Model shown, not actual patient.
Chemical Peels
Unlike traditional surgical procedures that can lift or reposition sagging skin, chemical peels work to actually improve the quality and appearance of the skin. They can make skin smoother, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, lighten or eliminate brown spots and sun damage, and help keep the skin looking youthful.
Chemical peels come in a variety of types and strengths. The choice of which peeling agent to use is based on the area of the body to be treated, the extent of skin damage present, and the amount of recovery time that the patient is willing to invest. Deeper peels are more effective – but have a longer recovery time. Superficial peels give a short recovery time but may need a series of treatments to get the desired results. Peels can be done at the time of other cosmetic facial surgery, like a facelift or eyelid lift, or can be done as a stand-alone procedure.
If you live in the Greater Orlando area, Lake Mary, Winter Park, or a surrounding community, please call Fiala Aesthetics at 407-339-3222 to schedule a consultation at our Altamonte Springs office.
What can a Chemical Peel Treat?
Typically applied to the face, neck, or hands, chemical peels can treat a variety of skin conditions including:
- Improving fine lines under your eyes and around your mouth
- Reducing wrinkles caused by sun damage, aging, and genetics
- Lightening hyper-pigmentation (brown, blotchy areas)
- Improving acne
- Brightening the look of skin that is dull in texture and color
- Improving the appearance of mild scarring
- Reducing age spots and freckles
Chemical peels work to remove layers of skin, stimulating the body’s natural healing response and producing a smoother, more consistent appearance in texture and tone. The type of chemical peel used will impact the extent of your results.
During your initial consultation with one of our aestheticians, we will carefully examine your problem areas to help you determine which type of peel will be most beneficial.
Types of Chemical Peel
Our aestheticians offer a variety of light to medium peels in our skincare center. While all peels can be used for various skin conditions, your skin tone and the issues being addressed will impact the type that is chosen. Some of the most popular options at our office include:
- 15% and 18% TCA Peels for issues including sun damage and melasma
- Jessner’s Peel for skin conditions like melasma and hyperpigmentation
- Lactic Peels for fine lines and wrinkles, as well as acne and oily skin
- Salicylic Peels for acne and blackheads
- Glycolic Washes and Peels for fine lines and wrinkles, and dull skin tone
- Dermaceutic Milk Peel for the treatment of fine lines, dull complexion, and loss of tone
- Dermaceutic Spot Peel for age spots, sun spots, and other pigmented spots
- Levulan Photodynamic Therapy Peel for actinic keratosis, rosacea, and sun damage
Recovery from a light chemical peel is typically minor with some soreness and tightness as the process of skin rejuvenation occurs. Most patients are “back to normal” within a week, though some special skincare may be needed both during recovery and after to help the skin heal and protect it from new damage. Light chemical peels can be performed in our Med Spa every five to six weeks as needed. This allows for continued results but also enables a series of lighter treatments to give the effect of a single deeper one.
Medium to deep chemical peels treat the same conditions as light peels, but offer more significant results and may be better for patients with pronounced imperfections.
Medium-Depth TCA Peel
For patients with medium degrees of texture change and sun damage, TCA peels in the 20% – 40% range can be quite effective. While not as powerful as a deep chemical peel, medium-depth TCA peels can treat a variety of issues including crow’s feet, scars, and deeper wrinkles, and require only a short recovery period.
Most patients are able to resume normal activities within 14 days of a medium-depth chemical peel, but some redness may be present for a few months. These peels are performed with anesthesia in the operating room to help ensure your absolute comfort.
Medium-depth TCA peels can be performed every three to nine months, depending on your needs.
The Hetter Peel
For those patients who want a dramatically smoother complexion and correction of deep wrinkles and extensive sun damage, Fiala Aesthetics recommends the Hetter peel. This formula, which uses croton oil as its active ingredient, gives the most impressive results – and works better than some resurfacing lasers when it comes to deep wrinkles and scars. It gives the longest-lasting effect of any peel known and has even been shown effective at skin tightening.
The Hetter peel is the deepest chemical peel we offer. The treatment is performed with the benefit of anesthesia in the operating room to safeguard your comfort.
Recovery from the Hetter Peel can take several days. Most patients are able to resume work as soon as skin stops peeling – around seven to ten days – but some residual soreness, redness, and tightness may remain for three to four weeks and redness for eight to ten weeks. Final results from the Hetter peel are typically realized around two to four months and can last for years with proper skincare.