You may spend a lot of work on your teeth—cleaning, whitening, and removing any spots to keep them smooth and vibrant. There’s no reason why you wouldn’t want to do the same for your skin. As you age, unsightly wrinkles and blemishes may need some work. That’s where a chemical peel can help. And just like maintaining good dental hygiene, a chemical peel can have added health benefits—removing pre-cancerous skin growths, softening acne facial scars, and even controlling acne.
If a facelift is like fitting bedsheets, a chemical peel is like ironing. The goal is to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and to even out pigment variations. During a chemical peel, a solution is used to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin by removing its damaged outer layers. The procedure requires about a week of downtime, but the results can be quite dramatic—reducing blemishes, wrinkles, and uneven skin pigmentation.
Although chemical peels are offered by general physicians, and even estheticians at salons and spas, these are often lower-strength and not nearly as effective as a chemical peel performed by a plastic surgeon in an AAAASF accredited facility. Also, the stronger chemicals are frequently used by inadequately trained practitioners, which can result in devastating outcomes, including permanent scarring of the face. This is why it’s very important that you use a board certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Houser, or Dr. Kraft, who has extensive training and experience in providing chemical peels. With Dr. Houser and Dr. Kraft, you can be certain you’re getting the best and safest results.
Some pain can be associated with application of chemicals, but this can be mitigated with regional blocks of the face, as well as sedation, making it a very comfortable procedure. There is generally little discomfort following the procedure, as long as the skin is kept moist. Some peels may create pain for a few days, so pain killers are often prescribed.
Call for a consultation at Dr. Houser and Dr. Kraft’s Columbus office, and they can assess your needs and discuss in more detail the various treatment options.
