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.
Treatments & Uses of TCA Chemical Peel
TCA peels can help address similar issues to laser resurfacing including sun spots, fine lines, wrinkles, melasma, and more.
Important Aspects of Treatment
TCA Chemical Peel Treatment Longevity
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 that 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.
TCA Chemical Peel Recovery (Downtime)
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.
TCA Chemical Peel Pretreatment Guidelines
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nasolabial Folds (Parentheses Around the Mouth) Rejuvenation
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 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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