If you’ve been thinking about getting a chemical peel, you’re probably wondering what to expect. What’s the recovery time like? How much does it cost? What are the benefits?
Chemical peels are one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the United States, with over 1.7 million procedures performed in 2016 alone. They’re also relatively safe and inexpensive when compared to other medical procedures—and they can have incredible results!
Read on to learn more about What To Know About Chemical Peel Like Botox, Combining BOTOX and Chemical Peels and Who Is a Good Candidate For a Chemical Peel?
What To Know About Chemical Peel Like Botox
BOTOX and Chemical Peel on the Same Day
Since James Christian Cosmetics offers BOTOX® and chemical peels, many clients ask if they can receive a BOTOX treatment the same day as a chemical peel. The answer to this question depends on a number of factors. However, before we get into them, it’s important to understand the difference between the two.
BOTOX
This is one of the most popular treatments for reducing fine lines and wrinkles in a number of places, such as the forehead, mouth, and eyes. Wrinkles around these areas are due to repetitive muscle contractions, and the botulinum toxin paralyzes those muscles to keep the lines away, resulting in a smoother appearance. Results last anywhere from three to six months.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are also popular and they can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, just not as well as BOTOX. The benefit of chemical peels over BOTOX is their ability to lighten scars and even skin tone. Chemical peels involve applying an acid solution to the face. This peels away the top layers of the skin, which leaves behind new, more beautiful skin. Results often last a couple of months.
Combining BOTOX and Chemical Peels
The answer to the question if you can receive BOTOX and chemical peels the same day is maybe. It depends on the sensitivity of the face. Some people can handle the chemical peel and then the injections without much discomfort, while others will not be able to handle it.
The other factor is how many times the person has had either of the treatments. People who have had BOTOX or chemical peels regularly may be able to have them together because the face is used to both of them.
The only way to know if you should have both treatments is to speak to a skincare expert, such as James Christian Sardelli, RPA-C. He has treated thousands of people with both treatments, so he knows what to look for when identifying whether a person can handle both of them the same day.
The good news is if you can’t receive both in one day, a few days is all you need to wait to receive the other one.
Which Treatment Should You Receive First?
You can receive whichever treatment you feel the most comfortable with first. Many people will do the BOTOX treatment first because when they get the chemical peel, they don’t have to worry about that healing before the next appointment.
BOTOX and Chemical Peels in Manhattan and Long Island
Eliminate fine lines and wrinkles with the help of James Christian Cosmetics. We have locations conveniently located throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties, including Islip, Commack, Manhattan, Westhampton Beach, and Rockville Centre.
Chemical peel side effects
Chemical peels can improve the skin’s appearance. In this treatment, a chemical solution is applied to the skin, which makes it “blister” and eventually peel off. The new skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin.
Chemical peels can be done on the face, neck, or hands. They can be used to:
- Reduce fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth
- Treat wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging
- Improve the appearance of mild scars
- Treat certain types of acne
- Reduce age spots, freckles, and dark patches (melasma) due to pregnancy or taking birth control pills
- Improve the look and feel of skin
Areas of sun damage may improve after chemical peeling.
After a chemical peel, skin is temporarily more sensitive to the sun, so wear sunscreen every day. It should say “broad-spectrum” on the label, meaning it protects against the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. Also, it should be a physical sunscreen and be above SPF 30. Limit your time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Who Is a Good Candidate For a Chemical Peel?
Generally, fair-skinned and light-haired patients are better candidates for chemical peels. If you have darker skin, you may also have good results, depending upon the type of problem being treated. But you also may be more likely to have an uneven skin tone after the procedure.
Skin sags, bulges, and more severe wrinkles do not respond well to chemical peels. They may need other kinds of cosmetic surgical procedures, such as laser resurfacing, a facelift, brow lift, eyelid lift, or soft tissue filler (collagen or fat). A dermatologic surgeon can help determine the most appropriate type of treatment for you.
Before You Get a Chemical Peel
Tell your doctor if you have any history of scarring, cold sores that keep coming back, or facial X-rays.
Before you get a chemical peel, your doctor may ask you to stop taking certain drugs and prepare your skin by using other medications, such as Retin-A, Renova, or glycolic acid. The doctor may also prescribe antibiotics or antiviral drugs.
Work with your doctor to determine the depth of your peel. This decision depends upon the condition of your skin and your goals for treatment.
Ask your doctor in advance whether you will need to have someone drive you home after your peel.
How Chemical Peels Are Done
You can get a chemical peel in a doctor’s office or in a surgery center. It’s an outpatient procedure, meaning there’s no overnight stay.
The professional who does your peel will first clean your skin thoroughly. Then they will apply one or more chemical solutions — such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or carbolic acid (phenol) — to small areas of your skin. That creates a controlled wound, letting new skin take its place.
During a chemical peel, most people feel a burning sensation that lasts about five to ten minutes, followed by a stinging sensation. Putting cool compresses on the skin may ease that stinging. You may need pain medication during or after a deeper peel.
What To Expect After the Chemical Peel
Depending upon the type of chemical peel, a reaction similar to sunburn occurs following the procedure. Peeling usually involves redness followed by scaling that ends within three to seven days. Mild peels may be repeated at one to four-week intervals until you get the look you’re after.
Medium-depth and deep peeling may result in swelling as well as blisters that may break, crust, turn brown, and peel off over a period of seven to 14 days. Medium-depth peels may be repeated in six to 12 months, if necessary.
After treatment, you may need bandages for several days on part or all of the skin that was treated.
You’ll need to avoid the sun for several months after a chemical peel since your new skin will be fragile.
Possible Complications
Some skin types are more likely to develop a temporary or permanent color change in the skin after a chemical peel. Taking birth control pills, subsequent pregnancy, or a family history of brownish discoloration on the face may make that more likely.
There is a low risk of scarring in certain areas of the face. Some people may be more likely to scar. If scarring does happen, it can usually be treated with good results.
For people with a history of herpes outbreaks, there is a small risk of reactivating cold sores. Your doctor can prescribe medication to prevent or treat that.
Chemical peeling advantages and disadvantages
A chemical peel is a mixture of chemicals that forms gel-like consistency. It’s applied to the face in order to smooth the surface of the skin, remove the appearance of fine lines and remove blemishes. There are three types of chemical peels: mild, medium-depth and deep. Each have their advantages and serve different purposes.
What Are the Advantages of a Mild Chemical Peel?
- Chemical peels help to smooth dry skin
- Can help with pigmentation problems
- Controls acne
- Removes blemishes
- Less recovery time
- Helps with mild sun-damage
- Reduces mild blotchiness
- Fresher and younger looking appearance
What Are the Advantages of a Medium-Depth Chemical Peel?
- Thin facial lines are removed or the appearance is less noticeable
- The medium-depth reduces facial birthmarks
- The pigmentation in the skin is improved
- Helps with dry skin and old acne scarring
- Helps with sun-damaged skin
- Improves blotchy skin
- Younger looking overall appearance
What Are the Advantages of a Deep Chemical Peel?
- Ability to remove pre-cancerous growths
- Deeper acne scar emanation
- Long lasting effect
- Eliminates deeper lines on the face??
- Controls acne
- Helps with deep or course wrinkles
- Age spot removal
- Only a single treatment is necessary
- Smoother skin, younger appearance
- Long-term results are very good when the peel is specifically for acne scarring
The advantages of chemical peels are many, and all three help with different issues. The deep chemical peels are reserved for those with the worst types of skin problems, including serious acne, scarring and birthmarks. Some disadvantages of chemical peels need mentioning.
What Are the Disadvantages of a Chemical Peel?
- Excessive peeling normally happens more with the medium-depth peel and particularly with the deep peel
- Stinging sensation when initially applied
- Redness appears. Again, this is particularly so with the deep and medium peels. The light peel normally results in peeling like a sunburn.
- Temporarily may feel a bit of numbness
- Deep chemical peels can cause a crusting or scabbing after the treatment, as the deep dead skin cells are sleuthing off. This is temporary.
- Sensitivity to the sun ? you will need to stay out of the sun for a short time after the peel as your skin is more sensitive
- Costs can also be a disadvantage for some, since the average chemical peel cost $500 for each treatment
While some disadvantages do exist for chemical peels, the advantages do outweigh them particularly for those suffering from severe skin problems, such as acne or acne scarring. Even with the disadvantages, most people that have had them report they would have it again because of the overall improvement of their skin’s surface and the younger fresher look the entire chemical peels bring about. The discomforts often associated with a chemical peel are temporary and subside rather quickly.