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Procedure | Restore wrinkled, blemished, unevenly pigmented, or sun-damaged facial skin, using a chemical solution to peel away skin's top layers. Works best on fair, thin skin with superficial wrinkles. Chemical Peel (Phenol and Trichloroacetic Acid [TCA]) |
Length | One to two hours for full face. |
Anesthesia | None; sedation, and EKG monitoring may be used. |
In/Outpatient | Usually outpatient. Full-face phenol peel may require admission for one to two days. |
Side Effects | Both: Temporary throbbing, tingling, swelling, redness; acute sensitivity to sun. Phenol: Permanent lightening of treated skin; permanent loss of ability to tan. |
Risks | Both: Tiny whiteheads (temporary), infection, scarring, flare-up of skin allergies, fever blisters, cold sores. Phenol: Abnormal color changes (permanent); heart irregularities (rare). |
Recovery | Phenol: Formation of new skin: 7 to 21 days. Normal Activities: 2 to 4 weeks. Full healing and fading of redness: Three to six months. TCA: New skin within five to ten days. |
Duration of Results | Phenol: Permanent, although new wrinkles may form as skin ages. TCA: Variable (temporary). |
Actual patient photographs available at time of consult.
With your help, we can make ambitious innovations in clinical care and education for our community.