA peels should only be performed by a board-certified physician, and its results may last much longer (up to years). The exact period will depend on the concentration of the chemical peel, and Dr. Zuckerman can you give an estimate when a specific treatment plan has been determined. Medium or deep peels should not be performed too frequently. Please consult Dr. Zuckerman or another board-certified physician to ask what a safe frequency of treatment may be.
Heavier TCA peels can require up to one week of downtime due to the level of peeling that may occur. Your skin should continue to improve for 30 to 60 days after treatment, as long as proper protection from the sun is undertaken.
Avoid using skin irritants on the treatment area several days before and after treatment. This includes retinoids and exfoliating products. Dr. Zuckerman and the staff at Zuckerman Plastic Surgery can recommend a post-treatment care to replace such products in your daily skincare regimen. Dr. Zuckerman also recommends that you avoid using any creams or applying makeup day of on the area to be treated, even though that area will be thoroughly cleaned prior to treatment. Stay protected from the sun for at least 30 days.
As the different kinds of lasers available have proliferated, Dr. Zuckerman recommends laser resurfacing more frequently, because it is a more controlled treatment and can lead to less downtime. In spite of careful preparation, with a TCA peel, there can be different levels of peeling and overall affectedness on different areas of the face. Microneedling with or without platelet rich plasma (PRP) may also be an option.
Patients may feel some level of stinging or “heat” while the chemical is active on their skin. Generally, most patients do fine with this relatively low level of discomfort.
Generally speaking, TCA peels are very safe when performed by a board-certified physicain. However, the stronger the concentration of the peel solution, the greater the risk of complications like uneven pigmentation or in rare cases scarring.
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Dr. Zuckerman has been selected as a SuperDoctor and profiled in The New York Times Magazine SuperDoctors issue three years in a row.
Dr. Zuckerman was quoted on the use of Kybella to eliminate submental, under the chin, fat. He also opined on how an angular jaw line is essential to societal classical perceptions of facial beauty.
Dr. Zuckerman appeared on an episode of The Doctors TV show on CBS for a preoperative evaluation of a severe burn victim who requires a complex plastic surgery reconstruction.
A mother and daughter pair of Dr. Zuckerman’s patients were interviewed by the New York Post about how much they enjoy their experience at Dr. Zuckerman’s office, undergoing cosmetic Botox and Juvederm treatments.
Dr. Zuckerman opined on the trend of “Trophy Husbands” where men undergo plastic surgery for Fox5 News.
Dr. Zuckerman was interviewed on nipple piercings, their implications for breastfeeding, and why plastic surgery intervention may be required to remove them.
Dr. Zuckerman was selected as a SuperDoctor for New York state for plastic surgery. This selection is Dr. Zuckerman’s third year in a row and recognizes him as one of the best plastic surgeons in New York.
Dr. Zuckerman discussed the fact that liposuction is not a shortcut to weight loss. It is a sculpturing tool best used to shape and contour targeted problem areas with excess, stubborn fat.