Medium Peels
The chemical peel is one of the oldest cosmetic procedures in the world, and was performed in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome to help people achieve smoother, more beautiful skin. Today, chemical facial peels are popular because they offer nearly immediate results and can be performed as an outpatient procedure. Our peels rejuvenate your skin by reducing or eliminating the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne scarring, and uneven pigmentation.
What is a Chemical Peel?
Chemical peels are non-invasive treatment that removes the upper layers of dead and damaged skin and encourages skin cell regeneration. Typically administered as a facial peel solution, a chemical peel enhances and smoothes the texture of the skin. It is an effective treatment for facial blemishes, wrinkles, and uneven skin pigmentation. Peels can also be used to smooth the hands, chest and neck areas.
When applied to the face or another part of the body, the chemical peel solution works by removing the outer layers of skin so that a new, smooth layer of skin is revealed. The action of the chemical solution stimulates the production of elastin and collagen, essential components of healthy, youthful skin.
Medium Depth Peels
Medium chemical peels penetrate the skin more deeply than light chemical peels. For this reason, the results will be more dramatic.
Medium chemical peels are known for delivering long-lasting results after a brief healing process. At Illuminesse, we have a range of options from the traditional TCA (trichloroacetic acid) chemical peels, to the newer Miami Peels.
Who's Suitable for Medium Peels?
Medium peels are great for patients wanting long-lasting results, who do not mind the brief healing process. Medium peels address wrinkles, superficial blemishes and scars, uneven pigmentation (including sunspots), and some dark undereye circles. Medium peels can also be used for 'spot treatment' of areas such as the eye area, and the perioral (around the mouth) region. The perioral area is especially of concern to women as they age, especially smokers. The lines around the lips are a bit troublesome with resulting lipstick bleed lines. Medium peels can be of help. Deeper lines around the eyes and mouth are better suited for laser resurfacing.
THE PROCEDURE
The treatment time with medium peels is under 20 minutes. A sedative may be prescibed to be taken before the procedure. A solution of the most suitable peel will be applied to the face for a few minutes. During that time, there will be a stinging or burning sensation as the peel begins to work. After a few minutes, the peel will be neutralised and rinsed off your face. Your skin will be red with a sun burned appearance. At this point, your face will readily absorb vitamin nutrients, which we will place on your face. A soothing ointment, sunblock and sun protection with a hat are mandatory.
Some mild swelling is common after this type of skin peel. Patients do not typically experience much pain, and any discomfort can be controlled by prescription pain reliever. Though patients can return to their regular activities immediately after a chemical peel, redness takes about a week to fully fade. For this reason, many patients who undergo a medium chemical peel choose to avoid public activities for about a week.
After a medium peel, a superficial brown crust forms over the treated area, which then flakes off in three to seven days. The newly revealed skin may initially appear reddish, but the discoloration will fully fade within a week to reveal skin with dramatically improved texture, color, and overall appearance. Healing time takes approximately two weeks. During recovery, it is important to follow the instructions given to you by the clinic.
You should use a gentle cleanser and specified moisturising lotion, and to avoid exposing the treated skin to the sun. Our skin care line of products are specially formulated to enhance your cosmetic procedures, such as these peels.
Following your chemical peel, you will notice that the treated skin has improved tone, texture, and pigmentation. You should see further improvement as your course of treatments progresses.
Are Multiple Medium Peels Required to Achieve Desired Results?
Though individual treatment plans vary, patients typically undergo multiple medium chemical peel treatments before achieving optimal results. The number of treatments, as well as their spacing, depends on the patient’s goals and the condition of the patient's skin.